Tax Director

Director of Tax Services

Compensation: $190,000 - $235,000 + Performance Bonus + Equity Opportunity

Position Overview

We are partnering with an established Chicago-area professional services firm seeking an experienced CPA to serve as Director of Tax Services . This individual will assume leadership of a profitable, well-established tax practice with a 40-year operating history and approximately 1,000 individual and business clients.

The position offers the opportunity to oversee an existing practice, manage a tenured team, and take ownership of tax operations, client relationships, and long-term strategic growth. The incoming Director will work closely with firm leadership and benefit from a structured transition as the founding CPA prepares for retirement.

The practice serves a longstanding client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, and businesses. Additionally, the firm's affiliated legal practice provides opportunities for collaboration on estate planning, probate, real estate, business succession, and transactional tax matters. This opportunity is well suited for an experienced tax professional seeking greater autonomy, leadership responsibility, and a long-term ownership opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of an established tax practice serving approximately 1,000 individual and business clients.
• Manage the preparation, review, and filing of federal and state tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, and 1120S.
• Maintain final technical review and tax return sign-off authority, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and adherence to professional standards.
• Lead and develop a team of approximately 4–5 professionals, including permanent and seasonal staff.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and other longstanding clients.
• Oversee tax planning and advisory services, including quarterly projections, entity structuring, fiduciary taxation, and trust and estate planning.
• Collaborate with affiliated attorneys on tax matters involving estate planning, probate, real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and business succession.
• Evaluate and enhance existing tax preparation systems, workflows, quality controls, and operational processes.
• Coordinate the transition of client relationships and practice responsibilities from the retiring founding CPA.
• Work alongside firm leadership to identify opportunities for continued growth, operational efficiency, and expanded advisory services.

Qualifications

• Active Illinois CPA license and current Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) required.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Approximately 8–12 years of progressive tax experience, preferably within a small-to-midsize public accounting firm.
• Strong technical knowledge of individual, fiduciary, partnership, and S corporation taxation.
• Experience managing a substantial individual tax return portfolio, including complex high-net-worth client situations.
• Prior experience supervising tax professionals through at least one complete filing season.
• Proficiency with CCH tax preparation software.
• Demonstrated ability to independently review and sign tax returns while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.
• Strong client relationship management, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain consistent service delivery throughout the tax filing cycle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with trust and estate taxation, wealth transfer planning, and business succession.
• Prior collaboration with attorneys or experience supporting tax matters within a legal or multidisciplinary professional services environment.
• Experience implementing process improvements or modernizing tax preparation workflows.
• An existing client portfolio that could complement the firm's established practice.
• Interest in long-term practice leadership, business development, and equity participation.

Compensation & Benefits

• The firm offers a competitive compensation package designed to reflect the leadership responsibilities and long-term growth potential of the position.
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Discretionary performance bonus targeted at approximately 10–20% of base salary.
• Opportunity to earn up to 10% equity ownership, tied to practice growth and the firm's long-term exit strategy.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO medical coverage, with 70% of premiums paid by the employer.
• Firm-paid continuing education and PTIN expenses.
• Hybrid work arrangement with an established North Shore office.
• Established client portfolio with no requirement to originate new business.
• Structured succession plan with support from the retiring founding CPA and existing staff.

Additional Information

The incoming Director will assume responsibility for an established practice with a loyal client base, experienced support staff, and an existing referral network through affiliated legal services.

The firm is seeking a professional interested in maintaining the quality and continuity of the practice while contributing to its long-term development. A structured transition is planned ahead of the 2027 tax filing season.

Qualified candidates interested in learning more are encouraged to apply. All inquiries will be handled confidentially.