Audit Manager - Nonprofit & Employee Benefit Plans

oin a premier mid-sized CPA firm in Wheeling, IL where you will lead high-quality nonprofit and employee benefit plan audits, serve as a trusted advisor to organizations and plan sponsors, and follow a defined path toward partnership.

What you'll do

• Lead multiple concurrent audit engagements - planning through issuance - for a diverse portfolio of nonprofit organizations, foundations, and employee benefit plans (including 401k, 403b, and defined benefit plans).
• Serve as the primary relationship owner for each client, advising board members, executives, and plan sponsors on financial reporting, internal controls, compliance, and regulatory matters.
• Review and sign off on audit workpapers, financial statements, and disclosure notes, maintaining the firm's high standards for GAAP, GAAS, ERISA, and Department of Labor compliance.
• Coach, mentor, and deliver timely performance feedback to audit seniors and associates, actively developing the next generation of firm leadership.
• Manage engagement economics end-to-end: budgeting, scheduling, billing, and resource allocation across your book of engagements.
• Identify internal control weaknesses, compliance gaps, and operational improvements for clients and communicate findings clearly to board governance and executive leadership.
• Collaborate with firm partners on practice development, client retention, and identifying service expansion opportunities within the nonprofit and EBP sectors.

What you need

• 5+ years of progressive public accounting experience with a strong focus on financial statement audits for nonprofit organizations and employee benefit plans.
• Active CPA license (required).
• Demonstrated ability to manage full-cycle audit engagements and lead staff teams within a CPA firm environment.
• Deep working knowledge of US GAAP, GAAS, ERISA guidelines, and Department of Labor reporting requirements.
• Ability to work on a hybrid schedule with a mix of remote work and time in our Wheeling, IL office.

Nice to have

• Experience with single audits (Uniform Guidance) for organizations receiving federal funding.
• Prior involvement in firm business development or client proposal processes.
• Familiarity with audit technology platforms used by mid-sized regional firms.
• Experience mentoring staff toward promotion-ready performance levels.

Pay & benefits

• Base salary: $145,000 - $175,000 annually, commensurate with experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with firm matching contribution.
• Generous PTO and paid firm holidays.
• Busy-season hours that are meaningfully below 4 and large national firm averages.
• Defined career-progression framework with an accelerated, transparent path to partnership.
• Continuous professional development and CPE support.

Location & schedule

Wheeling, IL (Greater Chicago area) - Hybrid, Full-time

This role features a flexible hybrid arrangement, balancing remote work with collaborative on-site time at the firm's Wheeling office.

Benefits

Vacation/PTO

Medical

Dental

Vision

401k

Bonus

Relocation

Telecommute