Finance Associate

Zuckerman Investment Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

401(k) Retirement Plan

Bonus Opportunities

Job summary

Zuckerman Investment Group, based in Chicago, IL, seeks a detail-focused Finance Associate to support accounting, reporting, and compliance. You will partner with senior leadership to maintain books, prepare monthly statements, and assist with audits, tax returns, and filings.

The role offers growth opportunities within a private wealth environment. You will interact across teams, enhance processes, and contribute to regulatory compliance while supporting cross-functional initiatives and ongoing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA designation or pursuit is a plus.
• 0–3 years of professional accounting/finance experience.
• Strong academic record with a 3.5+ GPA preferred.
• Internship or co-op experience in accounting/finance is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the firm's books and records to produce monthly statements.
• Coordinate with outside firms for tax returns and private fund audits.
• Update data related to the firm's private funds.
• Support client billing by calculating and reconciling quarterly fees.

Skills

Professionalism

Attention to detail

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Teamwork

MS Office

QuickBooks Online

Rippling payroll

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CPA designation or pursuing

0–3 years experience

GPA 3.5+

Internship or co-op experience

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Rippling

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Zuckerman Investment Group is a family owned and independent wealth management firm based in Chicago, IL. Established in 2005 by its founders Daniel Zuckerman and Sherwin Zuckerman, today the firm has grown to oversee $2.1 billion in AUM, spanning over 300 families and individuals across multiple generations. The firm best serves the unique needs of multi-generational families, business owners, business executives, and young professionals.

Zuckerman Investment Group offers a holistic spectrum of services, including comprehensive wealth management, proprietary asset management, and family legacy planning. The firm is fully engaged with clients in respect to their needs and desires around capital preservation, cash flow requirements, risk tolerance, efficient wealth transfer, philanthropy initiatives, and legacy.

We are a results-driven firm with high achieving, motivated employees who value opportunities to take on complex problems, interesting projects, and share innovative ideas. We believe in cultivating relationships both internally and externally, and we are looking for someone to join our team who is committed to developing strong connections in a truly collaborative environment.

JobDescription

We are seeking a highly motivated, exceptionally detail-oriented professional to join our team and help manage and enhance the firm's finance, accounting, reporting, and compliance functions. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain broad exposure to all aspects of a growing wealth management firm while partnering closely with senior leadership and working directly with the Senior Finance Associate. The ideal candidate is proactive, organized, and eager to contribute to a collaborative environment where continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation are valued.

Through this role, you will play a key part in maintaining the firm's financial integrity, supporting regulatory and operational requirements, and driving process enhancements across the finance function. You will also have the opportunity to participate in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives that support firm objectives, adapt to evolving business needs, and contribute your expertise to opportunities that extend beyond core finance responsibilities.

Job Function &Responsibilities:

• Maintain the firm's books and records to produce and analyze monthly financial statements.
• Coordinate with third-party accounting firms to facilitate the preparation of our company tax returns and annual private fund audit.
• Update, gather and distribute data related to the firm’s private funds.
• Support the firm's client billing process by calculating, processing, and reconciling quarterly fees and client statements.
• Support the firm’s accounts payable and receivable functions.
• Manage relationships with the firm's banks and vendors.
• Assist with the preparation of annual business filings and insurance renewals.
• Assist in annual and quarterly regulatory filings and compliance reviews.
• Execute various projects within the finance function to enhance processes and reporting needs.
• Participates in cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives that support firm objectives, adapting to evolving business needs, and contributing expertise to opportunities that extend beyond core responsibilities.

Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrates the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.
• Strong interest in accounting and finance, with a passion for working with numbers and financial analysis.
• Strong work ethic with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, solve complex problems, and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with accounting, finance, and payroll systems such as QuickBooks Online or Rippling is preferred.

EDUCATIONQUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; candidates currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Accounting and expected to graduate within the next 12 months will be considered.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation or a strong desire to pursue the CPA credential.
• 0–3 years of professional experience in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Strong academic record, including a minimum GPA of 3.5+ or equivalent preferred.
• Previous internship or co-op experience in accounting, finance, or a related field preferred. // corrected

SALARYAND BENEFITS:

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $65,000 – 80,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as education, experience, skills, job-related knowledge, geographic location, and other business considerations.

Base salary is only one component of our total rewards package. Eligible employees may participate in a competitive benefits program that includes health insurance, life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, a profit-sharing 401(k) retirement plan (when eligible), opportunities for professional growth, and, where applicable, discretionary bonus opportunities subject to company policy and individual and/or company performance.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.