M&A Tax Senior Manager — Lead Diligence & Structuring

Elliott Davis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Elliott Davis in Chicago seeks an experienced M&A Tax Senior Manager to lead day-to-day tax due diligence and structuring for mergers, acquisitions and other transactions. You will manage diligence workstreams, mentor teams, and serve as the primary tax lead throughout the deal lifecycle.

Ideal candidates have 6–8 years in M&A/transaction tax, a strong US federal income tax background, and proven ability to manage multiple engagements in a fast-paced environment. CPA/JD preferred.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of experience in M&A/transaction tax with public accounting, Big 4, advisory firm, or comparable environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading diligence engagements and managing day-to-day client relationships.
• Strong technical background in U.S. federal income tax; state and local tax experience is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent transactions in a deadline-driven environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex tax concepts to non-tax stakeholders.
• Proven leadership skills and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset.
• Hands-on experience with: Step-up and basis modeling, Section 382 analyses, transaction and step plan structuring
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in accounting or finance.
• Masters in Taxation, or JD in tax and/or LLM preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day tax due diligence and structuring for buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions across various deal sizes and industries.
• Act as the primary tax advisor to clients, deal teams, counsel, and investment professionals.
• Scope transactions, identify key tax risks and structuring opportunities based on client objectives.
• Manage timelines, deliverables and budgets with high-quality, deadline-driven execution.
• Identify and quantify federal, state, and local tax risks of target companies and structures.
• Prepare and review diligence reports and executive summaries describing risks and financial impacts.
• Collaborate with FDD and tax specialists across Elliott Davis, guiding engagement teams.
• Mentor engagement teams and provide technical coaching and feedback.
• Support business development, including proposals and client pitches.

Skills

M&A tax experience

Leadership

Project management

Client relations

US federal income tax

State & local tax

Communication

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Master's in Taxation or JD in tax/LLM (preferred)

Job description

Elliott Davis in Chicago seeks an experienced M&A Tax Senior Manager to lead day-to-day tax due diligence and structuring for mergers, acquisitions and other transactions. You will manage diligence workstreams, mentor teams, and serve as the primary tax lead throughout the deal lifecycle.

Ideal candidates have 6–8 years in M&A/transaction tax, a strong US federal income tax background, and proven ability to manage multiple engagements in a fast-paced environment. CPA/JD preferred.