National Financial Services Tax Principal - Lead & Elevate

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Wellness program

Job summary

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) is seeking a Financial Services Tax Principal to lead a national tax team and provide strategic leadership across banks, insurers, funds and specialty finance entities.

You will guide advisory, compliance and consulting services, shape priorities, and ensure execution with a focus on client relationships and career development within a high-performing group. CPA is required and JD/EA may be accepted in lieu of CPA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in accounting, taxation, or a related field.
• Current CPA required; JD or EA may be accepted in lieu of CPA.
• 10+ years of public accounting or professional services tax experience.
• Deep understanding of tax issues affecting banks, insurance companies, investment funds, and specialty finance entities.
• Strong technical knowledge of ASC 740, partnership taxation, REITs, and financial instruments.
• Demonstrated success leading geographically dispersed teams and translating strategy into clear priorities and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a national financial services tax team delivering advisory, consulting, and compliance services while helping professionals build a deep understanding of each client’s business and needs.
• Serve as the industry tax leader and partner with leadership to grow the financial services tax practice nationally, align priorities, support consistent execution across markets, and advance the practice’s strategic growth goals.
• Set clear expectations, provide timely coaching and feedback, recognize contributions, support career development, and build a high-performing, collaborative team with role clarity and accountability.
• Manage workforce deployment and capacity planning across the national practice, balancing skills, workloads, deadlines, and development needs while supporting year-round planning, advisory work, and proactive client communication beyond peak filing periods.
• Drive accountability for client service, technical quality, staffing leverage, workload balance, portfolio health, practice standards, and practice economics.
• Protect client relationships by identifying risks early, ensuring strong communication, and supporting effective escalation.
• Strengthen client relationships, expand services, develop pipeline opportunities, activate referrals and priority markets, and increase national recognition of the financial services tax practice.
• Lead change with transparency and sound judgment, partnering with leaders to implement practice improvements, communicate decisions appropriately, and maintain team stability and client confidence.

Skills

Leadership & team management

Strategic planning

Client relationship development

Technical tax knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in accounting/taxation

CPA required

Tools

ASC 740

REITs knowledge

Job description

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) is seeking a Financial Services Tax Principal to lead a national tax team and provide strategic leadership across banks, insurers, funds and specialty finance entities.

You will guide advisory, compliance and consulting services, shape priorities, and ensure execution with a focus on client relationships and career development within a high-performing group. CPA is required and JD/EA may be accepted in lieu of CPA.