Senior Accountant Trust Estates

Strategic Employment; Villa Park (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid vacation

401(k) with profit sharing

Partnership track

Job summary

Strategic Employment is seeking a Senior Tax Accountant with real trust and estate tax experience to join our established, independent public accounting firm serving Chicago's western suburbs. You'll work directly with clients from day one, prepare and review trust, estate, and gift tax returns, and build toward becoming the firm's primary authority in this area.

This role requires at least four years in public accounting, strong trust and estate tax skills, and residency in the Chicagoland

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of public accounting experience preparing/reviewing income tax returns (latest 2023 or later).
• Strong, hands-on experience with trust and estate tax returns.
• Working knowledge of federal and Illinois tax law for closely held businesses (S corporations/partnerships) and individuals.
• CPA license or EA credential preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and/or review trust, estate, and gift tax returns.
• Support closely held business clients with S-corporation and partnership tax work.
• Work directly with clients as a trusted point of contact.
• Build toward a deeper specialization in trust and estate taxation over time.

Skills

Trust & estate tax

Tax preparation/returns

Client contact

Public accounting experience

Education

CPA or EA credential

Job description

For over 100 years, we've been the go-to CPA firm for closely held businesses, high-net-worth individuals and families, and not-for-profit organizations in Chicago's western suburbs. We've stayed independent by choice — we've never sold or merged into a larger practice, and we don't plan to start now. Estate and trust planning has long been one of our core specialties, reflecting the deep, lasting relationships we build with our clients.

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior Tax Accountant with real trust and estate tax experience to join our established, independent public accounting firm in the western Chicago suburbs. Trust and estate work isn't a side skill here — it's one of our core specializations. Whether you're already deep in this work or ready to grow into becoming our go-to trust & estate resource, you'll have direct client contact from day one.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and/or review trust, estate, and gift tax returns
• Support closely held business clients with S-corporation and partnership tax workWork directly with clients as a trusted point of contact
• Build toward a deeper specialization in trust and estate taxation over time, with the potential to become the firm's primary authority in this area
• Stay current on federal and Illinois tax law affecting closely held businesses, individuals, trusts, and estates

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of public accounting experience preparing/reviewing income tax returns, with recent (2023 or later) public accounting experience
• Strong, hands-on experience with trust and estate tax returns
• Working knowledge of federal and Illinois tax law for closely held businesses (primarily S corporations and partnerships) and individuals
• CPA license or EA credential preferred, not required
• Must already reside in the Chicagoland area — relocation assistance and visa sponsorship are not available
• Able to work onsite full-time; hybrid scheduling is not available until 8+ years of individual experience
• Comfortable with a seasonal workload of 55+ hours/week during busy periods (January–April 15 and August–October 15), including some Saturdays

Pay range and compensation package

Base salary in the $80,000–$120,000 range, open to negotiation based on experience. Overtime bonus structure based on annual billable hours. Lifetime 15% commission on new business brought into the firm. 9% discretionary profit-sharing contribution to 401(k), delivered consistently for 20+ years. Full health, dental, and vision coverage; life and disability insurance. Paid vacation and paid overtime/comp time. Long-term stability at a firm with 100+ years of history and no intention of selling or merging, plus a genuine partnership track and room to specialize.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices and encourage all qualified candidates to apply.