Senior Tax Associate

Distinct | North America; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct | North America in Chicago seeks a tax senior to deliver hands-on tax preparation and review for a diverse set of clients, including S Corps, partnerships, C corps, individuals and trusts. You will prepare workpapers, research complex issues, and collaborate with managers and partners while mentoring junior staff.

CPA or progress toward it is preferred, with a fast-paced, high-expectation environment that rewards performance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of public accounting tax experience.
• Enjoys the technical side of tax and working directly with clients.
• Progress toward CPA designation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on mix of tax preparation and review.
• Work across S Corps, Partnerships, C Corps, individuals, and trusts.
• Prepare workpapers and research complex tax issues.
• Tax preparation alongside consulting and planning work.
• Direct client communication and trusted advisory role.
• Collaborate closely with Managers and Partners.

Skills

Tax experience

Client communication

Mentoring staff

Education

CPA ongoing

Job description

For people who thrive in a busy, fast paced environment and want to grow with it.

This is a firm for ambitious people who don’t want to be held back. The pace is quick, expectations are high, and the opportunity is real. If you like being busy, visible and part of something that’s moving forward, this is the firm for you.

The firm is growing not by diluting what works, but by acquiring smaller firms that want to step up. These are firms that choose to join because they want better systems, stronger support and more opportunity for their people. The core culture doesn’t change. If anything, it’s reinforced. They attract firms that want to be more like them.

Built by people who left big firm structures behind, they’ve kept the strong clients and high standards without the politics or endless layers. With around 150 people, they sit in that sweet spot where growth creates opportunity rather than red tape, and where your contribution is visible.

What the role looks like day to day:

• A hands on mix of tax preparation and review
• Working across S Corps, Partnerships, C Corps, individuals and trusts
• Preparing workpapers and researching more complex tax issues
• Tax preparation alongside consulting and planning work
• Direct client communication. You’re trusted, not shielded
• Working closely with Managers and Partners rather than through layers
• Supporting and mentoring junior staff as you progress

They’re looking for someone with 3+ years of public accounting tax experience who enjoys the technical side of tax, but equally enjoys working directly with clients.

You’ll need to be comfortable managing deadlines and juggling different priorities. This is a busy environment with demanding clients, so it suits someone who likes that pace rather than someone looking for somewhere to coast.

You won’t be stuck waiting your turn. Progression here is driven by performance and appetite, not time served. If you’re already picking up Manager level responsibility, moving up within 6 to 12 months is genuinely realistic.

CPA or progress towards it is preferred, and there is plenty of opportunity to keep developing technically through research, CPE and working alongside experienced people.

Profit sharing is firm wide, so as the firm grows, you benefit directly from the success you help create.

This isn’t a quiet, coast along environment. It’s busy, it’s collaborative, and it suits people who like momentum, responsibility and being in the middle of the action. You’ll be in the room, part of conversations and surrounded by people who work hard, back each other and enjoy the pace.

This isn’t a typical CPA firm.

And they’re not looking for typical Seniors.

Don’t overthink it. The worst outcome is a pleasant conversation about your career. The best? Well, that’s where it gets rather exciting.