Tax Director

Distinct | North America; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Distinct | North America is an independent CPA firm of about 70 people seeking an experienced tax professional. The focus could be on high-net-worth individuals and families, business tax, or a mix of both. You’ll discuss preferences and shape the work that aligns with your interests.

The firm has low turnover, values work-life balance, and supports conversations about burnout prevention, engagement, and ongoing development within the team.

Qualifications

• Public accounting tax experience at Manager/Senior Manager level.
• Strong background in HNW tax, business tax, or a generalist mix.
• Experience reviewing complex returns and participating in tax planning.

Responsibilities

• Review complex returns and participate in tax planning.
• Manage client relationships and advise clients directly.
• Support and develop less experienced colleagues and contribute to practice growth.

Skills

Client relationships

Tax planning

People development

Education

CPA or EA qualification

Job description

What would make another busy season worth staying for?

More say in the clients you work with? Time to advise them properly? Or knowing the firm will actually do something when people say the workload needs attention?

This independent CPA firm of around 70 people has put some thought into all three.

They’re growing and looking for an experienced tax professional. Your focus could be HNW individuals and families, business tax, or a mix of both.

If you’ve built experience across several areas but want to spend more time on the work you enjoy most, this firm is open to those conversations.

The clients include multigenerational families, trusts and estates, closely held businesses and their owners. There’s complex work beyond reviewing returns, with client relationships you’ll manage directly and planning conversations you’ll be part of.

You’ll have experienced colleagues to talk things through with and the trust to make decisions. There’s room to contribute to the wider firm too, whether you enjoy developing people, improving how the team works or helping grow an area of the practice.

When I spoke with the Partners, we spent time talking about burnout.

They’ve come from bigger firms and experienced it themselves. They know what it feels like, and they don’t want their own staff ending up in the same position.

They brought in an external consultant to look at working hours, engagement and turnover, then made changes based on the findings. That stood out to me. It’s easy to ask for feedback. Doing something with it matters more.

Turnover is low, and people tend to stay.

In terms of your background, you’ll need:

• A CPA or EA qualification.
• Public accounting tax experience at Manager or Senior Manager level.
• A strong background in HNW individual tax, business tax or a generalist mix. You don’t need to cover every area.
• Experience reviewing complex returns and getting involved in tax planning.
• Confidence managing client relationships and advising clients directly.
• Experience supporting and developing less experienced colleagues.