Tax Manager

The Agency; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Direct partner access

Variety of work

Manageable client load

Leadership opportunities

Meaningful ownership

Job summary

The Agency is seeking an experienced Tax Manager to join its Chicago-area accounting and advisory firm. You will own client engagements, oversee tax returns for individuals, partnerships, and nonprofits, and collaborate with partners to deliver high-quality service.

You'll lead a team, mentor staff, develop tax strategies, and grow the practice by spotting advisory opportunities. The role combines technical tax work with financial reporting and client relationship management in a collaborative

Qualifications

• Active CPA license.
• Substantial public accounting experience in tax.
• Strong technical knowledge of individual, pass-through, closely held business, and nonprofit taxation.
• Experience managing multiple client engagements and meeting deadlines during tax season.
• Working knowledge of multi-state tax matters and entity planning.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and mentoring tax professionals.
• Familiarity with financial statement preparation, reviews, and compilations.
• Strong client service skills and the ability to build lasting professional relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation and review of tax returns for individuals, business entities, pass-throughs, and nonprofits.
• Serve as trusted client advisor on tax planning, estimated payments, and year-end strategies.
• Research technical tax issues and address multi-state considerations.
• Take ownership of engagements, manage scope, staff assignments, deadlines, and client communication.
• Oversee financial statement preparation to support tax and advisory decisions.
• Develop and mentor staff to improve technical skills and efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for tax planning and advisory work within existing client relationships.
• Improve workflows and establish review standards within the practice.
• Collaborate with firm leadership to maintain high client service and engagement quality.

Skills

Public accounting

Tax planning

Client advisory

Mentoring

Communication

Education

CPA license

Tools

Tax research tools

Job description

A respected accounting and advisory firm near Chicago is seeking an experienced Tax Manager to join its team and play an important role in serving clients, leading engagements, developing talent, and growing the practice.

This is an opportunity for an established tax professional to take ownership of client engagements, navigate complex tax matters, and build lasting relationships with individuals, closely held businesses, and nonprofit organizations. You'll have the opportunity to combine technical tax expertise with financial reporting and advisory work while working directly with firm partners and having a voice in how the practice operates.

What You'll Do

• Lead tax engagements: Oversee the preparation and review of individual, business, pass-through, and nonprofit tax returns, ensuring accuracy, quality, and timely delivery.
• Serve as a trusted client advisor: Build strong client relationships and provide practical guidance on tax planning, estimated payments, entity selection, and year-end strategies.
• Navigate complex tax matters: Research technical issues, address multi-state tax considerations, and develop solutions for unique client situations.
• Take ownership of client engagements: Manage a defined book of business, including engagement scope, staff assignments, deadlines, and client communication.
• Oversee financial reporting: Lead reviews, compilations, and financial statement preparation to support tax and advisory decisions.
• Develop and mentor talent: Coach preparers and other team members, provide meaningful review feedback, and help improve technical skills and efficiency.
• Contribute to practice growth: Identify additional tax planning and advisory opportunities within existing client relationships.
• Improve how work gets done: Establish review standards, streamline workflows, and help shape processes within the practice.
• Collaborate with firm leadership: Work directly with partners to maintain high standards of client service and engagement quality.

What We're Looking For

• An active CPA license.
• Substantial public accounting experience in tax preparation and review.
• Strong technical knowledge of individual, pass-through, closely held business, and nonprofit taxation.
• Experience managing multiple client engagements and meeting deadlines throughout tax season.
• Working knowledge of multi-state tax matters, basis calculations, estimated payments, and entity planning.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and mentoring tax professionals.
• Familiarity with financial statement preparation, reviews, and compilations.
• Strong client service skills and the ability to build lasting professional relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex tax matters in straightforward terms.
• Strong organizational skills, sound technical judgment, and the ability to work independently.

What the Organization Offers

The firm provides an environment where experienced professionals can take ownership of their work, build meaningful client relationships, and have a direct impact on the practice.

• Professional development: Opportunities to expand technical expertise and strengthen leadership capabilities.
• Direct partner access: Work closely with firm leadership without unnecessary layers of management.
• Variety of work: A combination of tax compliance, financial reporting, and advisory services.
• Manageable client load: The resources and flexibility to focus on quality work and client service.
• Leadership opportunities: Mentor team members, establish review standards, and help shape engagement processes.
• Meaningful ownership: Take responsibility for client outcomes and have a voice in how the practice grows and operates.

The Agency Recruiting is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.