New Job Opening: Tax Director in Northwest Suburbs

Job Description

Job Description
Tax Director / Senior Manager – 1040 & Small Business Focus
Compensation: ~$185K–$215K base + discretionary bonus + potential equity (performance-based down the road)
Work Arrangement: Primarily in-office to start; flexibility toward hybrid over time
Why Now: Acquisition-driven growth and leadership transition creating immediate need
Start Date: ASAP 

About the Opportunity

A growing, acquisition-focused tax and accounting platform is seeking a hands-on leader to take ownership of a newly acquired office and client base. This role is ideal for a technically strong CPA who thrives in a high-volume, client-centric environment and wants to play a key role in modernizing and scaling a practice.

The firm is actively expanding through acquisitions while investing in technology, automation, and AI-driven processes. With an established client base and strong operational backing, this is an opportunity to step into a leadership role with immediate impact and long-term upside.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and manage a local office and team of 4–5 staff members
• Oversee a high-volume book of primarily individual tax clients (~75% 1040s)
• Review and prepare complex individual returns and small business filings (1120S, 1065, 1041)
• Transition client relationships from outgoing leadership while maintaining service quality
• Train, mentor, and develop junior staff to uphold technical standards
• Improve workflows and help modernize processes toward a more virtual/tech-enabled model
• Support expansion into recurring services, including bookkeeping and monthly client engagement
• Collaborate with leadership on practice growth, including future acquisitions

What Makes This Role Exciting

• Immediate leadership opportunity with ownership of an established office and client base
• Backing of experienced operators with a strong focus on growth through acquisitions
• Ability to shape processes and implement technology/AI-driven efficiencies
• Blend of technical work, client interaction, and team leadership
• Exposure to both individual and small business tax in a scalable, process-driven model
• Clear path toward increased responsibility and potential equity participation

About You

• CPA required with strong technical expertise in individual tax (1040-heavy)
• Proven ability to review complex returns and maintain high-quality standards
• Experience managing and developing small, high-performing teams
• Comfortable operating in a hands-on environment with both prep and review responsibilities
• Strong client communication skills with a service-oriented mindset
• Adaptable, pragmatic, and comfortable in a growing, evolving organization
• Not title-driven—motivated by impact, leadership, and building something

Additional Advantages

• Experience with trusts (1041), small business returns (1120S/1065), and compilations
• Background in firms serving middle-income / mass-affluent client bases
• Exposure to bookkeeping and recurring client service models
• Experience transitioning client relationships during acquisitions
• Interest in process improvement, automation, or AI-enabled workflows

Why Join Us

• Step into a critical leadership role with immediate responsibility and visibility
• Join a firm actively investing in growth, technology, and operational scale
• Work in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment with strong leadership support
• Build long-term client relationships and recurring revenue streams
• Opportunity to grow into broader leadership and potential equity participation

This is a unique opportunity for a tax leader who enjoys being close to the work, leading a team, and building something meaningful. If you’re looking for a role where you can combine technical expertise, client impact, and operational influence—with long-term upside—this position offers a compelling next step.