Certified Public Accountant Jobs in Illinois
Certified Public Accountant jobs in Illinois are among the most active in the Midwest, with consistent demand across public accounting firms, corporate finance, manufacturing, and healthcare systems at every level from staff accountant through senior CPA and controller. Chicago drives the bulk of hiring, with strong secondary markets in Naperville and Schaumburg, where firms such as Grant Thornton, Deloitte, and Caterpillar maintain significant Illinois operations. Audit, tax compliance, and financial reporting are the most in-demand specialties across Illinois employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 13+ Certified Public Accountant jobs
Location: 3240 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL (Lakeview), mostly on-site
Type: Independent contractor, long-term and seasonal
Compensation: $75 per hour
About Lakeview Financial Services
Lakeview Financial Services has served individuals and small businesses in the neighborhood for about 40 years. We have over 1,000 active client accounts, and most of our work is tax, alongside bookkeeping and payroll. Our founding CPA is moving toward retirement. We’re looking for a local CPA to become the trusted face of the firm for many of these long-standing clients.
The role
You’ll be the on-site CPA. Clients will meet with you, ask you their questions, and come to trust you over time. We take care of everything else: the office, intake, document collection, billing, scheduling, software and admin staff. That leaves you free to focus on review, sign-off and advice. Many CPAs who run their own small practices find this works well alongside their own book of clients.
What you’ll do
- Review and sign returns prepared by our staff: 1040 (incl. Schedule C), 1065, 1120, 1120-S, 1041, 990 and the related state filings
- Meet with clients in the office to go over results, answer questions and give forward-looking tax advice
- Help clients move smoothly from our founding CPA to you
- Handle IRS and state notices and correspondence
- Share your ideas on how our workflow and processes could improve
What we’re looking for
- Active CPA license (Illinois, or eligible to practice in Illinois)
- 5–10 years of individual and small-business tax prep, review and client advisory work
- You like sitting across the desk from clients and explaining things in plain English
- You work independently and can review accurately at volume during busy season
- You live in or near Chicago and can be on-site regularly. Ideally 3–4 days a week during tax season (Jan–Apr) and around the fall extension deadlines, with 1-2 days a week during the off-season. Our office is open Monday–Thursday, 10–5 in the off-season, Monday–Saturday, 9–6 during busy season.
- Drake Tax experience is a plus. We also use TaxDome for workflow and the client portal.
What we offer
- A steady flow of established clients, with no marketing or selling needed
- Your own private office in Lakeview
- Full admin and operations support, so you never have to chase documents or invoices
- Your own practice stays your own, and you set your schedule within our client-appointment days
- Room to grow: we’re acquiring other Chicago-area practices and want CPAs who can take on more client relationships as we expand
To apply: Send your resume and a few lines about your current practice or role and how much availability you have for the 2027 season.
Pay: $75.00 per hour
Experience:
- Tax accounting: 5 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- CPA (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60657 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
See All 13 Certified Public Accountant Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsCertified Public Accountant Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Certified Public Accountant Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Staffing & Recruiting
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in certified public accountant jobs across Illinois.
- Active CPA license issued or recognized by the Illinois Board of Examiners required
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field required
- Proficiency in accounting software such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle expected
- Experience preparing and reviewing financial statements in accordance with GAAP
- Strong knowledge of federal and Illinois state tax codes and filing requirements
- Effective written and verbal communication skills for client and stakeholder reporting
Certified Public Accountant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a certified public accountant in Illinois?
To become a licensed CPA in Illinois, you must pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and meet the education and experience requirements set by the Illinois Board of Examiners, which administers licensure in the state. Illinois requires a bachelor's degree with coursework in accounting and business, along with verified work experience under a licensed CPA. Once licensed, Illinois CPAs must complete continuing professional education to maintain their credential.
How much do certified public accountants make in Illinois?
Certified public accountants in Illinois earn a median of about $80,230 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $54,510 for the lowest 10% to over $131,990 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire certified public accountants in Illinois?
Employers hiring certified public accountants in Illinois right now include ADP, Crowe, and Jobot, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of corporate headquarters, Big Four accounting firms, and large healthcare and manufacturing organizations means demand for CPAs is spread across both public practice and industry roles throughout the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most certified public accountant jobs?
Chicago, Springfield, and McHenry have the most certified public accountant openings in Illinois. Chicago anchors the market as home to major accounting firms, financial services companies, and corporate headquarters, while Naperville and Schaumburg attract significant demand from the large suburban business corridors, where manufacturers, insurers, and regional employers maintain substantial finance and accounting teams.
Are there remote certified public accountant jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields, given that CPA work centers on analysis, reporting, and compliance tasks that translate well to remote environments. About 45% of certified public accountant openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly the profession has adopted flexible arrangements. Tax advisory, financial reporting, and audit support roles tend to be the most consistently remote or hybrid across Illinois employers.
How can I get hired as a certified public accountant in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a staff accountant or accounting associate role at a public accounting firm or corporate finance department in Illinois. Chicago-area offices of national firms such as RSM, BDO, and Baker Tilly run structured new-graduate programs that hire candidates without prior professional experience. Earning or actively pursuing CPA exam eligibility strengthens any application, and candidates who transition from bookkeeping, accounts payable, or financial analyst assistant roles often move into CPA-track positions at Illinois companies within one to two years.
Where can I find and apply to certified public accountant jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to certified public accountant jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers actively hiring now. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 13 Certified Public Accountant Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs