CPA Jobs in Illinois
CPA jobs in Illinois are highly active, with strong demand concentrated in public accounting, corporate finance, and financial services, at every level from staff accountant to controller and CFO. Chicago anchors the market as one of the most competitive accounting hubs in the country, with additional hiring in Naperville and Schaumburg driven by corporate headquarters and regional firms. Major employers with a lasting Illinois presence include Deloitte, Grant Thornton, and Caterpillar, and the most in-demand specialties are tax, audit, and forensic accounting. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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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 11 CPA Jobs in Illinois
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Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
CPA 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 CPA jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois CPA license issued or recognized by the Illinois Board of Examiners
- Passed all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination
- Bachelor's degree in accounting or closely related field from an accredited institution
- Proficiency in accounting software such as QuickBooks, SAP, or Oracle
- Experience preparing or reviewing financial statements in compliance with GAAP
- Strong knowledge of federal and Illinois state tax codes and filing requirements
CPA Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cpa in Illinois?
To become a cpa in Illinois, you must meet the education, examination, and experience requirements set by the Illinois Board of Examiners and obtain licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Candidates need at least a bachelor's degree with a concentration in accounting, must pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, and complete the required hours of supervised accounting experience before a license is issued.
How much do CPAs make in Illinois?
CPAs 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 cpas in Illinois?
Employers hiring cpas in Illinois right now include ADP, Jobot, and Eccezion, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, major public accounting firms, and large financial institutions makes it one of the steadier markets in the Midwest for licensed accounting professionals.
Which Illinois cities have the most cpa jobs?
Chicago, McHenry, and Barrington have the most cpa openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates by volume because it is home to the Illinois headquarters of the Big Four firms, major banks, and a dense cluster of corporate finance departments, while suburban markets like Naperville and Schaumburg see strong demand from large manufacturers and professional services firms that are headquartered there.
Are there remote cpa jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 33% of cpa openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves analysis, reporting, and tax preparation that does not require a physical presence. Tax and advisory roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while audit positions often require at least some on-site client work.
How can I get hired as a cpa in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to staff accountant or accounting associate roles at Illinois public accounting firms, which routinely hire candidates who are sitting for or have recently passed the CPA exam. Large Chicago-area firms and regional offices run structured new-graduate programs that provide supervised experience toward licensure. Candidates who hold a completed accounting degree and have passed at least one section of the exam are competitive, and internship experience at any Illinois firm or corporate finance department strengthens an application considerably.
Where can I find and apply to cpa jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to cpa jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers actively hiring. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 11 CPA Jobs in Illinois
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