Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Illinois

Tax Senior Associate jobs in Illinois are concentrated in public accounting, corporate finance, and professional services, with demand running from staff-level through senior positions across the state's deep employer base. Chicago anchors the market as one of the most active hiring metros in the country, with Schaumburg and Naperville adding significant suburban volume. Major employers with lasting Illinois roots include Deloitte, Grant Thornton, and Aon, and the most sought-after specialties are federal and state income tax compliance, partnership taxation, and international tax. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles92
Top employerBDO
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring14
Work type70% Hybrid
Top industryAccounting

Showing 5 of 92+ Tax Senior Associate jobs

Tax Senior Associate - Private Client Services
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Added 3d ago
Tax Senior Associate - Private Client Services
EisnerAmper
Elgin, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Success
Partnerships & Business Development
$85k - $95k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree
1,001-5,000

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Senior Analyst, Payroll Tax
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Added 3d ago
Senior Analyst, Payroll Tax
Brookfield Asset Management
Chicago, Illinois
Business Analyst
Business Operations
Finance
$85k - $105k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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Senior Accountant, Tax - High Net Worth
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Added 4d ago
Senior Accountant, Tax - High Net Worth
Wipfli
Lincolnshire, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
$85k - $115k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Senior Accountant, Tax - High Net Worth
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Added 4d ago
Senior Accountant, Tax - High Net Worth
Wipfli
Chicago, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
$85k - $115k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Senior - R&D Tax Credits
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Added 4d ago
Senior - R&D Tax Credits
CliftonLarsonAllen
Oak Brook, Illinois
Accounting
Bookkeeping & AP/AR
$74k - $131k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
5,001-10,000

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See All 92 Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Tax Senior Associate Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Deerfield
3 jobs
Lincolnshire
3 jobs
Elgin
2 jobs
Oak Brook
2 jobs
Naperville
2 jobs
Northbrook
2 jobs
Schaumburg
2 jobs
Lisle
1 job

Tax Senior Associate Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • BDO16
  • Wipfli4
  • Deloitte4
  • KPMG3
  • EisnerAmper3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Accounting & Auditing11
  • Consulting & Professional Services5
  • Technology & Software4
  • Investment & Asset Management4
  • Law & Legal Services1

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in tax senior associate jobs across Illinois.

  • Active CPA license or CPA exam progress recognized by the Illinois Board of Examiners
  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field from an accredited institution
  • Two to four years of tax experience in public accounting or a corporate tax department
  • Proficiency in tax preparation and research software such as CCH Axcess or Thomson Reuters
  • Experience reviewing federal and state income tax returns for individuals, partnerships, or corporations
  • Strong written communication skills and ability to manage multiple client deadlines simultaneously

Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a tax senior associate in Illinois?

The standard path in Illinois starts with a bachelor's degree in accounting and progress toward or completion of the CPA exam, which is overseen by the Illinois Board of Examiners under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Most employers require active CPA licensure or documented exam progress for the senior associate level. Candidates typically spend two to three years in a staff tax role at a public accounting firm or corporate tax department before advancing to senior associate.

How much do tax senior associates make in Illinois?

Tax senior associates 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 tax senior associates in Illinois?

Employers hiring tax senior associates in Illinois right now include BDO, Wipfli, and Deloitte, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Illinois's concentration of Big Four and large regional accounting firms in the Chicago Loop, along with Fortune 500 headquarters in the suburbs, makes the state one of the most consistent sources of senior tax hiring in the Midwest.

Which Illinois cities have the most tax senior associate jobs?

Chicago, Deerfield, and Lincolnshire lead Illinois for tax senior associate openings. Chicago dominates because of its density of public accounting offices, financial services firms, and corporate headquarters, while Schaumburg and Naperville reflect the large professional services employers and Fortune 500 companies concentrated along the Interstate 90 and Interstate 88 corridors in the northwest and west suburbs.

Are there remote tax senior associate jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than many professional roles, since tax compliance and review work is largely document-driven and software-based. About 80% of tax senior associate openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broad adoption of flexible arrangements across public accounting and corporate tax teams. Federal and state income tax compliance and research tasks are the functions most commonly performed remotely.

How can I get hired as a tax senior associate in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry point is a staff tax associate role at one of Illinois's large public accounting firms, several of which run structured new-graduate programs in Chicago and the suburbs specifically designed for candidates without prior professional experience. Firms including Grant Thornton and RSM operate campus recruiting programs targeting Illinois accounting graduates. Passing parts of the CPA exam before applying demonstrates commitment and gives candidates a measurable edge, as does experience in adjacent roles such as audit associate or tax paraprofessional at a regional or local Illinois firm.

Where can I find and apply to tax senior associate jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to tax senior associate jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search by city or specialty to narrow results to the roles that match your background, then apply directly to the openings that fit.

See All 92 Tax Senior Associate Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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