Accounting OPT Jobs in Illinois

Illinois is one of the strongest states for accounting F-1 OPT jobs, anchored by Chicago's dense concentration of public accounting firms, corporate finance teams, and financial services employers. Big Four firms including Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG maintain major Chicago offices with established OPT hiring pipelines, alongside regional firms and Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the metro area.

Find Accounting Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs182+
Work Type48% On-site
Median Salary$127K
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsEY

Showing 5 of 182+ Accounting OPT Jobs in Illinois

Paylocity
Customer Support Supervisor
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Paylocity
Added 2d ago
Customer Support Supervisor
Paylocity
Schaumburg, Illinois
Customer Service & Support
Project & Program Management
Human Resources
Customer Service
Customer Support
$70,000/yr - $80,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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J.S. Held
Civil/Structural Forensic Engineer
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J.S. Held
Added 3d ago
Civil/Structural Forensic Engineer
J.S. Held
Chicago, Illinois
Specialized Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Structural Engineering
$100,000/yr - $120,000/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Accountant
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Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Added 3d ago
Accountant
Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
Chicago, Illinois
Finance
Accounting
Audit
Tax
$70,000/yr - $85,000/yr
Hybrid
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
501-1,000

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Aprio
Senior Audit Associate
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Aprio
Added 4d ago
Senior Audit Associate
Aprio
Libertyville, Illinois
Finance
Accounting
Audit
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
501-1,000

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EY
Senior - Tech Consulting
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EY
Added 4d ago
Senior - Tech Consulting
EY
Chicago, Illinois
Business Analysis
Project & Program Management
Consulting & Professional Services
Finance
Accounting
Business Analyst
Project Management
Tax
$102,500/yr - $213,400/yr
Hybrid
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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See all 182+ Accounting OPT Jobs in Illinois

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OPT Accounting Job Roles in Illinois

Consulting & Professional Services112 jobs
Project & Program Management92 jobs
Accounting74 jobs
Tax71 jobs
Project Management66 jobs
Partnerships & Business Development58 jobs
Finance56 jobs
Business Analysis51 jobs
Audit26 jobs
Customer Service & Support24 jobs

See all 182+ Accounting OPT Jobs in Illinois

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Accounting OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

Which accounting companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Illinois?

The Big Four firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG) have large Chicago offices with consistent records of hiring F-1 OPT candidates in accounting roles. Regional firms such as RSM, Grant Thornton, and BDO also maintain significant Illinois presences. Beyond public accounting, major corporations headquartered in Illinois, including Boeing, Caterpillar, and Archer Daniels Midland, hire accounting professionals on OPT authorization for internal finance and audit functions.

Which cities in Illinois have the most accounting F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?

Chicago accounts for the overwhelming majority of accounting F-1 OPT opportunities in Illinois, driven by its concentration of Big Four offices, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 headquarters. The surrounding suburbs, particularly Schaumburg, Rosemont, and Oak Brook, host regional firm offices and corporate accounting departments that also hire OPT candidates. Outside the Chicago metro, Peoria and Springfield have a smaller but present accounting employment base tied to manufacturing and state government contractors.

What types of accounting roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?

Roles that align directly with accounting, finance, or a closely related degree field qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization. Common qualifying positions in Illinois include staff accountant, audit associate, tax associate, financial analyst, and internal auditor. For STEM OPT extension purposes, note that accounting is not a STEM-designated field, so the standard 12-month OPT period applies unless your specific degree program carries a STEM designation.

How do I find accounting F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?

Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters accounting jobs in Illinois by F-1 OPT sponsorship eligibility, saving you from manually sorting through postings that don't support work authorization. Beyond using Migrate Mate, targeting Big Four campus recruiting cycles at Illinois universities and attending Chicago-area accounting networking events hosted by the ICPAS (Illinois CPA Society) can surface opportunities before they are widely posted.

Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 OPT accounting candidates?

Illinois requires CPAs to meet 150 credit hours for licensure, which affects how employers view candidates who completed a standard 120-credit bachelor's degree. Many Illinois accounting employers will hire F-1 OPT candidates with 120 credits but expect ongoing education toward the 150-hour requirement. Additionally, Chicago's competitive accounting market means firms receive high application volumes, so candidates with Big Four internships, CPA exam progress, or experience in Illinois-headquartered industries like commodities trading or manufacturing tend to stand out.