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.

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Overview

Open Jobs136+
Work Type66% On-site
Top LocationChicago, IL
Most JobsPaylocity

Showing 5 of 136+ Accounting OPT Jobs in Illinois

HR Consulting Senior Associate
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New 4h ago
HR Consulting Senior Associate
Grant Thornton
Chicago, Illinois
Human Resources
Project & Program Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Consulting & Professional Services
Project Management
Compensation & Benefits
$110k - $141k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Sales Manager
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New 5h ago
Sales Manager
Andersen Corporation
Springfield, Illinois
Sales
Account Management
Partnerships & Business Development
Business Development
$105k - $208k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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Technical Product and Innovation Manager
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Added 1d ago
Technical Product and Innovation Manager
EY
Chicago, Illinois
Product Management
Technical Product & Program Management
Strategy & Corporate Development
Project & Program Management
Technical Program Management
Business Strategy
Project Management
$120k - $255k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Senior Audit Associate
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Added 1d ago
Senior Audit Associate
Aprio
Chicago, Illinois
Finance
Accounting
Audit
$70k - $133k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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Accounting Associate
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Added 1d ago
Accounting Associate
CliftonLarsonAllen
Chicago, Illinois
Finance
Accounting
Bookkeeping & AP/AR
Tax
Property Management
$54k - $97k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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OPT Accounting Job Roles in Illinois

Consulting & Professional Services65 jobs
Project & Program Management62 jobs
Accounting48 jobs
Finance47 jobs
Project Management44 jobs
Tax43 jobs
Customer Service & Support43 jobs
Partnerships & Business Development40 jobs
Human Resources34 jobs
Customer Service25 jobs

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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.