Government OPT Jobs in Illinois
Government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois are concentrated in Chicago, Springfield, and Champaign, where agencies including the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Cook County government, and federally funded research bodies hire international graduates in policy analysis, data science, public health, and urban planning roles. Most positions require EAD authorization and compliance with E-Verify requirements.
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Job Number: 419811
Description
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTING
DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE
# of positions: 1
(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $100,248; Grade: GY-10
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on Friday, August 7, 2026.
Under general supervision, functions as a supervisor directing the work of professional staff in an accounting unit, and performs related duties as required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Staff Supervision and Management
- Assign, review, and approve work of accountants including but not limited to:
- Review of Journal Entries prior to final approval from Director
- Review and approval of FMPS-AR Invoices
- Review of interfund vouchers, refunds, and cost recovery transactions
- Responsible for the direct supervision and management of assigned accounting staff, including workload coordination, performance feedback, and daily operational support.
Training and Development
- Cross-train accountants to ensure operational flexibility and coverage
- Ensure team proficiency in City and DWM systems and software’s such as:
- FMPS, Business Objects, ARMS, Payment Portal
- Orion, EAM, Power BI, CPM
Financial Reporting
- Serve as the lead person for Water and Sewer Fixed Assets
- Work with the Financial Officer to review and compile data and reports
- Provide support for Year-end audit and ACFR preparation
- Initiate year-end journal entries and reconciliations
Audit Coordination
- Supervise and monitor audit requests and PBC’s
- Provide support for Year-end Single Audit tasks for the loans and grants
- Prepare responses to audit requests
Financial Management
- Review capital fund budgets to ensure that funds have not been overallocated
- Monitor funds balances to ensure funds are spent within deadlines
- Salvage of funds not needed and provide recommendations for re-allocation
- Reconciliation of accounts
Grants Management
- Ensure compliance with grant terms, conditions, and deadlines
- Work with OBM and GPAD to set up grants in OGM 3.0
- Assist in the preparation of financial and/or program reports due to funders
Interdepartmental Liaison
- Serve as a liaison with other City departments such as Budget, Finance, and CDOT
- Coordinate with internal partners from different DWM bureaus as needed
- Collaborate with consultant group from the Program Management Office (PMO)
Additional duties may be required for this position.
Location:
1000 East Ohio Street
Days:
Monday - Friday
Hours:
8:30 am – 4:30 pm
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, plus four (4) years of professional accounting experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in a field directly related to Accounting with 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus four (4) years of professional accounting experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree or higher in Accounting, plus three (3) years of professional accounting experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree or higher in a field directly related to Accounting with 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus three (3) years of professional accounting experience, of which one (1) year is in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position.
Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Juris Doctorate degree program.
NOTE: You must provide your transcripts or degree at time of processing.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.
APPLICATION EVALUATION:
Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:
To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration.
These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders.
For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.
To learn more about our hiring practices click here.
For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html
For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
Job Posting: Jul 24, 2026, 12:00:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Aug 7, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
BU: 10 | Salary: $100,248
Pay Basis: Yearly
OPT Government Job Roles in Illinois
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Search Government Jobs in IllinoisGovernment OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
Which government employers in Illinois sponsor F-1 OPT visas?
Illinois government employers that regularly hire F-1 OPT holders include the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, Cook County Bureau of Technology, the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, and federally funded institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. These employers are enrolled in E-Verify, which is a federal requirement for OPT employment authorization verification.
Which cities in Illinois have the most government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Chicago generates the highest volume of government F-1 OPT positions in Illinois, driven by Cook County agencies, the City of Chicago, and a dense cluster of federally funded research facilities. Springfield, as the state capital, offers opportunities across executive branch agencies. Champaign and Urbana attract government contractors and federally affiliated research roles connected to the University of Illinois system.
What types of government roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Illinois?
Government roles that commonly qualify for F-1 OPT employment in Illinois include data analyst, policy research associate, GIS specialist, public health analyst, urban planner, and IT systems engineer positions. These roles typically require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field, satisfying the specialty occupation standard that underlies OPT eligibility and, for STEM degree holders, the 24-month STEM OPT extension.
How do I find government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois?
Migrate Mate lists verified government F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Illinois, filtered by employer E-Verify enrollment and LCA filing history so you can see which agencies have actively hired OPT workers. Search by location and filter for government and public sector roles to surface positions in Chicago, Springfield, and Champaign. Checking employer LCA records through Migrate Mate helps confirm a hiring agency's actual sponsorship track record before you apply.
Are there any Illinois-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in government roles?
Illinois state agencies are subject to E-Verify enrollment under state law, meaning your Employment Authorization Document will be checked through the federal system before you begin work. Some Illinois government positions, particularly in law enforcement or roles requiring security clearances, have citizenship or permanent residency requirements that make them unavailable to F-1 OPT holders. Confirming citizenship eligibility in the job posting before applying saves significant time in the government hiring process.