Senior Tax Accountant – Preparation & Review

Cornerstone Tax Service, Inc. | Frankfort, Illinois

Full-Time | In-Person | $90,000–$115,000 per year

About the Opportunity

Cornerstone Tax Service, Inc. is a growing, full-service tax and accounting firm serving individuals, families, business owners, trusts, estates, and nonprofit organizations. We combine the technical standards of a professional tax practice with the personal service and collaborative environment of a smaller firm.

We are seeking an experienced tax professional who enjoys hands-on tax preparation and can independently manage individual and business returns from start to finish. This is a senior-level production and review position—not a role focused primarily on management, sales, or business development.

The right person will be comfortable owning their assigned returns, communicating directly with clients, researching unfamiliar issues, and recognizing when a complex matter warrants collaboration. As a senior member of the tax team, this person will also review returns prepared by interns and junior staff and provide technical guidance and mentoring.

This is an in-person position in Frankfort, Illinois and is not a remote position. Candidates must be able to reliably commute to Frankfort or relocate before beginning employment.

What You'll Do

• Independently prepare federal and state individual and business tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1065, 1120 and 1120-S, from client information through completion.
• Prepare other return types, including trusts, estates and nonprofit organizations, based on experience.
• Review tax returns prepared by interns and junior staff, identify errors or missed issues, and provide constructive technical feedback.
• Review source documents, financial statements, general ledgers and accounting records to identify missing information, inconsistencies, tax issues and planning opportunities.
• Research federal and state tax matters and exercise professional judgment in determining when an issue can be resolved independently and when additional collaboration is appropriate.
• Communicate directly with clients to obtain information, resolve questions, explain tax matters and assist with IRS and state correspondence.
• Identify tax-planning opportunities and collaborate with the firm's owner on significant transactions, unusual tax matters and advanced planning opportunities.
• Contribute ideas and experience as we continue improving our processes and developing our tax team.

What We're Looking For

This position is intended for an experienced, credentialed tax professional who can contribute at a senior level without requiring routine review of every return.

Required Qualifications

• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or Enrolled Agent (EA) credential in good standing.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and substantial relevant experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of recent tax preparation experience, with 7–10+ years preferred.
• Significant hands-on experience preparing both individual and business tax returns, particularly Forms 1040, 1065, 1120 and 1120-S.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage tax returns from receipt of client information through completion, exercising sound professional judgment and recognizing when additional research or collaboration is appropriate.
• Experience reviewing tax returns prepared by interns or junior staff and providing constructive technical feedback.
• Strong tax research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work directly with clients.
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and/or QuickBooks Desktop.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience preparing trust, estate and nonprofit tax returns.
• Experience with UltraTax CS.
• Experience mentoring or training junior tax professionals.
• Experience assisting clients with IRS and state tax notices, examinations and other tax authority matters.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means becoming a trusted senior member of our tax team who can take responsibility for assigned work and consistently move returns from receipt through completion.

You should be comfortable making tax decisions within your experience level, researching questions you haven't encountered before, and recognizing when an unusual or significant matter deserves another experienced perspective. We want someone who identifies issues rather than simply entering the information provided.

You will also play an important role in developing our future tax professionals. As interns and junior staff complete returns, you will review their work, help them understand corrections, and contribute to building their technical knowledge and judgment.

We value independence, but we do not equate independence with working in isolation. Getting the right answer, serving the client well, and supporting the team matter more than individual ego.

Schedule

Off Season: Monday through Friday, approximately 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Tax Season

January generally begins near our regular schedule, with hours increasing as workload builds. The first part of February typically increases to approximately 45–50 hours per week. From approximately March 1 through April 15, employees should generally expect approximately 50–60 hours per week, including Saturdays.

We believe tax-season hours should be driven by workload rather than simply by the calendar. If returns are current and turnaround times permit, hours may be reduced. Some additional hours may also be necessary around the September 15 and October 15 filing deadlines.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $90,000–$115,000 per year, commensurate with experience, credentials, technical knowledge, and demonstrated ability to work independently.

This position is also eligible for a performance-based bonus based on overall contribution to the firm, including productivity, quality of work, professional judgment, client service, independence, and teamwork.

Cornerstone Tax Service offers:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Continuing education and CPE support
• Professional license and PTIN support
• Dependent coverage options
• Mileage reimbursement for business-related travel
• A professional, collaborative work environment
• Opportunity for increased leadership responsibility as the firm continues to grow

A Long-Term Opportunity

We are looking for someone who wants more than another tax-season position. For the right person, this is an opportunity to become an important long-term member of a growing firm, build strong client relationships, help develop junior tax professionals, and take on increased leadership responsibility as the practice expands.

This position offers meaningful opportunity for professional and leadership growth; however, it is not being offered as a predetermined partnership or ownership track.

If you are an experienced tax professional who enjoys preparing tax returns, takes pride in the quality of your work, appreciates the autonomy of a smaller firm, and enjoys helping other tax professionals develop their skills, we would like to hear from you

Pay: $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Continuing education credits
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Prescription drug insurance
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Are you currently a CPA or EA?
• Approximately how many tax returns were you personally responsible for preparing during your most recent tax season?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: In person