Senior Tax Accountant – Preparation & Review

• Frankfort, IL

Cornerstone Tax Service, Inc. | Frankfort, Illinois
Full-Time | In-Person Salary: $90,000–$115,000 per year

Cornerstone Tax Service, Inc. is a growing, full-service tax and accounting firm located in Frankfort, Illinois. We serve individuals, families, business owners, trusts, estates, and nonprofit organizations with a strong commitment to technical excellence, personal service, and professional integrity.

As our firm continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced tax professional who wants more than simply another tax-season position. We are looking for someone interested in building a long-term career with our firm, taking ownership of their work, and becoming an important part of our continued growth.

We offer the opportunity to work in a smaller, collaborative firm where experienced professionals are trusted to exercise their judgment, work independently, and have a meaningful impact on both our clients and the firm.

This is a senior-level position for an experienced tax professional who is capable of independently managing tax returns from start to finish.

This is not an entry-level or training position.

The successful candidate will have the technical knowledge and professional judgment to prepare the majority of assigned returns independently without requiring routine review of every return.

At the same time, we recognize that complex tax work often benefits from collaboration. We are looking for someone who knows the difference—someone who can confidently handle routine and moderately complex matters independently while recognizing when an unusual, significant, or highly technical issue warrants additional research or discussion.

As our tax team grows, this position will also be responsible for reviewing returns prepared by interns or less-experienced tax staff and providing technical guidance and feedback.

Independently prepare federal and state tax returns for individuals, partnerships, corporations, S corporations, trusts, estates, and nonprofit organizations

Manage assigned tax returns from the initial review of client information through completion

Review source documents and financial information to identify missing information, inconsistencies, potential tax issues, and planning opportunities

Exercise professional judgment in resolving tax matters independently and determining when additional research or collaboration is appropriate

Research complex federal and state tax issues and apply findings to client-specific situations

Collaborate with the firm's owner on significant transactions, unusual tax matters, complex tax issues, and advanced planning opportunities

Communicate directly and professionally with clients to obtain necessary information and resolve tax-related questions

Review client-prepared financial statements, general ledgers, and accounting records for accuracy and tax-reporting implications

Assist with IRS and state tax notices, examinations, correspondence, and other tax authority matters

Represent clients before the IRS and other taxing authorities when appropriate

Identify tax-planning opportunities and assist in developing strategies for individual and business clients

Stay current on changes in federal and state tax laws and regulations

As the tax team grows, review tax returns prepared by interns and less-experienced preparers, identify errors or omissions, and provide constructive technical guidance

Serve as a technical resource to less-experienced staff while recognizing when complex matters should be escalated for additional analysis or collaboration

Contribute ideas and experience as we continue to improve our processes and grow the firm

Our ideal candidate is an experienced tax professional who is comfortable being trusted with their own work.

You should be able to receive an assigned return, evaluate the information provided, identify what is missing, resolve ordinary tax issues, communicate with the client when necessary, and bring the return to completion without requiring another preparer to retrace each step of your work. We do not expect one person to know the answer to every…