Associate, Accounting Advisory

Palm Tree • Chicago, IL

3d • $100,000 - $150,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Palm Tree is a modern M&A value creation firm that integrates financial consulting, operational consulting, and investment banking services. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree partners with private equity firms, business operators, and management teams through strategic events including acquisitions, carve-outs, recapitalizations, restructurings, integrations, and performance improvement initiatives.
Palm Tree’s Accounting Advisory practice supports clients across complex accounting and financial reporting matters, helping organizations navigate technical accounting challenges, strengthen financial reporting infrastructure, and improve finance and accounting processes within dynamic business environments.
The Associate is a key execution leader within Palm Tree’s Accounting Advisory practice. Associates are responsible for overseeing daily engagement activities, offering support and direction to junior colleagues, and ensuring consistent communication with clients.
This role requires strong technical accounting expertise combined with the ability to translate financial information into operational insights. Associates play an important role in helping clients improve reporting accuracy, strengthen accounting infrastructure, and optimize financial processes.
The ideal candidate will thrive in a client-service environment and be comfortable managing multiple engagements while delivering high-quality client deliverables.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in Accounting required
• Active CPA license
• 4–5+ years of relevant professional experience
• Prior experience within a Big 4 or national firm audit practice is required
• strong technical accounting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple engagements simultaneously. Candidates should also possess strong communication skills and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

• Experience within advisory accounting, transaction accounting, or corporate accounting/finance environments preferred
• Familiarity with internal and external financial reporting requirements
• Experience managing multiple workstreams and supervising junior team members
• Postgraduate degrees such as a Master of Accounting (MAC) or MBA are viewed favorably but are not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day execution of Accounting Advisory engagements
• Provide guidance, direction, and task management to junior team members
• Communicate regularly with clients regarding engagement progress and deliverables
• Ensure high-quality execution and timely completion of engagement milestones
• Prepare and review internal and external financial reporting packages
• Draft accounting memoranda, accounting policies, and technical accounting analyses
• Support external audit processes, including preparation of audit requests and supporting schedules
• Assist with purchase price accounting analyses and related journal entries
• Manage variance analysis across income statement, balance sheet, and operational reporting
• Review and analyze existing accounting and finance processes to identify improvement opportunities
• Assess root causes of reporting inefficiencies or process bottlenecks
• Provide recommendations for improving month-end close processes, reporting cadence, and automation opportunities
• Support implementation of recommended process improvements within client organizations
• Perform detailed analyses on financial data and operational metrics
• Translate financial analysis into actionable insights that support operational decision-making
• Guide junior team members’ analysis of financial results and financial statements
• Lead client meetings and conference calls related to financial reporting, operational discovery, and change management initiatives
• Communicate financial results and reporting insights to management teams
• Support the integration of Palm Tree reporting processes and deliverables into clients’ ongoing business operations
• Provide regular engagement status updates to senior team members
• Train and mentor junior team members
• Support recruiting and onboarding initiatives within the Accounting Advisory team
• Begin participating in business development efforts and client relationship building

Benefits

• Base salary range of $100,000–$150,000, with performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Competitive 401(k) program with employer matching contributions.
• Hybrid work environment with access to offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO).
• Opportunities for career advancement within a merit-based, entrepreneurial culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees