Principal - Tax

Sikich•Chicago, IL

6d•$322,491•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal will serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, fostering long-term relationships. This role involves understanding client needs and translating them into actionable strategies and solutions, managing client expectations, resolving escalations, and ensuring consistent value delivery. The Principal will also conduct executive-level presentations, facilitate strategic discussions, and develop and execute account strategies to increase revenue and client impact. Additionally, the role includes overseeing engagement profitability, resource utilization, and the overall health of the client portfolio.

Requirements

BA/BS degree in a relevant field, required
Ten (10) plus years of experience in professional services, consulting, or a related field
Proven track record of leading client engagements and business development
Deep understanding of professional services delivery models and client lifecycle
Experience in managing engagement budgets, expenses, and performance management
Ability to articulate complex financial data and review significant findings
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to collaborate, influence, negotiate, and effectively coach employees and managers
Familiarity with industry trends, regulatory environments, and competitive landscapes
Exceptional leadership and team management capabilities
Strong business acumen and strategic thinking
Proven capability to engage senior stakeholders and facilitate consensus effectively
Demonstrated capacity to develop innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges presented by individual clients
High integrity and moral character; committed to following quality control standards
Servant Leader – You are hyper focused on engaging employees, fostering their development, and building a positive culture.
Solutions Focused – You see opportunities in every business problem and can develop, articulate, and implement solutions.
Collaboration – You are a relationship builder across all levels of the organization and across all business units.
Instills Trust - You do what you say, and you follow through on commitments, you act with integrity, you are consistent and are perceived as credible.
Impact & Influence Thinking – You gain support for ideas, proposals, and solutions, and get others to act, with or without formal authority, to advance initiatives/objectives.

Nice To Haves

master’s degree, preferred
CPA certification, for accounting Principals; and other relevant industry certifications, preferred
Recognized expertise in working with private equity backed portfolio companies

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, fostering long-term relationships.
Understand client needs and translate them into actionable strategies and solutions.
Manage client expectations, resolve escalations, and ensure consistent value delivery.
Conduct executive-level presentations and facilitate strategic discussions.
Develop and execute account strategies to increase revenue and client impact.
Oversee engagement profitability, resource utilization, and overall client portfolio health.

Benefits

Competitive compensation
Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
Paid holidays
Comprehensive wellness program
Flexible work arrangements
Health, dental, vision, life, and accident/death/disability insurance options
HSA employer contribution
Nine (9) paid holidays annually
Robust paid Parental Bonding Leave program covering birth, adoption, and foster children
401(k) with employer contributions
CPA bonus with four (4) paid exam days & four (4) paid study days
Tuition reimbursement
Generous employee referral bonus program
Client referral bonus program
Pet insurance
FORCE – Sikich community volunteer program enabling each team member to use up to four hours of paid time annually to volunteer and make a difference in their local communities.