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Chicago accounting recruiters

Recruit Finance helps Chicago, Illinois employers hire accountants, controllers and accounting leaders. A strong accounting team keeps the close on track and gives leaders confidence in the numbers. Hire people who bring the right reporting, systems and business experience to your organization.

Chicago employers work across accounting, tax and payroll services, finance and trading technology, and software and communications technology. We build your search around financial reporting, month-end close, audit readiness or day-to-day accounting, with experience suited to your business.

Whether you need a permanent hire, contract support or an executive search, our accounting recruiters can help. Tell us about your team and the role you need to fill.

We also support Accounting hiring in Indianapolis.

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Top firms choose us to find accounting talent

Your catalyst for accounting and finance excellence

Recruit Finance is a leading talent acquisition firm specializing in accounting, finance, financial services, and insurance recruitment. Founded in 2015 by former Big Four accountants Sarah Kowalski and Michael Rodriguez, we combine deep industry expertise with advanced analytics to connect top financial talent with premier organizations nationwide. Our specialized teams serve over 500 clients, from Fortune 500 financial institutions to emerging FinTech startups, maintaining an industry-leading 94% placement success rate and 89% first-year retention rate. With dedicated divisions in public accounting, corporate finance, investment banking, wealth management, and insurance services, we deliver precisely matched candidates through our rigorous vetting process and proprietary talent matching technology, ensuring lasting partnerships that drive success for both employers and candidates.

Accounting success stories:
What our clients say

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Industries shaping accounting hiring in Chicago

Each industry calls for a different mix of experience. Explore the employer landscape in Chicago below, then tell us where your next hire needs to contribute.

Accounting, tax and payroll services

Accounting and tax businesses need people who can deliver accurate work and manage client expectations. Find professionals with the reporting, tax and systems experience your team needs.

Employer sources

data.bls.gov

Finance and trading technology

Your finance team needs to understand how the business operates. We help you hire for financial reporting, planning, cost accounting and cash management in your industry.

Local and regional employers

  • CME Group
  • Cboe Global Markets
  • JPMorgan Chase
  • Northern Trust
Employer sources

worldbusinesschicago.com

Software and communications technology

Software businesses need finance teams that can connect revenue, investment and growth. Find professionals with the planning and reporting experience that fits your business model.

Local and regional employers

  • Google
  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft
  • Motorola Solutions
Employer sources

worldbusinesschicago.com, www.motorolasolutions.com

Chicago accounting salary ranges

Use these local figures as a starting point for your offer. Responsibilities, experience and the full compensation package will shape what it takes to hire.

Chicago accounting salary ranges · Annual wages · USD
RoleLower end of typical payMedianUpper end of typical payMeasure and source
Accountants and Auditors $72,280$82,360$103,120 BLS annual wages, May 2025
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $45,620$51,440$61,610 BLS annual wages, May 2025
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks $49,750$62,920$77,230 BLS annual wages, May 2025
About these salary figures

BLS figures cover Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and show 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile annual wages for May 2025. Related specialties can share a broad occupation category. Wages include commissions and production bonuses; overtime, nonproduction bonuses and employer benefits are excluded.

Accountants and auditors is the main benchmark; controller and leadership responsibilities can extend beyond this occupation.

Compare salaries for your role

Education and accounting talent in Chicago

Planning an early-career hire? Explore schools with relevant fields of study, then work with us to define the skills and experience your team needs.

DeVry University-Illinois

Lisle, IL

Fields of study include accounting and accounting and finance.

270 degree awards · 2024–25

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

Fields of study include accounting and taxation.

253 degree awards · 2024–25

About the degree figures

Counts cover bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees awarded from July 2024 through June 2025. They count degree awards, rather than people available to hire. Totals can include other teaching locations and government estimates.

Degree data from the U.S. Department of Education

Recruiting service questions

We specialize in placing accounting talent across all levels, from staff accountants to CFOs. Our expertise covers financial accountants, management accountants, tax specialists, auditors, controllers, financial analysts, and treasury professionals. Whether you need entry-level support or executive leadership, we can help find the right match for your organization.

The average placement timeline is 3-4 weeks from initial consultation to offer acceptance. This timeline can vary depending on the seniority of the position and specific requirements. For urgent roles, we can often expedite the process by leveraging our existing talent pool and network of pre-screened candidates.

We maintain a 92% successful placement rate across all accounting positions. Furthermore, 85% of our placed candidates remain in their positions for over two years. This success stems from our thorough understanding of both technical requirements and cultural fit, ensuring long-term matches for our clients.

Our comprehensive verification process includes technical assessments tailored to each role, thorough certification verification, and in-depth interviews conducted by experienced accounting recruiters. We also perform detailed reference checks and can arrange practical software assessments when required. This multi-step approach ensures candidates have the technical proficiency needed for success.

Our fee structure is percentage-based, typically ranging from 15-25% of the candidate’s first-year salary, depending on the position level and complexity of the search. We offer competitive guarantee periods and can arrange flexible payment terms to accommodate your business needs. All fees are discussed upfront with complete transparency.

Yes, we offer a full range of flexible staffing solutions to meet your needs. This includes temporary placements, contract-to-hire arrangements, project-based accountants, interim financial managers, and seasonal tax professionals. We can quickly scale our support based on your business cycles and specific requirements.

We assess each candidate’s proficiency in major accounting software platforms through practical testing and detailed discussions about their experience. This includes evaluation of their expertise with QuickBooks, SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, among others. We can also arrange specific software testing based on your company’s systems.

Our candidates come from diverse professional backgrounds spanning public accounting firms, corporate finance departments, manufacturing companies, healthcare organizations, technology firms, retail businesses, and non-profit sectors. This broad exposure allows us to find candidates with relevant industry experience for your specific needs.

We treat every search with the utmost confidentiality, using strict protocols including non-disclosure agreements, blind job postings, and discrete candidate approaches. Our internal systems limit access to search details, and we carefully manage all client information to maintain complete privacy throughout the process.

 

Our post-placement support includes a comprehensive 90-day guarantee period, regular check-ins with both client and candidate, assistance with onboarding processes, and ongoing performance feedback collection. If any issues arise during the guarantee period, we provide prompt replacement services at no additional cost.

 

Ready to work with Recruit Finance?