When you join Mowery & Schoenfeld, you’re stepping into a team of over 200 people with the variety of experience you might find at a larger firm. We’ve got recent college grads bringing fresh perspectives, mid-career professionals sharing their expertise, and seasoned veterans who’ve seen it all and offer their mentorship. That mix creates an environment where everyone learns from each other, supports one another, and pushes for new ideas. We provide opportunities for growth while allowing you to get to know people across different departments, work with various clients, and connect with leaders right from the start.
Careers
Grow Your Career at a Top 10 Illinois Firm
Your Career Development Path: How M&S Invests in Your Professional Growth
At Mowery & Schoenfeld, your professional growth is our priority. You’ll find a transparent and well-defined career path and support from leadership. From day one, you’re paired with mentors who help you set goals, navigate career challenges, and make valuable connections with firm leadership and partners.
The Firm believes in championing our people. That’s why we invest in continuing education, CPA exam support, and collaboration among departments and service lines. Whether you’re in tax, audit, or advisory, you’ll gain both depth in your specialty and a broader understanding of the business, becoming a well-rounded professional.
Unlike the typical experience at Big 4 firms, where annual attrition rates can reach 25%, we encourage our team to start, stay, and grow with the firm. And many of our leaders actually began their career journeys as M&S interns.
Campus Recruiting and Internships: Start Your Accounting Career Before Graduation
College students who are curious about a career in public accounting can explore the field through our annual job shadow events, leadership program, and paid internships. We run a robust campus recruiting program with regular visits to the region’s top schools, including University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, and University of Illinois Chicago.
Accounting and finance students who want an early look at working at a Top 10 Illinois accounting firm can benefit from our programs designed to convert interns into full-time hires:
- Job shadow: This immersive experience allows students to spend a day alongside Firm professionals, gaining firsthand insight into the career.
- Leadership program: Through workshops and networking events, the program connects students with mentors and firm leaders.
- Internships: Summer and spring/busy season internships provide structured, hands-on training in tax, audit, and advisory, offering real-world experience and opportunities.
Many current managers and partners started out as campus hires, showing how entry-level roles like Assurance Associate and Tax Associate become launching pads for long-term careers.
SEE OUR CAMPUS RECRUITING CALENDAR
Benefits and Compensation: What You Can Expect at a Top 10 Illinois Firm
Mowery & Schoenfeld offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, and salaries that are competitive with firms two to three times our size. Our team members enjoy an open paid time off policy that offers flexibility and work-life balance, setting us apart from typical high-burnout CPA firm environments.
Our Firm also covers a full 12 weeks of paid leave at 100% of an employee’s base salary for new moms, as well as competitive paid parental leave.
Our Culture: What Earned M&S a Decade of Best Places to Work Recognition
We’re proud of the culture we’ve built, but don’t just take our word for it. We’re consistently recognized as one of the best places to work by Accounting Today, Crain’s Chicago Business, Inc. Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune. The Chicago Sun-Times named us the No. 1 Medium-Sized Workplace in Chicago for 2025.
Guided by our company values — people, client service, growth, and adaptability — and we believe in supporting work-life balance with our flexible, hybrid environment. Beyond our best-in-class client service, we’re committed to cultivating our culture, providing opportunities to connect with others and give back to the community.
Mowery & Schoenfeld is a mid-size firm of more than 200 professionals who work in Lincolnshire, the Chicago Loop, and Lake Forest, IL, Miami, the Philippines, and remotely. That means we’re large enough to tackle exciting, complex projects with diverse clients, but you’ll still get the personalized attention and direct partner access that comes with a boutique firm environment.
Industry Specializations: Build Expertise That Sets You Apart
Our Firm serves clients across high-demand industries, including construction, manufacturing and distribution, professional services, healthcare, technology, search funds, and more. When you work for Mowery & Schoenfeld, you build specialized expertise that sets you apart from your accounting peers at other firms.
Our Firm’s international tax and advisory team specializes in cross-border projects, giving you the chance to guide companies and individuals through investments and tax planning between the U.S. and the rest of the world.
We embrace change, listen to our clients’ needs, and empower our employees’ entrepreneurial spirit, which continually leads to new service lines and offerings. Our turnaround accounting practice is just the latest example of that approach and demonstrates our dedication to helping businesses navigate challenging times and find solutions that work. By staying responsive and adaptable, we ensure our clients always have access to the help and resources they need to thrive.
How to Apply: Your Next Step Toward an Accounting Career in Chicago
Ready to join our team? Check out our current openings and preferred qualifications across tax, audit, advisory, and wealth management.
And be sure to connect with Mowery & Schoenfeld on LinkedIn to read the latest industry insights and learn about future opportunities.