Financial Consulting Associate - Accounting & Finance Optimization - Fall 2026

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RSM

RSM

Financial Consulting Associate - Accounting & Finance Optimization - Fall 2026

Chicago, IL
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.

    RSM’s Finance and Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) practice is looking for skilled professionals to join us at the Associate level. RSM’s FAO practice blends to best of both worlds by providing candidates with all the career growth opportunities that come with working for a public accounting firm, while at the same time operating in private company environments daily. We provide accounting, technology, and consulting services to private, lower middle market clients, with revenues ranging from $0 to $100 million. Our diverse industry base includes technology, life science, not-for-profit and professional service organizations, just to name a few. This position will need to work to tight deadlines and a multitude of accounting activities, such as month end close, financial reporting, year-end client tax and audit projects, and the support of budget and forecasting activities. In addition, you will have the ability to learn and efficiently use our best-in-class cloud-based technology stack. FAO Associates have contact with our clients (CEO, COO, CFO, VP of Finance, Controller, etc.), as well as other client contacts including tax and professional service providers.

    We operate in a team-based environment and have a proven track record of delivering exceptional value to our clients. The key attributes that will make someone successful in this role include:

    • Assertive, collaborative, team player

    • Superior ability to prioritize and focus in a dynamic, multi-tasking environment

    • Solid Excel skills (create tables, use formulas, pivot tables)

    • Familiarity and comfort level working with cloud-based technology systems

    • Willingness to learn and work with emerging technology solutions such as OCR (Optical Character Recognition), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Accounting BOTS

    • Professional presentation and great communication skills as contact with clients will be extensive

    **Responsibilities: **

    This is a hands-on position that requires transaction processing, account reconciliation and financial reporting skills. Duties include:

    • Key point of contact for our clients Purchase to Pay, Order to Cash and Month End Close cycles

    • Oversees and reviews our accounts payable and accounts receivable teams for our clients

    • Processes and records journal entries for prepaid expenses, fixed assets, accrued expenses, payroll, and / or inventory transactions, as applicable, in an accurate and timely manner

    • Understands the purpose of reconciliations. Prepares bank reconciliations and general ledger account reconciliations

    • Prepare client’s monthly financial statements including month over month variance analysis and / or actual to budget analysis

    • Continuously identify opportunities to enhance the clients' monthly operations to make suggestions for process improvements

    • Define and document repeatable methodologies with appropriate tools and templates that can be leveraged for future projects.

    • Understand our technology stack and identify additional add-on processes, systems, modules, and integrations that can drive month-end close efficiencies.

    Qualifications

    • A minimum of a Bachelor's in accounting is required

    • Excellent written and oral communication skills are necessary (proactively communicates status, issues, conflicts, and priorities up, down and across the engagement team)

    • Ability to balance multiple responsibilities simultaneously plus excellent analytical and decision-making skills

    • Experience in a public accounting firm, consulting firm or other professional services environment preferred but not required

    • Proficiency utilizing Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).

    • Strong organizational skills along with the ability to meet deadlines.

    • Ability to adapt to change effectively

    Preferred Qualifications

    • Experience with automated accounting systems (i.e., Intacct, NetSuite, Blackline, Bill.com, Tallie)

    • CPA or pursuing CPA

    At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.

    All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

    Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.

    RSM does not intend to hire entry-level candidates who require sponsorship now or in the future. This includes individuals who will one day request or require RSM to file or complete immigration-related forms or prepare letters on their behalf in order for them to obtain or continue their work authorization.

    RSM will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the requirements of applicable law, including but not limited to, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional information regarding RSM’s background check process, including information about job duties that necessitate the use of one or more types of background checks, click here.

    At RSM, an employee’s pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or starting rate for interns and associates) for this role represents numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, education, skills, work experience, certifications, location, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

    Compensation Range: $68,640 - $81,900

  • Industry
    Professional Services
  • About Us

    RSM is the leading provider of professional services to the middle market. The clients we serve are the engine of global commerce and economic growth, and we are focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business landscape. Our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. RSMUS, LLP is led by Brian Becker, managing partner & CEO of RSM US LLP. He oversees over 17,000 assurance, tax and consulting professionals across nearly 100 offices in the U.S., Canada, India and El Salvador. RSM US and RSM UK recently announced plans to merge, creating a transatlantic enterprise with more than 23,000 people across six countries, including U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, India and El Salvador.