Chicago has one of the deepest accounting benches in the country. The city is the headquarters of Baker Tilly, RSM, Grant Thornton, and Crowe — four of the ten largest public accounting firms in the US — and home to a long list of independent and boutique firms that serve mid-market businesses, family offices, and fast-growing tech companies. For growing companies, the practical question is less “who is good?” and more “who is the right fit for my size and industry?”
This guide highlights some of the firms in Chicago listed in the FindFinancePros directory, grouped by the type of work they do best. Every firm links to a profile page with services, industries served, and contact information.
Why fractional and outsourced finance keeps growing in Chicago
Chicago’s mid-market is crowded with privately held manufacturers, distributors, professional services firms, and B2B SaaS companies — exactly the segment where fractional CFO and controller services fit best. Most of these businesses need sharper forecasting, stronger monthly reporting, and senior finance support during raises or transactions, but aren’t yet at the scale to justify a full-time CFO. That’s the gap Chicago’s fractional specialists fill.
Leading fractional CFO firms in Chicago
DBC CFO and NOW CFO - Chicago both offer ongoing and project-based fractional CFO and controller services to Chicagoland businesses that need senior finance leadership on demand.
Propeller Industries is a national outsourced finance firm with a Chicago presence serving VC-backed startups and scaling companies across SaaS, consumer, and services sectors.
McCracken Alliance - Chicago delivers interim and fractional CFO engagements to middle-market businesses, with partners who have sat in full-time CFO roles earlier in their careers.
Pasquesi Partners LLC combines CPA expertise with practical CFO advisory for Chicago tech startups and agency businesses. Local Fractional Chicago and MarkCMO Fractional CFO round out the boutique end of the market.
Founders CPA on W. Jackson Blvd provides scalable accounting-as-a-service, tax, and CFO services specifically for venture-backed tech, FinTech, blockchain, and SaaS startups.
Top mid-market and regional Chicago CPA firms
Plante Moran - Chicago is one of the country’s largest accounting and consulting firms, with a major Chicago office serving manufacturing, distribution, real estate, and financial services clients.
Wipfli LLP - Chicago is a top-25 national firm with a Wacker Drive office offering assurance, tax, and consulting across manufacturing, financial institutions, and nonprofits.
Sikich is a top-30 technology-enabled CPA and consulting firm at 200 W Madison Street, blending accounting, tax, advisory, and IT managed services for Chicagoland and national clients.
Miller, Cooper & Co., Ltd. is one of the 10 largest accounting firms in Chicago, providing entrepreneurial and middle-market clients with accounting, tax, due diligence, IT, and retirement plan services since 1919.
FGMK is a Chicagoland-headquartered firm with nearly 60 years of experience offering financial reporting, tax, advisory, M&A, and interim/outsourced financial leadership.
Topel Forman is a Chicago CPA firm on W Washington Street with 60+ years of experience delivering tax, audit, advisory, and family office services to individuals, families, and businesses.
Warady & Davis LLP is a Top 25 Chicago CPA firm serving privately-held businesses and high-net-worth individuals from Deerfield, with deep industry strengths in construction, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Mowery & Schoenfeld LLC is a top-10 Illinois CPA firm known for assurance, tax, and financial planning with an industry-specific approach. Porte Brown LLC is a Great Lakes Regional Leader on the Accounting Today Top 100 Firms list.
Boutique and small business CPA firms
Chicagoland CPA & Accountants on N Cumberland Avenue has served the Chicagoland region since 1994 with small business accounting, tax, payroll, and CFO-level advisory. Stenger Tax Advisory at 110 N Wacker Drive offers proactive, customized tax planning and bookkeeping for businesses and individuals.
Odoni Partners LLC at 71 S Wacker Drive delivers full-service tax, bookkeeping, audit, and financial advisory services across healthcare, nonprofit, and real estate sectors. South Loop CPA works with Chicago businesses and high-net-worth clients on accounting, tax, and advisory.
John Joseph Griffin, CPA on W. Irving Park Rd provides personalized business accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, outsourced CFO, and tax planning. Fred Lundin CPA on S. Clinton Street specializes in e-commerce accounting, fractional CFO services, and business data analytics. iAcctax covers Chicago and Deerfield with accounting, payroll, CFO services, and business valuation.
Finding the right fit in Chicago
If you’re an early-stage or venture-backed business, firms like Founders CPA, Propeller Industries, or Pasquesi Partners tend to be the right starting point. Owner-operated mid-market businesses often find the best fit with Miller Cooper, Warady & Davis, Porte Brown, or Mowery & Schoenfeld. If you’re running a more complex business with audit and consulting needs, the national and super-regional firms — Plante Moran, Wipfli, Sikich, FGMK — are set up for you.
Browse the full Chicago directory to compare firms by service and industry, or get matched with a shortlist tailored to your business.