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Tax Accountant

Kemper · Chicago, IL · $54,800–$91,400 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found a way to save money or reduce risk on a tax matter.

What they are checking: Whether they look for ways to improve the company's tax position, not just file returns.

How do you stay current on state and local tax changes?

What they are checking: Whether they keep up with rules that change often across many jurisdictions.

Tell me about a time you caught an error in your own work before it went out.

What they are checking: Whether they have habits that catch mistakes, which matters when filings go to regulators.

What would you do

You need data from finance and operations to complete a return, and it's late. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can coordinate across teams and still meet strict regulatory deadlines.

You receive a notice from a state tax department saying a payment was late. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can investigate calmly, respond professionally and prevent it from happening again.

How would you explain the tax impact of a proposed business change to a non-tax manager?

What they are checking: Whether they can communicate tax implications clearly to people outside the tax team.

About the work

What do you know about premium taxes for insurance companies, and how do they differ from income taxes?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the state-level taxes that are central to insurance tax compliance.

How would you organize filings across many states when each has different deadlines and rules?

What they are checking: Whether they have a system for tracking multi-state compliance so nothing is missed.

What are guaranty fund assessments, and how should they be accounted for?

What they are checking: Whether they understand insurance-specific obligations and their financial statement treatment.

Walk me through how you'd reconcile a tax payable account that doesn't tie to the filings.

What they are checking: Whether they can find the cause of differences through careful account reconciliation.

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The full job description

As published by Kemper.

Location(s) CORP-Randolph-Chicago-IL Details POSITION SUMMARY The Tax Accountant is responsible for preparing, filing, analyzing and accounting for various State and Local tax filings including but not limited to: premium taxes, municipal taxes, guaranty fund assessments, use taxes, property taxes and various insurance-related matters. This role helps ensure compliance with applicable tax rules and financial reporting standards and assists with implementing best practices to optimize the company’s tax position across many jurisdictions. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Assist with multi-state insurance tax compliance initiatives, compliance preparation and filing of state tax returns while coordinating cross-functional data across finance, accounting, and operations to meet strict regulatory deadlines • Assists with assessing tax and financial statement implications of activities and events, whether actual or proposed. • Analyzes the tax and financial statement implications of actual and proposed business activities and provides recommendations to optimize tax outcomes. • Prepares journal entries and performs account reconciliations. • Initiates and processes state and local tax payments. • Communicates with internal and external stakeholders regarding tax matters. • Creatively and regularly utilizes information services and avenues to provide insights and answer questions to tax, software and other questions. • Conducts tax research using available information services and technology. • Participates in process improvement initiatives and assists in identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, and enhance documentation. • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. • 1-2 years of relevant experience in a corporate tax function or within a public accounting firm's tax practice. • Experience with State and Local Taxes required • Experience with insurance company taxation preferred • Experience with cloud-based ERP environments, preferably Workday. • Strong working knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint. • Experience in managing deadlines and working independently in a fast-paced and matrixed environment • Experience in analyzing and reviewing tax law and/or accounting guidance and making recommendations. • Familiarity and/or strong interest in process-improvement and documentation track record. • Good verbal communication ability. Experience in technical writing. • Ability to identify, analyze and logically frame issues. • Ability to work successfully within a change-oriented environment • Experience with Alteryx and/or Power BI. • This position is hybrid in our Chicago office The range for this position is $54,800 to $91,400. When determining candidate offers, we consider experience, skills, education, certifications, and geographic location among other factors. Kemper is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We are committed to supporting diversity and equality across our organization and we work diligently to maintain a workplace free from discrimination. Kemper is focused on expanding our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts to align with our vision, mission, and guiding principles. Kemper does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Kemper and Kemper will not be obligated to pay a placement fee. Kemper will never request personal information, such as your social security number or banking information, via text or email. Additionally, Kemper does not use external messaging applications like WireApp or Skype to communicate with candidates. If you receive such a message, delete it. #LI- Remote

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