Jobs › Baker Tilly

Tax Principal, Real Estate

Baker Tilly · IL · Full time

Posted Sep 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Baker Tilly

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

How have you built a real estate tax practice? Where do your clients come from?

What they are checking: Origination track record and relationships in the real estate community.

How do you develop managers into people clients trust without you in the room?

What they are checking: Ability to build leverage and future leaders in the practice.

Tell me about a time you saved a client significant tax through planning. What did you see that others didn't?

What they are checking: Real advisory value and the insight that sets a principal apart.

How do you work with the firm's audit and advisory teams to serve real estate clients more fully?

What they are checking: Collaboration across service lines, which grows client relationships.

What would you do

A client wants to take a position on a property sale that you believe is too aggressive. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect the client and the firm while keeping a valuable relationship.

How do you price complex real estate compliance work so it stays profitable?

What they are checking: Whether they can set scope, staffing and fees so complex compliance work earns a fair margin.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd structure a joint venture between a developer and an institutional investor for tax efficiency.

What they are checking: Advanced knowledge of promote structures, allocations and partnership tax planning.

How do you advise a REIT on staying qualified, and what tests cause the most trouble?

What they are checking: Depth on REIT income and asset tests that can cost a client its status.

How do you think about the tax implications of a portfolio recapitalization or partial sale?

What they are checking: Ability to model disguised sale rules, debt allocations and gain recognition.

What changes in tax law are you talking to real estate clients about right now?

What they are checking: Whether they turn legislative changes into timely client planning.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Baker Tilly from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Baker Tilly.

Overview Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system. Job Description: Are you looking to join an entrepreneurial firm which is one of the fastest growing in the US? Are you inspired to lead people and make a difference for your clients? If yes, consider joining Baker Tilly (BT) as a Federal Tax Partner in our National Real Estate Practice. You will be a valued business advisor delivering industry-focused tax advisory and compliance services to Real Estate Clients. You will work side-by-side with firm leadership and our associates to serve clients and build the business, having a direct impact on the firm’s success. You will be a valued mentor and coach to a group of talented staff, utilizing your expertise to help develop their technical and professional skills. As one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, BT has the ability to provide you with an amazing ownership experience working with some of the most entrepreneurial partners in our field. You will enjoy this role if: • You are an expert in tax, working with real estate clients • You are excited about the world of real estate and have strong technical expertise servicing this industry • You want to work for a leading CPA advisory firm which is growing, growth means more opportunity • You are passionate about contributing to your team’s professional growth and your continued development, creating endless opportunities now, for tomorrow What you will do: • Be a trusted leader of Baker Tilly’s tax services providing federal tax compliance and consulting services to construction and real estate clients positively impacting your clients through: • Being a valued tax business advisor, leading client relationships on day-to-day tax matters with various clients ranging from middle market to multinational • Consulting on technical matters and special projects in various areas of corporate and flow through taxation, accounting methods, and ASC740 • Researching various tax matters, responding to IRS and other tax authority inquiries, and making recommendations to the client for consideration • Coordinating with specialty tax practices on complicated tax matters in the state and local, high net worth, international, research and development along with credits and incentives areas • Overseeing tax-planning responsibilities for federal and individual clients, review complex tax research on a wide range of tax issues related to business transactions for a variety of entities and their affiliates • Providing recommendations for business and process improvements based upon knowledge gained relative to the client's operations, processes, and business objectives • Manage client engagement staffing, billings/collections, and ensure client profitability targets are met • Utilize your entrepreneurial skills to network and build strong relationships internally and externally with the goal of acquiring new clients, projects, and revenue. Actively participate in request for proposals to pursue additional clients/services for the firm • Participates with other service line leadership in developing tax service market positioning and branding, strategy, and messaging • Invest in your professional development individually and through participation in firm wide learning and development programs • Support the growth and development of team members, helping associates meet their professional goals along with proactively supporting the recruitment efforts of future team members • Demonstrate leadership, initiative, excellent team skills, and high ethical standards • Represents the firm at key community events, firm functions, and other meetings Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree required, Masters or advanced degree desirable • CPA or JD required or Enrolled Agent • Fifteen (15+) years’ experience providing federal tax compliance and consulting services in a professional services firm, working with real estate clients; relevant industry experience is considered • Proven success in building out a book of business • Five (5) + years of supervisory experience, mentoring and counseling associates • Demonstrated management, analytical, organization, interpersonal, project management, communication skills • Ability to lead and supervise others, provide exceptional client service, demonstrate commitment to continuous learning to stay current regarding applicable strategies, see the "big picture" as well as the details, display appropriate ethical knowledge and commitment, and exhibit a sense of urgency and commitment to quality and the timely completion of projects. • Highly developed software and Microsoft Suite skills • Must be willing to travel as needed to clients Nationally, and to our other Baker Tilly Offices #LI-Onsite

Apply at Baker Tilly