If you're a business owner in the Chicago suburbs looking for a CPA firm that goes beyond filing returns and producing financial statements, DHJJ is worth a close look.
Founded in 1974 in Naperville, Illinois as DiGiovine Hnilo Jordan + Johnson Ltd., the firm has spent more than 50 years building a practice that covers tax, audit, accounting, and business advisory services across two Illinois office locations and a client base that now stretches nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- DHJJ has operated for over 50 years, growing from a two-person office to a firm with more than 100 staff members across two Illinois locations.
- The firm serves businesses across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction, real estate, and franchises, with industry-specific knowledge rather than a generalist approach.
- DHJJ offers specialty services beyond standard CPA work, including fractional CFO services, forensic accounting, business valuations, and multi-state taxation.
Who Is DHJJ?
DHJJ started in 1974 as a small Naperville accounting office.
Over five decades, it expanded into a full-service CPA and business advisory firm with two Illinois locations: one at 184 Shuman Blvd., Suite 200, in Naperville, and a second at 2560 Foxfield Road, Suite 300, in St. Charles.
The firm now has more than 100 associates, including CPAs, tax specialists, and business consultants.
It is a member of AGN International, a global association of independent accounting firms, which gives DHJJ access to resources and peer networks that go beyond what a standalone regional firm might offer.
The name DHJJ reflects the founders' surnames, a common convention in accounting partnerships, and the firm has retained that identity as it scaled.
The core message on its website is straightforward: help businesses and individuals make better financial decisions, reduce complexity, and move toward their goals.
Services Offered
DHJJ structures its work into four main categories, each covering a range of specific services.
Tax Services
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Tax Planning | Customized strategies for minimizing tax liability |
| Current & Prior Year Tax Preparation | Filing support for both current and past tax years |
| Multi-State Taxation | Compliance support for businesses operating across state lines |
| Estimated Tax Planning | Guidance on quarterly payments for business owners |
DHJJ treats tax planning as something that should happen year-round, not just at filing time. The firm's blog regularly publishes practical content on tax law changes.
As of early 2026, recent articles have covered topics like the 2026 filing season updates, Section 174 R&D tax credit rules, and the Illinois sales tax requirements for business owners.
That kind of current, specific content suggests an active effort to keep clients informed rather than waiting for them to ask.
Audit and Assurance
DHJJ provides audits, reviews, and compilations for companies that need them, whether as a legal requirement or as part of securing financing or resolving disputes.
The firm holds memberships in the AICPA's Private Company Practice Section and the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center.
It has passed eight consecutive peer reviews, an independent quality-check process that gives outside confirmation that the firm's audit work meets professional standards.
The firm emphasizes early planning on audit engagements: preparation lists, consistent communication, and in-person meetings before fieldwork begins.
Whether that translates to a smoother experience in practice depends on the specific engagement team, but the process-driven approach is clearly stated.
Accounting Services
For businesses that need ongoing accounting support, DHJJ offers bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, cash flow management, accounts receivable and payable work, and accounting software guidance.
The firm covers industries with specific accounting challenges, including revenue recognition issues for service businesses, margin analysis for manufacturers, and retirement account deferral planning.
It also offers cloud-based accounting services, which means businesses working remotely or across multiple locations can maintain real-time visibility into their financials without needing on-site support.
Advisory Services
This is arguably the broadest part of what DHJJ does. Advisory services at the firm cover:
- Business advisory (strategic planning, growth consulting)
- Financial advisory through DHJJ Financial Advisors
- Fractional CFO services (part-time CFO support without the full-time hire)
- Business valuations
- Forensic accounting
- Exit planning
- Divorce financial planning
- Benefit plan solutions
- Technology consulting
The fractional CFO offering is worth noting specifically. For mid-sized businesses that have grown past what a bookkeeper can handle but aren't ready to bring on a full-time CFO, this kind of arrangement fills a real gap.
DHJJ positions it as a scalable option that grows with the client's needs.
Industries Served
DHJJ does not take a one-size-fits-all approach to industries.
The firm explicitly states that what works for a construction contractor will not necessarily apply to a healthcare provider or a franchise operator. Sectors the firm works with include:
- Manufacturing and distribution
- Trucking
- Healthcare
- Real estate
- Restaurants and food and beverage
- Construction
- Franchises
- Information technology
The firm offers industry-specific tax credit guidance, sector-appropriate accounting software recommendations, and advisors with direct experience in relevant sectors.
That kind of vertical focus matters when your business faces niche compliance requirements or unusual financial structures.
Geographic Reach
DHJJ's primary offices are in Naperville and St. Charles, serving the broader Chicagoland area.
The firm also lists service coverage across more than a dozen Illinois cities, including Aurora, Joliet, Elgin, Rockford, Springfield, Champaign, and Northbrook.
For clients outside Illinois, the firm's website notes that it serves clients nationwide, which aligns with its multi-state tax and advisory capabilities.
Hours at both offices run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with no weekend availability listed.
Team and Leadership
The firm currently has more than 16 principals and a total staff exceeding 100.
The website features a dedicated team page with individual profiles, including Rebecca "Beki" Turner Maquet as Managing Director Principal, alongside principals like Arleen Bankemper, John Bradley, Russell Brewer, Ed Brooks (who also holds the title of Chief Growth Officer), Nicholas Brooks, Kathy Byrne, and Terry Cicero.
Making specific team members visible and searchable is a practical choice for prospective clients who want to research who they'll actually work with.
DHJJ actively recruits through its website and has participated in university career fairs, suggesting a structured pipeline for new talent.
What Sets DHJJ Apart
A few things distinguish DHJJ from a typical regional CPA firm. The first is the breadth of specialty services, specifically forensic accounting, fractional CFO, exit planning, and divorce financial planning.
These are not standard offerings at most small to mid-sized accounting firms.
Second is the length of the firm's operating history: 50-plus years in the same market builds the kind of local knowledge and institutional familiarity that newer firms can't replicate quickly.
Third is the peer review track record. Eight consecutive clean peer reviews is a concrete, verifiable quality signal in an industry where it can be difficult to evaluate providers from the outside.
The Learning Center on the DHJJ website provides a library of articles, guides, and updates on tax law, business finance, and accounting practices.
For prospective clients who want to gauge how current and practical the firm's knowledge is before making contact, this is a useful resource to explore.
Pricing and Consultations
DHJJ does not publish pricing on its website, which is standard for professional services firms of this type.
Initial consultations can be scheduled directly through the website.
Conclusion
DHJJ is a well-established Illinois CPA firm with a service range that goes considerably further than tax preparation and audits, making it a credible option for business owners who need a single firm to handle complex, overlapping financial needs.
Businesses in the Chicagoland area with multi-state operations, specialty advisory needs, or sector-specific accounting challenges will find more here than at a generalist shop.