Karen Benson is a senior tax manager at SKDO, primarily working in the tax compliance and consulting side of the firm. She enjoys working with a variety of clients but specializes in small to mid-sized business tax preparation, consulting, and financial reporting. She is passionate about helping businesses succeed in an increasingly regulatory environment, whether it’s through tax planning, financial analysis, or management consulting. An analytical thinker, Karen’s ability to see the big picture and come up with out of the box solutions make her a great asset to the firm. As a senior manager, Karen’s other responsibilities include managing staff, administrating firm initiatives, and helping lead SKDO’s Tax Department.

Originally an art major in college, Karen quickly discovered that she did not have the starving artist mentality and her real interests lie in more practical fields. She felt like accounting was the base knowledge needed to fully succeed in the business world and therefore ended up switching her major. Karen attributes her career success to her innovative thought processes, good work ethic, and forward-thinking mentality.

When she’s not at SKDO, Karen most enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also loves traveling, hiking, listening to various podcasts, and going anywhere with live music.

Designations:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Illinois

Memberships:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)

Education:

• Olivet Nazarene University
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting (2007)
  • Cum Laud