Karen Fitzgerald

Karen specializes in Employee Benefit Plans, ensuring our clients remain in compliance with accounting and auditing standards. She is dedicated to forming strong relationships centered on proactive communication, supervising benefit plan teams, and helping our clients build a better organization for their employees.

Karen joined Smith + Howard in 2024 and is a Manager in our Assurance practice. She began her career at a Big 4 firm in Chicago, auditing public and private companies in the financial services and manufacturing industries. Karen later transitioned into human resources, managing compensation plans and consulting on organizational structure. 

Throughout her career, Karen has led process improvement initiatives, enhancing efficiency while maintaining attention to detail. Her expertise in financial reporting and auditing has earned her a reputation as a dedicated and reliable team player.

Karen lives in Barrington, IL. She enjoys spending time with her family and participating in book clubs.

Location

• Chicago, Illinois

Education

• Illinois State University – Bachelor of Business Science in Accountancy
• Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, DePaul – MBA, Human Resources Concentration

Affiliations

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Illinois Society of Certified Public Accountants

Hometown

• Moline, Illinois

Interests and Hobbies

• Spending time with family
• Book club