
Paulette Cihlar, CPA, CFE
Senior ManagerPaulette currently serves as a senior tax manager and has been a valuable member of the CJBS team since joining the firm in 2011. In addition to tax preparation and review, she conducts tax research and has specialized knowledge in trusts and foreign income taxation, while her non-tax related work includes forensic accounting projects. Paulette works with clients primarily in the real estate, manufacturing, and service business industries. Prior to joining CJBS, Paulette spent over 10 years as a part-time tax accountant with another CPA firm, two years of financial reporting with a publicly-held company, and three years as an auditor with Ernst & Young.
As a caring and diligent professional, Paulette believes that communication is key to client satisfaction, and she patiently strives to educate her clients on the tax issues that affect them. Paulette attributes her career success to hard work and a personal philosophy to be committed to the pursuit of knowledge in all areas of life. She always enjoyed working with numbers, and for that reason, Paulette chose to pursue a career in accounting, which also seemed a good fit for balancing work and family.
Paulette resides in Lake Zurich, Illinois, with her husband and has four grown children. In addition to spending time with her family, Paulette enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, playing piano, traveling, and working out.
Contact Paulette Cihlar
Personal Notes
Favorite book: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Favorite quote: “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” – John Lennon (1980)
Education
- University of Notre Dame
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting (1979)
Designations
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Illinois
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Memberships
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS)
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)