Korinne Smillie
Principal CPA I’ve always loved jigsaw puzzles, but I like to make them a bit more challenging — and fun — by never looking at the picture on the box. It turns each puzzle into a little mystery that I get to solve piece by piece.”
Korinne Smillie
Principal, CPA
Experience
As a principal in our real estate and construction practice, I advise clients on complex accounting matters impacting the industry, including historic tax credit deals, consolidation, lease accounting, impairment, and joint venture accounting considerations. I primarily serve residential and commercial real estate clients, real estate investment trusts, and real estate funds specializing in the development and leasing of hospitality, retail, residential, commercial, and multiuse properties.
Clients appreciate my responsiveness, expertise, and the level of care I invest in understanding their business to help them achieve their goals. Throughout my decade-plus career, one of my proudest accomplishments has been building and nurturing teams grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. I find deep satisfaction in client service; building relationships and helping clients solve complex problems feels like piecing together a puzzle. The combination of intellectual challenge, human connection, and tangible impact is what makes this work so rewarding for me.
Around the office, I’m known for my dedication to serving clients well and my hands-on leadership style. I’m always ready to roll up my sleeves and work alongside the team — digging into the details, collaboratively solving problems, and driving meaningful outcomes together.
I earned both my B.S. in accounting and my master’s in accounting science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I’m a member of several professional organizations, including the AICPA, Illinois CPA Society, CREW Chicago (where I co-chair the scholarship committee), REFF Chicago, and I sit on the board for Landmarks Illinois. I’m also often asked to speak one-on-one to clients and their boards, and publicly at association meetings about current industry issues, tax credit incentives, lease accounting, and consolidation analysis.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband, daughter, and our dog. We enjoy going on walks together, visiting the park, and playing board games.
