Assurance Manager

Overview

This role supervises, directs, and reviews the results of audit assurance engagements across planning, fieldwork, and wrap-up stages. The Assurance Manager also leads marketing, networking, and business development within an area of expertise, and ensures engagement profitability through billings and collections.

Responsibilities include advising clients on economic and regulatory risks within their industry, resolving complex accounting issues, applying GAAP and GAAS consistently in complex situations, writing technical consultation memos on GAAP/GAAS issues, and documenting, validating, testing, and assessing financial reporting control systems.

Responsibilities

Control environment and internal controls

• Applies knowledge of how factors impact the effectiveness of client policies, procedures, and supervisory controls
• Validates and assesses effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
• Identifies and communicates suggestions to improve client internal controls and accounting procedures to management and the audit committee
• Identifies and delegates appropriate audit functions to the auditor in charge
• Supervises audit team work and reviews workpapers and conclusions (preferably onsite during fieldwork)
• Provides on-the-job training to engagement staff during audit fieldwork

GAAP and accounting research

• Applies governing accounting principles to client transactions and documents/communicates the understanding and application
• Identifies and consults on the impact of new accounting pronouncements
• Monitors and communicates important professional and industry pronouncements
• Presents and discusses alternative generally accepted accounting principles, including arguments for and against alternatives
• Drafts complex financial statements and related footnote disclosures and communicates them to the client
• Identifies complex accounting issues and forms and documents resolution, consulting internal technical experts as needed

SEC and PCAOB compliance

• Applies knowledge of SEC regulations and PCAOB guidelines and documents/communicates their application
• Reviews SEC filings (including MD&A, financial statements, and disclosures) for appropriateness in form, content, completeness, and accuracy; ensures quarterly reviews are properly performed
• Reviews required communications to the client and audit committee for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with firm and professional guidelines
• Reviews Section 404 internal control audit work and related checklists for completeness and compliance with firm and professional guidelines
• Ensures compliance with engagement independence requirements and consults internally as needed

GAAS and professional standards

• Applies professional standards to engagement work, including documenting and communicating understanding and application
• Applies thorough knowledge of professional standards/practices, including GAAS and PCAOB, when performing and supervising work
• Provides guidance to others and affirms conclusions made by others
• Communicates matters required to be reported to the audit committee/board and those charged with governance
• Uses efficiency tools such as statistical sampling and CAATS, etc.

Assurance methodology and audit execution

• Applies assurance standards that support effective and efficient delivery of quality services and products
• Conducts detailed reviews to ensure the audit is completed in accordance with assurance manual standards
• Prepares or reviews communications to management and audit committees, ensuring timeliness and completeness
• Recommends appropriate outcomes to critical issues
• Initiates and prepares client acceptance/retention procedures where appropriate
• Plans the audit process and oversees procedure execution with quality, efficiency, and completeness despite deadline pressures
• Executes proper assurance methodology, including archiving procedures
• Considers Sarbanes-Oxley rules when supporting service plans for combined 404 and financial statement audits for public clients

Research and technical support

• Uses methodology to seek/maintain information from authoritative sources and draw conclusions
• Defines research methodology for projects and completes them in a timely manner
• Applies comprehensive knowledge of research tools and draws conclusions based on appropriate research
• Prepares memos supporting research and conclusions and consults with others when appropriate
• Presents issues to RTD or concurring reviewer effectively and accurately
• Other duties as required

Supervisory responsibilities

• Supervises Associates and Senior Associates on all projects
• Reviews work prepared by Associates and Senior Associates and provides review comments
• Acts as a career advisor to Associates and Senior Associates
• Schedules and manages workload
• Provides verbal and written performance feedback
• Teaches/coaches Seniors and Associates to support on-the-job learning

Business development and client leadership

• Serves as a primary contact for the client and prepares/presents presentations to clients and potential clients
• Supports client development and relationship-building
• Manages engagement profitability, including billings and collections
• Responsible for business development and marketing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, required; major in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Statistics, preferred
• Master’s degree in Accountancy, preferred
• Five (5) or more years of prior relevant audit experience and/or public accounting, private industry accounting or consulting/professional services experience, required
• Prior significant supervisory experience, required
• Industry expertise in one or more assurance specialty, preferred
• Active licensed US CPA, required; recognized active International Equivalent or unique qualification as defined by firm Assurance Licensing Policy, required
• If holding an active international equivalent or unique qualification, must obtain an active US CPA license within the approved timeframe as defined by firm licensing requirement guidelines

Preferred / Additional Skills

• Sound GAAP and GAAS knowledge
• Familiarity with SEC and PCAOB reporting rules
• Proven solid verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent people development and delegation skills, including training/instruction and engagement scheduling and budgeting
• Executive presence (ability to serve as primary client contact and present)
• Solid decision-making skills and ability to resolve complex accounting issues
• Experience with assurance applications and research tools, preferred
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, preferred

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation varies based on factors including qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

Salary ranges by location:

• California Range: $120,000 - $140,000
• Cleveland, Ohio Range: $95,000 - $125,000
• Colorado Range: $95,000 - $120,000
• Illinois Range: $100,000 - $125,000
• Maryland Range: $105,000 - $125,000
• Massachusetts Range: $120,000 - $135,000
• Minnesota Range: $95,000 - $110,000
• New Jersey Range: $104,000 - $112,000
• NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $110,000 - $150,000
• Washington Range: $95,000 - $115,000
• Washington DC Range: $105,000 - $128,000

Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements. (Further details not included in the posting.)

Location

Multiple locations across the U.S., including:

• California
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Colorado
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• NYC/Long Island/Westchester
• Washington
• Washington DC