Assurance Senior

Overview

The Assurance Senior coordinates day-to-day “in-charge” activities for audit engagements, including planning, fieldwork, and wrap-up. This role prepares financial statements with disclosures, applies relevant areas of GAAP as needed, and documents, validates, tests, and assesses internal control systems. You will also serve as a client contact for basic questions and information and may participate in review and agreed-upon procedure engagements.

Responsibilities

Control Environment

• Apply knowledge of transactional flow and key transactional cycles to complete audit work
• Document, validate, and assess the design and operating effectiveness of clients’ internal control systems
• Identify and communicate suggested improvements to client internal controls and accounting procedures to help reduce risk
• Supervise and review the work of audit staff

GAAP

• Communicate financial statement disclosure requirements to clients
• Draft complex sets of financial statements with disclosures
• Recognize and apply new pronouncements to client situations
• Identify, analyze, and discuss alternative generally accepted accounting principles with the Manager, Senior Manager, engagement partner, and the client as needed
• Identify complex accounting issues and bring them to superiors for resolution
• Coach less experienced team members in new areas

SEC and PCAOB

• Read and review clients’ SEC filings to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Ensure financial information is documented in workpapers and supported by appropriate testing
• Prepare required communications to the client and the Audit Committee
• Plan and execute Section 404 internal control audits, including:
  • Obtaining an understanding of the control environment
  • Designing test plans
  • Evaluating deficiencies
  • Assessing the overall financial reporting control environment

GAAS

• Formulate and communicate the audit plan
• Apply GAAS to a variety of complex issues and consult others as appropriate
• Use audit skepticism and determine when to reduce or expand testing
• Utilize audit manuals as appropriate for the situation
• Document deviations from firm policy with approval

Methodology

• Coordinate day-to-day execution of the audit plan, ensuring fieldwork is completed as planned according to timetable, firm policies and procedures, and within budget
• Apply audit approaches and methodologies, including tools and technology, to execute the audit
• Identify and propose outcomes to critical issues

Research

• Use internal and external research tools and select methodology for routine research requests
• Research complex accounting areas, form an initial opinion independently on the correct treatment, and document the impact on the client and the audit engagement
• Document and organize complicated findings in a usable format based on information obtained from authoritative sources
• Assist the engagement manager with gathering information about the business and information system (including the accounting system) to form an adequate basis for audit strategy
• Develop the draft Audit Engagement Planning Memorandum, audit programs, and budgets
• Collaborate with the engagement manager to establish audit staff responsibilities for specific areas of audit work
• Perform other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide verbal and written performance feedback to Audit Associates
• Supervise Audit Associates’ work assignments within the assigned engagement team

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics, required; OR Bachelor’s degree in other focus area and CPA certification, required
• Two (2) or more years of prior relevant audit experience and/or public accounting, private industry accounting or consulting/professional services experience, required
• Eligible to sit for the CPA exams upon starting employment, required and actively pursuing completion of the exams, required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accountancy
• Prior basic supervisory experience
• CPA
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite
• Experience with assurance applications and research tools

Additional Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Solid understanding and experience planning and coordinating audit stages for basic public and/or private companies
• Knowledge of internal accounting controls and professional standards and regulations (GAAP, GAAS, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to adapt style and messaging to professionals at all levels within the client organization and the firm
• Ability to multi-task while working independently and within a group environment
• Superior analytical and diagnostic skills; ability to break down complex issues and implement appropriate resolutions
• Ability to work in a demanding, deadline-driven environment with focus on detail and accuracy
• Solid project management skills

Compensation & Benefits

• Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.
• The employer is an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.