Audit Manager

Cowgills Limited; West Kirby; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowgills is seeking an Audit Manager in the United Kingdom to lead and oversee audit assignments from planning through completion. You will coordinate with clients, manage audit tasks, and supervise junior team members under the guidance of senior managers and directors.

You will take the lead on budgeting, monitoring progress, and addressing variances to ensure efficiency, while maintaining high-quality work and compliance with auditing standards.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA or equivalent)
• Experience in audit and accounts
• Knowledge of FRS/IFRS and regulatory standards
• Strong client relationship management and mentoring junior staff

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage audit assignments from planning to completion
• Act as primary client contact during engagements
• Supervise junior team members and provide feedback
• Prepare budgets, monitor progress and address variances
• Manage billing by tracking time and resources
• Ensure compliance with auditing and accounting standards
• Foster a positive team environment and liaise with Directors
• Perform administrative tasks to support project flow

Skills

Qualified Accountant

Audit experience

Client relations

Mentoring juniors

Accounting standards

Analytical skills

Auditing systems (CCH)

Education

ACCA or equivalent qualification

Tools

CCH

Inflo

Job description

As one of the region's leading independent chartered accountants and business advisors, Cowgills has the expertise and knowledge to provide you with a full-service offering. Our independence ensures that we can tailor our approach to suit our clients' individual needs. We have over 200 talented, committed and engaged employees, totally focused on delivering financial guidance and growth strategies to our clients.

The Role

As an Audit Manager, you will lead and oversee audit assignments from planning to completion, working under the guidance of our senior managers and directors. You will play a key role in coordinating with clients, managing audit tasks, and ensuring high-quality work. You will lead junior team members on engagements, provide guidance and feedback, and handle day-to-day audit operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage audit assignments, ensuring audits are completed on time and meet firm standards
• Act as a primary contact for clients during engagements, handling queries and maintaining clear communication
• Supervise junior team members, reviewing their work and providing constructive feedback to support their development
• Take the lead on preparing budgets, monitoring progress, and addressing variances to ensure project efficiency
• Take responsibility for billing activities by tracking time and resources to keep engagements within budget
• Ensure compliance with auditing and accounting standards throughout each engagement
• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment, addressing minor personnel matters as they arise
• Liaise with Directors to ensure alignment with department objectives and smooth service delivery
• Perform administrative and ad hoc tasks to facilitate efficient project flow

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA or equivalent qualification)
• Experience in audit and accounts, with a solid understanding of quality and regulatory standards
• Familiar with risk awareness and effective control measures within the audit process
• Skilled in managing client relationships and addressing their needs effectively
• Capable of guiding and supporting junior colleagues
• Up to date with relevant accounting and auditing standards, including FRS and IFRS
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify issues and suggest practical solutions
• Experience with auditing systems CCH & Inflo is beneficial, however full training and support will be provided

Belong @ Sumer

At Sumer, we know everyone's journey is different. That's why we're committed to fairness, removing barriers and giving people the support they need to do their best work. If you need any support during the hiring process, just let us know.

Our values represent what matters most to us and guide how we work every day:

• We Shine Together
• We Do the Right Thing
• We Make It Count

We know diverse teams make us stronger. That's why we're creating an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs and differences are valued and celebrated.

About Cowgills

When we work together, great things happen.

At Cowgills, we're more than just accountants and business advisors, we're your business partners, dedicated to helping you grow and succeed.

Entrepreneurial, straight-talking, and truly invested in your success, we're with you every step of the way. We don't just show up once a year to run the numbers and vanish. Whether you're just starting out, growing fast, or facing a few bumps in the road, we're here for all of it - from funding and tax to deals and strategy.

Clear thinking. Honest advice.

We've worked hard to be one of the North West's leading and fastest growing firm of accountants and business advisors. We're straight talking and entrepreneurial, with a focus on the commercial realities businesses face. That's why clients count on us. We invest time in getting to know the businesses we work with, enabling us to give structured advice that makes a tangible difference.

In 2024, Cowgills became part of Sumer Group - a collaboration of renowned regional accountancy practices with a shared vision to champion local small to medium-sized enterprises.

By bringing together the best in advisory & business services, Sumer Group retains the value that community-based practices offer and combines this with the scale, breadth of expertise and technologies that only a national organisation can muster.

Through our unique approach, we believe we can make a real positive impact and achieve growth for our company, our colleagues and our clients. Together, we are about doing the right things, putting people first and delivering the best possible services to those who sit at the heart of our economy and communities.

People first. Always.

We're a team of 250+ smart, energetic, down to earth people who care about doing a great job and doing it with a bit of personality. We work across many sectors, from property & construction, manufacturing & engineering, leisure & hospitality, technology and much more.

No egos. No corporate speak. Just people helping businesses grow.

Ready to get started?

Whether you've got big plans, tricky problems, or just need someone who gets it, we are here for you. Drop us a line, come in for a brew (with locations in Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester, Stockport and Wigan), and let's see where we can take your business together.

We take our clients on a growth journey, which can start as early as accounts management and evolves alongside their ambitions.

Whether it's scaling operations, navigating complex transactions, or planning for retirement, our full-service offering ensures continuity and expert guidance at every stage. We want you, our clients, to view us as true business partners – helping make informed decisions, maximise value, and prepare for the future