External Audit Manager (CPA)

P&A Grant Thornton; Philippines; On-site; PHP 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

P&A Grant Thornton is seeking an Audit Manager to lead and supervise client audit engagements, coordinating planning, execution, and completion of financial audits while ensuring quality and timely delivery.

The role involves engagement management, client relations, people management, and administrative duties to meet budgets and performance objectives.

Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant credential required.
• At least six years of external audit experience, including three years in supervision.
• Exposure to different industries is preferred.
• Strong background in audit methodologies and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead audit engagements, planning, executing, directing and completing audits.
• Manage engagement budgets, timelines, and billing.
• Supervise planning, risk assessment, and staffing for engagements.
• Coordinate with specialists and other offices to ensure quality deliverables.
• Review income tax returns, financial statements, and audit reports for sign-off.
• Provide recommendations and deliver the Management Letter to clients.
• Maintain strong client relationships and ensure adherence to ethics and quality standards.

Skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication across levels

Client management

Education

Certified Public Accountant

Job description

The Audit Manager works closely with the Senior Manager/Audit Partner in leading the client audit engagement, which include planning, executing, directing and completing financial audits providing assurance services to our portfolio of international and local clients.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Engagement Management

• Provide management over a portfolio of clients and deliver high quality audit and assurance service, including preparing and reviewing audit plans and work.
• Achieve team and individual budgets and business plan/ performance objectives.
• Manages the daily operations of the audit engagement including project financials, budgets, WIPS, timely billing and collection and variance recognition.
• Prepare or supervise the preparation of engagement proposals that are consistent with the Firm's quality standards
• Supervise the planning of engagements which includes the assessment of audit risks and tailoring of audit procedures for audit jobs and staffing plans for all types of engagements
• Ensure that engagements—including the use of specialists, staff from other offices, and assistance from the Technical Standards Group—are properly planned and coordinated
• Conduct regular site visits to ensures that the engagement team receives adequate supervision and observe proper protocol in dealing with clients
• Ensure that the work of specialists—including corporate finance, tax, and valuation services—is in accordance with requirements set for them and properly reviewed
• Conduct meetings or, when the engagement partner is present and opts to preside, assists the engagement partner in conducting meetings (with the engagement team and/or client team)
• Bring to the engagement partner's attention appropriate matters/issues (with suggested resolutions) that require his attention and decision
• Ascertain that the engagement documentation is complete and appropriately reviewed; and support the report that will be issued
• Supervise the cleaning up and archiving of working papers within the prescribed period for archiving
• Review deliverables such as income tax returns, financial statements, and audit reports for financial audits, and report on findings and recommendations; ensures the timely completion of such deliverables for sign off by the Senior Manager or Partner
• Identify areas requiring improvement in the client's business processes and possible recommendations and prepare and deliver the Management Letter to be provided to the client.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to him by the Engagement Partner or as may be required by the nature of engagement

Client Relations

• Think strategically about client needs by understanding their business and key risks.
• Participants in the development of ways to meet client needs, contributes to proposal delivery.
• Identifying ways to maximize the relationship with clients and deliver added value.
• Establish a good working relationship with the officers and staff of every client
• Keep a close business and social relationship with the clients while keeping independence in appearance and in fact as required by the Code of Ethics of CPAs
• Keep clients aware of significant development in accounting standards and other areas that affect their businesses
• Exhibit professionalism and good conduct in dealings with clients, prospects, and non-clients

People Management

• Ensure that every in-charge and staff assistant's time is utilized productively and efficiently during and after engagements
• Provide timely feedback to assistants about their job performance, i.e., their strong and weak points and how they can improve
• Accomplish and discuss Performance Review Reports (PRRs) with Engagement In-charge immediately after every engagement
• Review and approve staff assistants' PRRs, which are accomplished by Engagement In-charges
• Participate in an annual performance review process/deliberations on the overall performance of in-charges and staff assistants

Administrative Functions

• Ensure that clients are billed on a timely basis and prompt payment is achieved
• Submit an accurate time report in a timely manner
• Ensure that in-charges and assistants working on his engagement submit accurate time reports
• Approve reimbursable expenses, overtime and time reports of in-charges and staff in a timely manner
• Review the time charges regularly to ensure that these are within budget and to provide explanation for those exceeding budget
• Assist partners in pursuing new clients or jobs with existing clients
• Assist the partner in collecting receivables
• Review reports and deliverables of other engagement teams when requested in accordance with the quality control policies and procedures of the Firm
• Interviews job applicants and recommends the hiring of staff

QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Public Accountant
• At least six (6) years of external audit experience, three years of which is in supervisory level
• Ideally with exposure to different industries
• Strong background and experience with audit methodologies and techniques

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent project management, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate across all levels and functions in the organization
• Superior account and client management acumen
• Demonstrated integrity within a professional environment