Assurance Associate - Fall 2026 (San Francisco)

BDO USA Experienced Career Site; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO is seeking an Assurance Associate for Fall 2026 in San Francisco to prepare financial statements with disclosures, apply GAAP basics, and document and test internal controls. You may participate in reviews and agreed-upon procedures engagements and will travel as needed to meet client needs.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/economics/statistics or a related field with CPA eligibility, plus strong communication skills and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/economics or statistics, or CPA with another degree.
• Master’s in Accountancy preferred.
• CPA eligibility/certifications in progress is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Prepare financial statements with disclosures per GAAP.
• Document, validate, test and assess internal control systems.
• Support reviews and agreed-upon procedures engagements.
• Travel as needed to meet firm and client needs.

Skills

Strong written and verbalcommunication

Ability to follow instructions

Teamwork / collaborative work

Travel willingness

Proactive / takes initiative

Audit basics understanding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Statistics, required

Bachelor’s degree in other focus area + CPA certification, required

Master’s in Accountancy, preferred

Accounting internship, preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Assurance Associate - Fall 2026 (San Francisco)

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Assurance Associate will be responsible for preparing financial statements with disclosures, applying basic areas of GAAP as necessary and documenting, validating, testing, and assessing various control systems. This position may also be involved in reviews and agreed-upon procedure engagements. The Assurance Associate will be expected to travel, as needed, to meet firm and client needs.
Job Duties

• Applies knowledge and understanding of the collective effect of various factors on establishing or enhancing effectiveness, or mitigating the risks, of specific policies and procedures by:
  • Identifying and considering all applicable policies, laws, rules, and regulations of the firm, regulators, or other authoritative bodies as part of engagement team;
  • Making constructive suggestions to improve client internal controls and accounting procedures;
  • Documenting and validating the operating effectiveness of the clients’ internal control system.

GAAP:

• Applies knowledge and understanding of governing principles; applying these principles to client transactions; and documenting and communicating an understanding and application of these principles by:
  • Providing support of conclusions with authoritative literature;
  • Drafting basic sets of financial statements with disclosures;
  • Researching intermediate areas of accounting and forming an initial opinion on the correct treatment independently

GAAS:

• Applies knowledge and understanding of professional standards; application of the principles contained in professional standards; and the ability to document and communicate an understanding and application of professional standards on an engagement by:
  • Developing and applying an intermediate knowledge of auditing theory, a sense of audit skepticism, and the use of BDO audit manuals
  • Applying auditing theory to various client situations
  • Documenting in line with BDO policy, identifying deviations and notifying more senior team members in order to obtain appropriate approvals
• Applying knowledge to identify instances where testing may be reduced or expanded and notifying more senior team members of the occurrence
  • Contributing ideas/opinions to the engagement teams

Methodology:

• Applies knowledge and application of BDO standards to guide effective and efficient delivery of quality services and products by:
  • Completing all appropriate documentation of BDO work papers
  • Ensuring assigned work is performed in accordance with BDO methodology and requirements

Research:

• Applies methodology used to seek or maintain information from authoritative sources and to draw conclusions regarding a target issue based on the information by:
  • Researching basic and intermediate accounting topics and forming an initial opinion on the treatment independently
• Other duties as required

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Statistics, required OR Bachelor’s degree in other focus area and CPA certification, required
• Master’s in Accountancy, preferred

Experience:

• Accounting based internship, preferred

License/Certifications:

• Eligible to sit for the CPA exams upon starting employment, required
• Actively pursuing completion of CPA exams, preferred

Software:

• Proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, required

Other Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to follow instructions as directed
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting
• Ability and willingness to travel, as needed, required
• Takes appropriate actions without being asked
• Basic understanding and experience planning and coordinating the stages to perform an audit of a basic public and/or private company

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

California Range: $85,000 - $90,000
Colorado Range: $73,000 - $77,000
Illinois Range: $78,000 - $82,000
Maryland Range: $83,000 - $87,000
Massachusetts Range: $83,000 - $87,000
Minnesota Range: $70,000 - $74,000
New Jersey Range: $78,000 - $82,000
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $83,000 - $87,000
Ohio Range: $71,000 - $75,000
Virginia Range: $83,000 - $87,000
Washington Range: $78,000 - $80,000
Washington DC Range: $83,000 - $87,000

About Us

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you’ll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you’ll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well‑being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we’re building together.

*Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

• Locations One Bush Street, San Francisco, CA, 94104, US