Assurance Director

BDO USA, LLP; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 265,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO USA, LLP is seeking an Assurance Director in Costa Mesa, California. This senior role demands expertise in assurance and risk management and involves leading audit engagements while supervising a team of associates.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, an active CPA license, and at least 8 years of relevant experience. Competitive salary range is between $180,000 and $265,000 based on qualifications and location.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of audit or public accounting experience.
• Active licensed US CPA or equivalent required.
• Strong supervisory experience necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead audit engagements as Engagement Director.
• Review work prepared by associates and provide feedback.
• Provide guidance and develop associates.

Skills

Business Acumen

GAAP knowledge

GAAS knowledge

Supervisory skills

Client communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics

Master's degree in Accountancy

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Assurance applications and research tools

Job description

Job Summary

The Assurance Director title is reserved for professionals who achieve recognition in a technical area of assurance and risk management. The person is qualified to perform certain limited yet critical additional technical functions as an Engagement Director or as a Concurring Reviewer. These additional responsibilities are conferred only as outlined above. This senior role recognizes the person as an expert of great long‑term value to the firm.

Job Duties

Business Acumen

Able to apply knowledge of business functions, processes and strategies to provide services, solutions and advice that considers and improves the organization as a whole as evidenced by:

• Ability to understand core business operations/structure of various businesses
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of business issues, trends and industry economics
• Identifies and discusses key financial and non-financial performance measures
• Demonstrates ease with client communications

Technical Roles a Director may perform

• When functioning as Engagement Director:
  • May also be, but not required to be, a Client Service Engagement Director. In this capacity, may sign audit review and compilation reports related to these engagements, as well as engagement letters and other correspondence
  • Written pre‑approval by the Client Service Assurance Partner and the Practice Region RTD and RBLL and the Practice Office OBLL for the specific assignment before a Director may perform duties of Engagement Director of that specific assignment
  • The Director must demonstrate the requisite industry experience necessary for the specified engagement
  • The engagement must not be designated as requiring an IQCR Review in accordance with the BDO Assurance Manual and may not be associated with or expected to be associated in the foreseeable future, which is generally a two-year horizon, with a public company.
  • The final review of only the financial statements and MRC must be performed by an Assurance Partner. When functioning as Concurring Reviewer where the engagement is sensitive but non-public:
  • Written pre‑approval must be obtained from the Practice Region RTD and RBLL and the Practice Office OBLL.
  • The Director must demonstrate the requisite industry experience necessary to serve as a concurring reviewer for the specified engagement
  • The engagement may not be associated with or expected to be associated in the foreseeable future, which is generally a two-year horizon, with a public company.
  • When serving as a concurring reviewer, the Assurance Director should not have worked on the engagement in another capacity for the prior two-year period, and is prohibited from performing work on the engagement in other capacities

GAAP

• Has an advanced knowledge of governing principles, applying those principles to client transactions, and documenting and communicating an understanding of these principles as evidenced by:
  • Advanced technical knowledge in one or more areas of GAAP

Control Environment

• Has a general understanding of the collective effect of various factors on establishing, enhancing, or mitigating the effectiveness of specific policies and procedures as evidenced by:
  • Ability to identify critical and control points
  • Ability to document and validate internal control system
  • Ability to assess effectiveness of internal control system
  • Ability to make constructive suggestions to improve client internal controls and accounting procedures

GAAS

• Has an advanced knowledge of professional standards, application of the principles contained in professional standards as evidenced by:
  • An ability/experience teaching others GAAS procedures and providing guidance to others and affirms conclusions made by others
• Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Review work prepared by associates, senior associates, and managers, and provide review comments as appropriate
• Act as a Career Advisor to associates, senior associates, and managers as assigned
• Provide verbal and written performance reviews to associates, senior associates, and managers

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Education

• Bachelor's degree, required; major in Accounting, Finance, Economics or Statistics, preferred
• Master's degree in Accountancy, preferred

Experience

• Eight (8) 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

License/Certifications

• Active licensed US CPA, recognized active International Equivalent or unique qualification as defined by BDO's Assurance Licensing Policy, required
• If active international equivalent or unique qualifications, required to obtain an active US CPA license within approved timeframe as defined by firm licensing requirement guidelines

Software

• Proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, preferred
• Experience with assurance applications and research tools, preferred

Language

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to supervise managers, seniors and staff, as the situation dictates, motivate team
• Possess strong GAAP and GAAS technical skills and knowledge with possible industry expertise in a specialized and technical field of assurance
• Advanced knowledge of SEC reporting rules, if required by specialization
• Possess people development and delegation skills, including training/instruction
• Possess executive presence - need to be able to be primary contact for the client, prepare and present presentations to clients and potential clients
• Possess excellent risk management decision-making skills
• Able to function as Engagement Director on certain engagements as set forth by specific policy
• Get involved with other areas of practice

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: $180,000 - $265,000
Colorado Range: $140,000 - $200,000
Illinois Range: $180,000 - $225,000
Maryland Range: $165,000 - $250,000
Massachusetts Range: $180,000 - $210,000
Minnesota Range: $135,000 - $185,000
New Jersey Range: $210,000 - $240,000
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $165,000 - $275,000
Ohio Range: $165,000 - $210,000
Washington Range: $150,000 - $220,000
Washington DC Range: $165,000 - $250,000