Assurance Managing Director - Life Sciences

rsm; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

RSM is seeking an Audit / Assurance Managing Director to provide strategic leadership across multiple audit engagements and client portfolios in the San Francisco area. This role focuses on delivery quality, client relationships, and driving practice growth.

The position requires an active CPA or equivalent, 13+ years of experience in public accounting, and strong leadership, communication, and business development skills to shape market strategy and oversee engagement teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field.
• 13+ years of public accounting / external audit experience.
• Experience leading complex audit engagements from planning through issuance.
• Advanced knowledge of US GAAP and US GAAS.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop Managers and Senior Managers.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrates strong business development and strategic leadership to drive growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across multiple audit engagements and client portfolios.
• Oversee engagement execution, guides senior leaders and engagement teams, and manage timelines and budgets.
• Maintain trusted client relationships and contribute to practice growth.
• Drive cross-firm service expansion and shape market strategy.
• Represent the firm with professionalism in external and internal settings.
• Ensure audit quality and compliance with regulatory standards.

Skills

Audit leadership

Engagement management

Stakeholder management

Business development

Mentoring/coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Job description

We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You'll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There's no one like you and that's why there's nowhere like RSM.

The Audit / Assurance Managing Director provides strategic leadership across multiple audit engagements and client portfolios, ensuring high-quality delivery and alignment with professional standards. This role oversees engagement execution, guides senior leaders and engagement teams, maintains trusted client relationships, drives practice growth, influences senior stakeholders, and contributes to operational strategy.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field.
• 13+ years of public accounting / external audit or assurance experience, with progressive responsibility.
• Proven experience leading complex audit engagements from planning through issuance, including oversight of engagement teams, timelines, budgets, and audit quality.
• Advanced technical proficiency in US GAAP, US GAAS, and other applicable professional and regulatory standards.
• Demonstrated ability to apply professional judgment, assess audit risk, and ensure audit quality, compliance, and independence.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, coaching, and developing Managers and Senior Managers.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills, capable of interacting with senior clients, executive leadership, and internal teams on audit strategy, issues, and deliverables.
• Demonstrates strong business development and strategic leadership, identifying and advancing growth opportunities, driving cross firm service expansion, and shaping market strategy. Builds and leverages deep local market and COI relationships to generate sustained client growth while ensuring exceptional client service delivery.
• Ability to represent the firm with professionalism and credibility in external and internal settings.
• Trusted to operate with high level of judgment and minimal supervision on complex or high risk engagements.
• Understanding of firm risk management, regulatory expectations, and quality control standards.
• Ability to work extended or non standard hours during peak periods to meet client, project, or firm business needs.
• Ability to maintain regular onsite presence at firm offices and client locations and travel as required.
• Active CPA (or equivalent certification) required.

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life's demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.

All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the US uniformed service; US Military/Veteran status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please call us at 800-274-3978 or send us an email at [e-mail].

RSM does not intend to hire entry level candidates who will require sponsorship now OR in the future (i.e. F-1 visa holders). If you are a recent U.S. college / university graduate possessing 1-2 years of progressive and relevant work experience in a same or similar role to the one for which you are applying, excluding internships, you may be eligible for hire as an experienced associate.

At RSM, an employee's pay at any point in their career is intended to reflect their experiences, performance, and skills for their current role. The salary range (or