Assurance Principal or Signing Director

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) in California seeks a Principal or Signing Director to join the Bay Area Assurance team. You will lead engagements, drive business development, and mentor staff while maintaining client relationships and high-quality deliverables.

You will hold a Bachelor’s in Accounting, 8+ years in public accounting with audits, and an active CPA license; travel to client sites as needed. The role offers competitive compensation within the California range and opportunities for career

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field is required.
• 8+ years of public accounting experience, including financial statement audits and related reporting.
• Active CPA license required.
• Ability to travel to client sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Drive business development by growing a book of business and expanding client relationships.
• Lead and oversee assurance engagements, ensuring quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Manage engagement scope, fees, budgets, and deadlines while maintaining strong client communication.
• Serve as the primary client relationship owner and trusted advisor.
• Review financial statements and workpapers to ensure accuracy and adherence to professional standards.
• Provide overall engagement leadership, including staffing, risk management, and quality control.
• Mentor and develop high-performing teams; provide coaching and performance feedback.

Skills

Client relationships

Engagement leadership

Staff mentoring

Budget management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

CPA license

8+ years public accounting experience

Job description

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to _ create opportunities _ every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.

CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.

As part of our continued strategic growth, CLA is seeking a Principal or Signing Director to join our Bay Area Assurance team. This role is designed for a motivated leader who is excited to help build and grow our presence in the market while contributing to an established, high-performing team.

How you’ll create impact in this Assurance role:

• Drive business development by growing a book of business, expanding client relationships, and actively engaging in the community.
• Lead and oversee assurance engagements, ensuring quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Manage engagement scope, fees, budgets, and deadlines while maintaining strong client communication.
• Serve as the primary client relationship owner and trusted advisor.
• Review financial statements and workpapers to ensure accuracy and adherence to professional standards.
• Provide overall engagement leadership, including staffing, risk management, and quality control.
• Mentor and develop high-performing teams; provide coaching and performance feedback.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 8+ years of public accounting experience, including financial statement audits and related reporting.
• Active CPA license required.
• Ability to travel to client sites as needed.

Our approach to compensation emphasizes collaboration and career growth. We pay competitive wages and view compensation as an investment in our people. Factors such as geography, experience, education, skills, and knowledge may impact position of pay within the range.

The California posting range for this role is $165,000 – $400,000.

#LI-CD1

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Wellness at CLA

To support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.