Assurance Principal or Signing Director - Financial Services

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Portland (OR); On-site; USD 150,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

CLA in the Pacific Northwest is seeking a Principal or Signing Director to join our Financial Services Assurance team. This leadership role focuses on growing our presence with financial institutions and delivering high-quality audits.

You will lead engagements, own client relationships, mentor staff, and drive business development across the book of business while coordinating across the firm. Willingness to travel to client sites and active CPA required.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Lead assurance engagements for financial institutions, ensuring quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Serve as the primary client relationship owner and trusted advisor for a portfolio of financial services clients.
• Drive business development through networking, thought leadership, community involvement, and growth of a book of business.
• Manage engagement scope, fees, budgets, deadlines, and overall client satisfaction.
• Review and approve financial statements, audit workpapers, engagement letters, and deliverables.
• Provide engagement leadership, including staffing, risk management, quality control, and project oversight.
• Maintain year-round relationships with clients, identifying opportunities to expand services and deepen partnerships.
• Collaborate across the firm to bring specialized resources and solutions to clients.
• Mentor and develop high-performing assurance professionals through coaching, feedback, and career development.
• Communicate regularly with clients and engagement teams regarding progress, risks, findings, and recommendations.

Skills

Client relationship management

Business development

Project oversight

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Active CPA license

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 Financial Services Assurance team in one of our Pacific Northwest offices. 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

• Lead assurance engagements for financial institutions, ensuring quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Serve as the primary client relationship owner and trusted advisor for a portfolio of financial services clients.
• Drive business development through networking, thought leadership, community involvement, and growth of a book of business.
• Manage engagement scope, fees, budgets, deadlines, and overall client satisfaction.
• Review and approve financial statements, audit workpapers, engagement letters, and deliverables.
• Provide engagement leadership, including staffing, risk management, quality control, and project oversight.
• Maintain year-round relationships with clients, identifying opportunities to expand services and deepen partnerships.
• Collaborate across the firm to bring specialized resources and solutions to clients.
• Mentor and develop high-performing assurance professionals through coaching, feedback, and career development.
• Communicate regularly with clients and engagement teams regarding progress, risks, findings, and recommendations.

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.
• Strong knowledge of banking and financial services industry
• 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 compensation range for this role in Washington is $150,000 – $400,000

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.