Assurance Senior

BDO; Ridgeland (MS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO in the United States seeks an Assurance Senior responsible for coordinating planning, fieldwork and wrap-up, including preparing financial statements with disclosures and applying GAAP as needed. The role involves documenting, validating and testing internal controls and serving as the client contact for basic questions.

It may include reviews and agreed-upon procedure engagements; supervision of audit staff and collaboration with engagement partners to ensure high-quality deliverables and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics, required or Bachelor’s degree in other focus area and CPA certification, required
• Master’s degree in Accountancy, preferred
• Two (2) or more years of audit experience or related accounting experience, required
• CPA eligibility and possibly pursuing exams, required or preferred

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day audit planning, fieldwork and wrap-up in accordance with the engagement timetable
• Document, validate and test the client’s internal control system and assess control effectiveness
• Prepare and review financial statements with disclosures under GAAP
• Communicate SEC filings and PCAOB considerations with the client and engagement team
• Coach and supervise Audit Associates, ensuring quality and timeliness of work
• Assist engagement manager in forming and executing the audit strategy

Skills

Audit planning

Internal controls

GAAP knowledge

SEC/PCAOB familiarity

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance/Economics/Statistics

CPA candidate/ CPA certification

Master’s in Accountancy (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Assurance software/tools

Accounting Research tools

Job description

Job Summary:

The Assurance Senior will be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day "in-charge" duties of planning, fieldwork and "wrap-up" to include the preparing of financial statements with disclosures, applying most areas of GAAP as necessary and documenting, validating, testing and assessing various control systems. This position is also responsible for acting as the client contact for basic questions and information and may be involved in reviews and agreed-upon procedure engagements.

Job Duties:

Control Environment:

• 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:
  • Applyingknowledgeof transactional flow and key transactional cycles to complete audit work
  • Documenting, validatingand assessingthe design and operating effectiveness of the clients’ internal control system
  • Identifyingand communicatingsuggested improvements to client internal controls and accounting procedures in an effort to reduces risk within the client organization
  • Supervisingand reviewingthe work of audit staff

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:
  • Communicating financial statement disclosure requirements to clients
  • Drafting complex sets of financial statements with disclosures
  • Recognizing and applying new pronouncements to client situations
  • Identifying, analyzing and discussing alternative generally accepted accounting principles with the Manager, Senior Manager and engagement partner and the client, as needed
  • Identifying complex accounting issues and brings them to the attention of superiors for resolution
  • Coaching less experienced team members in new areas

SEC and PCAOB:

• Applies knowledge and understanding of SEC regulations and PCAOB guidelines, and documents and communicates the application of these principles by:
  • Reading and reviewing clients’ SEC filings, ensuring accuracy and completeness, and also ensuring that all financial information is documented in the workpapers and through appropriate testing
  • Preparing required communications to the Client and the Audit Committee
  • Planning and executing Section 404 internal control audits including obtaining an understanding of the control environment, designing test plans, evaluating deficiencies and assessing the overall financial reporting control environment

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:
  • Formulating and communicating the audit plan
  • Applying GAAS to a variety of complex issues and consults others as appropriate
  • Employing audit skepticism and determining when to reduce or expand testing
  • Utilizing BDO audit manuals as appropriate for the situation
  • Documenting deviations from BDO policy, with approval

Methodology:

• Applies knowledge and application of BDO standards to guide effective and efficient delivery of quality services and products by:
  • Coordinating the day-to-day conduct of the audit plan by ensuring the field work is executed and completed as planned, in accordance with timetable, with Firm’s policies and procedures and within budget
  • Applying BDO audit approach and methodologies, including tools and technology, to execute the audit
  • Identifying and proposing outcomes to critical issues

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:
  • Utilizing of internal and external research tools and selecting methodology for routine research requests
  • Researching complex areas of accounting, forming an initial opinion on the correct treatment independently and considering and documenting the impact on the client and audit engagement
  • Documenting and organizing complicated findings in a usable format, based on information obtained from Accounting Research Manager, BDO Assurance Manual, Yahoo Finance, etc.
  • Assisting the engagement manager with gathering appropriate information about the business and information system, including the accounting system, to form an adequate basis for the preparation of the audit strategy
  • Developing the draft Audit Engagement Planning Memorandum, audit programs and budgets
  • Collaborating with the engagement manager to establish the responsibilities of individual audit staff for specific areas of audit work

• Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provides verbal and written performance feedback to Audit Associates
• Supervises the work assignments of Audit Associates within assigned engagement team

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 degree in Accountancy, preferred

Experience:

• Two (2) or more years of prior relevant audit experience and/or public accounting, private industry accounting or consulting/professional services experience, required
• Prior basic supervisory experience, preferred

License/Certifications:

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

Software:

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

Language:

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Solid understanding and experience planning and coordinating the stages to perform an audit of a basic public and/or private company
• Knowledge of internal accounting controls and professional standards and regulations (GAAP, GAAS, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt style and messaging to effectively communicate with professionals at all levels both within the client organization and the firm
• Ability to successfully multi-task while working independently and within a group environment
• Superior analytical and diagnostic skills and ability to break down complex issues and implementing appropriate resolutions
• Ability to work in a demanding, deadline driven environment with a focus on details and accuracy
• Solid project management skills