Audit Director - State & Local Government

Aspire Talent Solutions; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Progressive regional CPA firm is seeking an Audit Director with a State and Local Government specialization in Los Angeles. The role anchors liaison between partners, clients, and staff, directing multiple audits while guiding staffing and engagement workflow.

The Director will train staff, develop new business, and maintain key client relationships. Responsibilities include leading engagements, sign-offs, and ensuring compliance with GAAS, GAAP, and Yellow Book standards.

Qualifications

• Approximately 10 years of experience in public accounting.
• 2+ years in a senior manager position with government experience.
• Experience auditing state and local governments (cities, counties, districts, schools).
• CPA license held and active.
• Willingness to travel to client and firm locations.
• Experience with GAAS, GAAP, and Yellow Book standards.

Responsibilities

• Maintain ongoing client contact and deepen understanding of client operations.
• May serve as engagement partner or report to the engagement partner on engagements.
• Sign attest opinions when acting as engagement partner.
• Oversee all phases of engagement work and ensure compliance with frameworks and firm policy.
• Advise partner of developments and address potential issues with senior staff.
• Schedule engagements and oversee staffing and workflow.
• Lead government-specific expertise within engagements.
• Ensure billing and collections align with firm policy.
• Supervise staff and provide on-the-job training and reviews.
• Participate in staff evaluations and development.
• Assist in recruiting and interviewing Assurance candidates.
• Develop business opportunities and establish client relationships.

Skills

Public accounting

Audit leadership

GAGAS knowledge

Client relationships

Staff training

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

CPA license

Job description

Progressive regional CPA firm needs an Audit Director, who has a State and Local Government specialization- Fast track to Partnership - Reasonable work life balance - Hybrid work environment. Relocation assistance available.

The Director is the liaison between the Partner, the client, and the professional staff. Directors are responsible for managing multiple auditing and accounting projects and client engagements simultaneously, and scheduling, staffing and coordinating engagement workflow. Directors develop and train staff, and make associations to develop new business for the Firm. The Director has mastered the skills and requirements of the Manager role and has been identified as possessing the prerequisite for future growth in the Firm. Directors play a lead role in maintaining client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Maintains contact with clients throughout the year; possesses a thorough knowledge of the client and all facets of the client's operations and control systems; building and maintaining good client relationships.
• Either assumes the role of engagement partner or reports directly to the engagement partner on engagements in accordance with firm policies.
• Signs attest opinions as a representative of the firm when assigned the role of engagement partner.
• Oversees all phases of when reporting to an engagement partner and ensures the client deliverable complies with both the applicable accounting framework and firm policy.
• Apprises the engagement Partner, if applicable, of all important developments on the client account; identifies any potential issues on each engagement and implements solutions after partner consultation.
• Responsible for ensuring engagements are properly scheduled.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in discipline or industry, specifically for governmental sector
• Ensures billing and collection practices are executed by engagement teams in accordance with firm policy.
• Supervises staff assigned to engagements and provides on-the-job training; reviews work papers and reports prepared by the engagement team in accordance with firm policy.
• Plays a pivotal role in staff performance evaluations, reviews and periodic counseling.
• Involved in the recruitment of staff and interviews Assurance and Advisory candidates when needed.
• Acts as a representative of the firm in business development matters; develops a network of business contacts and referrals to generate business for the firm.
• Assumes the lead role on prospective client leads assigned to them and responsible for initial communications with prospective clients, generating fee estimates and attending prospective client meetings.
• Maintains appropriate compliance with all Firm-wide policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Approximately 10 years' experience in public accounting and a minimum of 2 years in a senior manager position, with significant experience in the public sector, including auditing state and local governments (i.e., cities, counties, special districts, charter Schools etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• Holds a current and valid CPA license.
• Ability to travel to client and firm office locations.
• Demonstrated ability to bring in new business to a CPA Firm.
• Significant experience conducting audits in accordance with General Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards (GAGAS/Yellow Book), Generally Accepted Audit Standards (GAAS) and the Uniform Guidance
• Maintains appropriate compliance with all Firm-wide policies and procedures.
• Ability to direct, review and train departmental staff.
• Exposure to conducting audits of not for profit organizations

Working Conditions

• Hybrid working environment (work from home, firm office or client location) as needed to service the clients appropriately and train staff
• Same day travel for work at clients' offices, meetings, and seminars, as needed
• Out-of-town travel with overnight stays for work at clients, meetings, or seminars
• Overtime work expected as needed throughout the year with concentration of overtime expected from August to February