Audit Manager

Ascend; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental, vision, and voluntary

401(k) matching

Performance bonus

12 paid holidays

Off-season Flex Fridays

Closed Fridays in June

Professional development support

Equity Program eligibility

Job summary

Ascend is expanding its public accounting practice in Chapel Hill, NC, and seeks an Audit Manager focused on dealership clients. You will plan and execute assurance engagements, manage budgets, and serve as the main client contact while guiding staff and ensuring high-quality work.

Based in Chapel Hill, this full-time exempt role offers growth opportunities across industries, with potential travel to client sites.

Qualifications

• CPA license required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 6+ years of experience applying audit methodologies in public accounting; auto dealership audits are a plus.
• Strong communication, project management, and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute assurance engagements for multiple clients, managing all phases and budgets.
• Serve as primary client contact, build long-term relationships, and communicate engagement status.
• Supervise staff, coach in your area, and ensure high-quality work and on-time delivery.
• Identify cross-sell opportunities, manage engagement profitability, and contribute to the business plan.

Education

CPA license

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

Job description

About Ascend

At Ascend, we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms — from rigid hierarchies, overwhelming workloads, and the elusive work-life balance. It’s time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number; you’re a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources.

About Ascend

At Ascend, we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms — from rigid hierarchies, overwhelming workloads, and the elusive work-life balance. It’s time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you're not just a number; you’re a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a Top 25 firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition and training, leading quality management resources, best-of-breed technology, AI tools, an offshore captive, shared back-office services, a catalytic leadership system, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount today’s industry challenges to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.ascendtogether.com.

About Blackman & Sloop

At Blackman & Sloop, we hire great people and give them a great place to work. We listen to what our employees value, and being a local firm gives us the advantage of flexibility. Our secret to retaining staff is a positive culture, strong community involvement, and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We are a two-office firm, with locations in Chapel Hill and Greensboro, and approximately 45 full-time staff.

For 8 years, we’ve been honored as one of Accounting Today’s “Best Accounting Firms to Work For”! We’ve also been recognized by Business North Carolina as one of the “Best Employers in North Carolina” list for multiple years. Most recently, we are proud to have received the Best Companies Group award for Best Accounting Firms for Women in Chapel Hill.

As an independent member of the BDO Alliance, we have access to the resources of BDO USA, LLP, the world's 5th largest accounting and consulting firm. Additionally in May 2024, we made the strategic decision to join Ascend to usher us in our next stage of growth.

The Role

Blackman & Sloop is excited to welcome a new industry to our client base. As we expand into the auto dealership space, we are seeking an Audit Manager to join our team — a role with an emphasis on serving dealership clients, alongside the opportunity to work across a wide range of other industries, including non-profit, construction, small business, manufacturing, medical, real estate, retail, hospitality, and education. As an Audit Manager, you will plan and execute assurance engagements, guide staff through the work, and own the day-to-day client relationships in your portfolio. You will serve as the communication channel among staff, clients, and firm leadership — setting expectations at the start of each engagement, monitoring progress against budgets and due dates, and delivering a consistently high-quality work product.

Room to grow. Our dealership practice is new, and the person in this seat will help shape how we serve it — building the methodology, the client relationships, and the bench of staff behind it, with a clear path toward Senior Manager for someone who wants it.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement Execution & Quality

• Plan and execute assurance engagements, managing all phases of multiple engagements simultaneously
• Organize and monitor the progress of client projects and tasks in relation to budgets and due dates
• Complete reviews of work in a timely manner to keep engagements on track and ensure the highest-quality work product
• Apply U.S. GAAP, generally accepted auditing standards, and principles of internal control to research and resolve technical issues

Client Relationship Management

• Cultivate the role of primary client contact, clearly identifying client expectations at the beginning of each engagement
• Build long-term relationships grounded in a demonstrated understanding of the client’s business, industry, and improvement goals
• Provide timely response to client inquiries and communicate engagement status at the frequency the client expects
• Manage a client portfolio — prioritizing clients, tasks, and requests — and continually seek feedback on the quality of our work

Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise associates and senior associates on client engagements, providing feedback, guidance, and direction, and evaluating their progress
• Manage staff workloads to minimize non-productive time and mitigate excessive overtime
• Coach in your area of specialty, share knowledge with the team, and create on-the-job learning opportunities
• Communicate confidently and persuasively with team members, clients, and contacts, ensuring every team member has an opportunity to contribute

Business Development & Operational Excellence

• Develop potential and new client contacts, leads, and networking opportunities that are beneficial to the firm
• Identify cross-sell opportunities and follow up on referred opportunities within the appropriate specialist area, collaborating with Senior Managers and Partners
• Manage engagement and project profitability, monitoring budgets so that jobs conclude timely, profitably, and with quality service
• Contribute to the development of the business plan and communicate the financial performance of client assignments

Required Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 6+ years of experience applying audit methodologies and techniques within public accounting
• In-depth foundational knowledge of U.S. GAAP
• Experience performing auto dealership audits
• Experience in-charging engagements
• Experience supervising, training, and mentoring staff
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build and manage relationships internally and externally
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Willingness to travel to client sites
• Excellent work ethic and a sense of humor are a must!

Preferred Qualifications

• Construction and/or employee benefit plan audit experience

Who We Look For

A perceptive team player who excels in a progressive, collaborative environment, blending sharp analytical skills with exceptional communication. A detail-oriented leader who embodies critical thinking and high standards, and a proactive professional committed to delivering outstanding service while embracing and driving curiosity and innovation.

Location & Schedule

Based in Chapel Hill, NC. This is a full-time, exempt position. At Blackman & Sloop, we’ve designed a flexible work structure that enables both teamwork and independence, enhancing our employees’ work experience while promoting personal well-being. Some travel to client sites is expected.

What We Offer

We hire good people and give them a good place to work. Our secret to keeping them around is a positive culture, strong community involvement, and a dedication to constantly increasing our competencies. We truly believe that when you succeed, the firm succeeds, and we make sure you have whatever tools you need to make that success possible.

• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, dental, vision, and voluntary insurance options
• 401(k) matching
• Performance bonus
• 12 paid holidays
• Off-season Flex Fridays
• Closed on Fridays during the month of June
• Commitment to professional development
• Equity Program eligibility at the Senior Manager level, plus top-performing Managers

At Ascend, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.