Audit Manager - Upper Midwest

Gilder Search Group; Fargo (ND); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Competitive compensation

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking experienced Audit Managers for high-performing public accounting firms across the United States. In this role, you'll lead audit engagements, manage client relationships, and develop audit teams. The firms offer hybrid flexibility, competitive compensation, and clear advancement paths. Ideal candidates have strong GAAP knowledge, experience in public accounting, and a passion for fostering team success. Opportunities exist across various industries including healthcare and real estate.

Qualifications

• Experience in managing audit engagements and client relationships.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop audit teams.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and GAAS standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead audit engagements from planning to final reporting.
• Serve as the primary client contact and build long-term relationships.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement in audits.

Skills

Client relationship management

Team leadership and development

GAAP and GAAS knowledge

Audit engagement management

Education

CPA or on track

Job description

Audit Managers | Public Accounting | Multiple Growth-Focused Firms

At Good Works Talent, we partner with high-performing public accounting firms across the country to identify and engage experienced Audit Managers who are ready for broader impact, stronger leadership alignment, and long-term growth.

If you’re currently leading audit engagements and want more influence without sacrificing your life outside of work, we invite you to a conversation.

Our clients range from well-established regional firms to nationally expanding practices. What they share is a commitment to building strong audit teams, investing in their people, and developing future leaders, not just filling roles.

Why This Is Worth Exploring

Most Audit Managers don’t make a move for small increases in compensation or a lateral title. They move for better alignment where their leadership, judgment, and client relationships truly matter.

Through one conversation, you’ll gain access to:

• Confidential opportunities not always posted publicly
• Firms prioritizing sustainable performance, not burnout
• Leadership teams investing in future partners and practice leaders
• Growing audit practices across industries including construction, real estate, manufacturing, healthcare, and more

Instead of navigating the market firm by firm, we help you evaluate opportunities based on what actually drives long-term success and satisfaction.

What You’ll Be Doing

While each firm is different, Audit Manager roles consistently center on ownership, leadership, and client impact:

• Lead audit engagements from planning through final reporting, ensuring quality and accountability
• Serve as the primary client contact, building trusted, long-term relationships
• Lead, mentor, and develop audit teams to consistently deliver high-quality work
• Manage multiple engagements while maintaining strong communication and execution discipline
• Identify opportunities to improve audit processes, efficiency, and client outcomes
• Partner with firm leadership on growth initiatives, client expansion, and team development

At this level, success is less about doing the work and more about leading it effectively.

What Success Looks Like

The Audit Managers our clients hire tend to:

• Build credibility quickly with both clients and internal teams
• Deliver consistent, high-quality audit outcomes while maintaining team engagement
• Develop strong talent pipelines beneath them
• Operate as trusted advisors, not just technical experts
• Contribute to firm growth through leadership, insight, and initiative

  These roles are designed as stepping stones to Senior Manager, Practice Leader, and Partner paths.

  What You Bring

  • Experience leading audit engagements and owning client relationships in a public accounting environment
  • Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop teams
  • Strong GAAP and GAAS knowledge
  • CPA or on track strongly preferred
  • Confidence in client-facing communication and relationship management
  • Authorization to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship

  Industry specialization such as construction, real estate, or manufacturing is helpful but not required. What matters most is your ability to lead complex engagements and build strong client partnerships.

  Work Models & Compensation

  Our client firms typically offer:

  • Hybrid flexibility
  • Sustainable annual hour expectations
  • Clear and realistic advancement paths
  • Competitive compensation aligned with experience and scope
  • Comprehensive benefits, retirement contributions, and ongoing professional development

  We prioritize firms that understand a simple truth. Top performers stay where they feel trusted, developed, and respected.

  Why Audit Managers Work With Good Works Talent

  You won’t get pushed into roles that don’t fit.

  With deep experience in public accounting recruiting, we understand how nuanced Manager-level moves are. Whether you’re quietly exploring or ready to act, we approach every conversation with discretion and long-term alignment in mind. The right next move isn’t always about compensation. Sometimes it’s about:

  • Leadership you trust
  • A path that’s actually attainable
  • A culture that supports performance without burnout

  We help you evaluate that clearly.

  Let’s Start with a Conversation

  If you’re an Audit Manager thinking about what’s next, let’s talk.

  Share your resume or LinkedIn profile and be ready to walk through a professional accomplishment you’re most proud of. That’s usually the best place to start.