Audit Staff Associate: Growth, AI Tools & Flexible Work

Ascend; Village of Williamsville (NY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPA exam support

Career development mentoring

Leadership Academy

Flexible working arrangements

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Ascend is seeking an Audit Staff Associate to join our team and work on audit engagements across diverse clients, with early exposure to high-profile assignments and opportunities to develop a specialization in healthcare or not-for-profit sectors.

You will collaborate with seniors and managers on planning, fieldwork, and reporting, while leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency. The role supports CPA licensure and ongoing professional growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or MBA degree in Accounting.
• CPA license, or active pursuit of the CPA.
• Up to two years of experience in public or private accounting; internship experience welcome.

Responsibilities

• Perform audit procedures across planning, fieldwork, and reporting.
• Prepare clear, well-organized workpapers that meet firm and professional standards.
• Research technical accounting and auditing questions and share findings with seniors and managers.
• Review your own work before it goes up for review to catch errors and confirm it is complete.
• Track your time accurately and flag potential budget or scope issues early.
• Communicate with client personnel to request information and follow up on open items.
• Learn your clients’ businesses and industries to understand the “why” behind the numbers.
• Take part in client meetings and engagement team discussions.
• Welcome feedback from seniors and managers and apply it to your next assignment.
• Look for ways to work more efficiently, including AI-enabled audit tools where appropriate.
• Take part in firm training, networking, and business development activities.
• Work toward CPA licensure and begin building an area of specialization.

Skills

Attention to detail

Curiosity

AI-enabled tools

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/MBA in Accounting

Tools

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Ascend is seeking an Audit Staff Associate to join our team and work on audit engagements across diverse clients, with early exposure to high-profile assignments and opportunities to develop a specialization in healthcare or not-for-profit sectors.

You will collaborate with seniors and managers on planning, fieldwork, and reporting, while leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency. The role supports CPA licensure and ongoing professional growth.