Experienced Audit Senior, State & Local Government

About the role

The State and Local Government (SLG) Experienced Audit 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.

Responsibilities

• Apply knowledge and understanding of the collective effect of various factors on establishing or enhancing effectiveness, or mitigating the risks, of specific policies and procedures
• Work with the engagement manager for the day-to-day conduct of the audit work and in particular for ensuring that the field work is executed and completed as planned, in accordance with timetable, with Firm's policies and procedures and to budget
• Apply knowledge of transactional flow and key transactional cycles to complete audit work
• Document, validate, and assess effectiveness of internal control system
• Determine and communicate improvements to client internal controls and accounting procedures
• Supervise the work of audit staff and review workpapers and conclusions and explaining any shortcomings to them
• Apply knowledge and understanding of governing principles of Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB); applying these principles to client transactions; and documenting and communicating an understanding and application of these principles
• Understand and effectively communicate GASB financial statement disclosure requirements to clients
• Review Basic Financial Statements for State and Local Governments including Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), notes to the Basic Financial Statements, and Required Supplementary Information for appropriateness in form, content, completeness, and accuracy
• Identify and apply new GASB pronouncements to client situations
• Identify, analyze, and discuss alternative GASB accounting principles for the client, when necessary, with the Manager, Senior Manager, and engagement partner
• Identify complex accounting issues and brings them to the attention of superiors for resolution
• Apply 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
• Formulate and communicate the audit plan
• Apply GAGAS to a variety of complex issues and consults others as appropriate
• Apply of audit skepticism and determines when to reduce or expand testing
• Use BDO audit manuals as appropriate for the situation
• Document deviations from BDO policy with approval
• Look for opportunities to suggest improvement to company's internal controls and prepare draft communication required by professional standards
• Ensure compliance with engagement independence requirements and consults internally as needed
• Review required communications to the client and relevant agencies, General Council, ensuring their completeness, accuracy and compliance with Firm and professional guidelines
• Apply knowledge and understanding of Uniform Guidance (UG) standards, application of Uniform Guidance standards, and ability to document and communicate an understanding and application of UG standards on an engagement
• Make selections of major programs consistent with UG standards
• Develop audit strategies for direct and material compliance requirements for each major program
• Execute and oversee audit strategy ensuring compliance with the UG standards and BDO policies and manuals
• Identify audit findings and communicate such findings with engagement Manager, Senior Manager, Principal, and when necessary, the client
• Prepare written findings and facilitate collection of management corrective action plans for inclusion in the UG report
• Apply knowledge and application of BDO standards that guide effective and efficient delivery of quality services and products
• Apply BDO audit approach and methodologies, including tools and technology, to execute the audit with quality, efficiency, and completeness despite pressures of deadlines
• Identify and propose outcomes to critical issues
• Apply methodology used to seek or maintain information from authoritative sources and to draw conclusions regarding a target issue based on that information
• Apply knowledge of the use of internal and external research tools and selects methodology for routine research requests
• Research more complex areas of accounting and forms an initial opinion on the correct treatment independently and considers and documents the impact on the client and audit engagement
• Document and organize complicated findings in a usable format, based on information obtained from Accounting Research Manager, BDO Assurance Manual, etc.
• Assist the engagement manager with gathering sufficient appropriate information about the business and information system, including the accounting system, to form an adequate basis for the preparation of the audit strategy
• Coordinate timing of planning, fieldwork, and review with audit team and client and assist engagement executives in developing the audit engagement budget and identify appropriate resources
• Develop the draft Audit Engagement Planning Memorandum, audit programs and budgets
• Establish, with the engagement manager, the responsibilities of individual audit staff for specific areas of audit work
• Monitor and report engagement budget to actual and advise engagement executives of possible overruns
• Supervise a team of audit professionals ranging in size from 1 to 5
• Provide verbal and written performance feedback to associates
• Teach/coach associates to provide on the job learning
• Perform other duties as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Accounting or equivalent, required
• Master's degree in Accounting, preferred
• Three (3) or more years prior work experience in public accounting, required
• Prior supervisory experience, preferred
• Experience with public sector entities and related organizations, preferred
• Single audit experience, preferred
• Actively pursuing CPA, required

Skills

• Microsoft Office Products, including Windows, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, required
• Experience in the use of various assurance applications and research tools as is appropriate for this level, required
• Possess proven solid verbal and written communication skills
• Possess people development and delegation skills
• Possess executive presence - needs to be able to be primary contact for the client
• Able to "in-charge" all stages of the audit, including planning, fieldwork and "wrap-up"
• Able to perform the completion of an audit of a complex company
• Able to prepare and/or review financial statements with disclosures in accordance with GAAP requirements

Pay

• National Range: $115,000 - $135,000
• Maryland Range: $115,000 - $135,000
• NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $115,000 - $135,000