Senior Audit Associate - Alliance Industrial

Fairfield County Public Accounting Firm is looking for a Senior Associate (Audit) to be responsible for participating in complex financial, operational, and compliance audits and evaluating accuracy of client accounting records. The Senior Associate is responsible for the day to day individual and business client interaction.
Functions:
? Perform complex audits including, but not limited to lease testing, payroll testing, cash disbursement testing, revenue testing, etc.
? Drafts audit plan for manager review to ensure risks are appropriately addressed
? Assists manager in leading engagement, planning and scheduling
? Prepares and sends engagement letter to clients with fees and scope of work
? Drafts memos relating to significant accounting issues or judgments (including facts, issue, guidance considerations and conclusions)
? Ensures financial statements and notes to the financial statements agree to all of the underlying audit work papers and are issued
? Reviews audit work performed by Audit Associates
? Performs testing of higher risk areas
? Perform research and analysis to develop and present recommendations for improving operations, controls, and complying with laws and regulations as applicable to client
? Perform research to obtain sufficient knowledge as to the client’s compliance with laws, standards, regulations and ordinances
? Prepare work papers and schedules that are informative, indexed, cross-referenced and can easily be understood and explained
? Perform and document audit procedures
? Thorough understanding of generally accepted auditing standards and common audit procedures and techniques
? Assist in resolving issues, constraints, challenges, and/or scheduling conflicts that may arise in completing the assigned task(s)
? Manage daily client workflow and multiple client projects at any given time
? Complete assignments within timeline and budget
? Be active in the consulting and planning of tax strategy and audit defense of income taxes
? Regularly and proactively correspond with clients regarding the status of projects
? Work with clients to transition to new technology solutions within the firm
? Proactively identify areas to help clients and upsell firm services to clients as applicable
? Seek opportunities to assist with additional projects to increase technical ability
? Travel roughly 30%. Geographic area primarily limited to Tri-State area
Other Functions:
? Prepare routine correspondence to client for approval and signature of a partner
? Work with staff on various tasks on an ad-hoc basis
? Begin to identify specialty area of focus to become subject matter expert
? Assist Associate I and II with training and developing understanding of clients
Minimum Qualifications
? Bachelor’s degree in accounting or Master’s degree in accounting or taxation or related field
? Minimum 2 year’s audit experience required or 1 year experience as Associate II with above average performance
? Experience with financial and operational auditing and/or internal and external auditing
? Proficiency in use of computers, including use of Microsoft Excel
? Understanding of and sensitivity to confidential information
? Ability to meet time constraints and client deadlines
? Ability to work heavy overtime from January to March 31 (may be in excess of 55 hours per week). Occasional overtime work required throughout the year.
? Ability to effectively and professionally communicate in a team environment
? Ability to multi-task and manage a complex workload to meet reporting deadlines
? Detail oriented with strong organizational skills
? Takes Initiative, takes ownership for actions, and sets examples for others
Preferred Qualifications:
? CPA certified or CPA candidate
? Working toward a public accountant's license or other professional license related to their role in the firm and/or field of specialty
? ProSystems FX a plus, QuickBooks and other accounting programs also a plus
? Familiarity with Smart Practice Aids a plus