Audit Associate at Ascend in Chapel Hill, NC

Job description

• We are seeking an Experienced Audit Associate to work on a variety of audit engagements for commercial and nonprofit clients across the firm’s niche industries — including construction, auto dealerships, nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans. This role is suited to an audit associate with one to two years of public accounting experience who is ready to take on greater engagement responsibility while gaining exposure to a diverse client base.
• You will perform alongside a team of colleagues, display excellent interpersonal skills, and take ownership of assignments from start to finish. The ability to multi-task and complete your work within time constraints and deadlines is key to your success in this role.
• A bright, eager professional who comes to work excited to pursue their passion and grow alongside a team. Someone who values relationships as much as technical ability, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is committed to excelling and pursuing growth together.

Responsibilities

• Support audit engagements for a diverse range of for-profit and nonprofit clients.
• Perform audit procedures in accordance with GAAS, firm methodology, and applicable accounting standards.
• Take ownership of assigned audit sections, including preparing workpapers, lead schedules, reconciliations, and account analyses.
• Tie out trial balances, financial statements, supporting schedules, and disclosures for accuracy and completeness.
• Analyze financial information, investigate variances, and document conclusions based on sufficient appropriate audit evidence.
• Prepare client write-ups, audit findings, proposed adjustments, and other engagement deliverables.
• Assist with audit planning, internal control documentation, financial statement preparation, and management letter recommendations.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with clients and engagement team members.
• Multi-task across multiple assignments and complete work within established budgets, deadlines, and quality standards.
• Apply U.S. GAAP, GAAS, and internal control principles to audit engagements.

Requirements

• Experience with audit data analytics, internal controls, risk assessment, or enterprise risk management.
• Experience with Excel and electronic audit workpaper or engagement-management software.
• Audit experience with construction companies, automotive dealerships, nonprofit organizations, employee benefit plan audits or other privately held businesses.
• Experience preparing financial statements, disclosures, management letters, audit findings, or proposed adjusting journal entries.
• Interest in developing technical expertise and progressing in their career.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of external audit experience in public accounting.
• Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, GAAS, internal controls, and financial statement presentation.
• Experience preparing audit workpapers, reconciliations, lead schedules, analytical procedures, and financial statement tie-outs.
• Ability to take ownership of assigned audit areas and complete work accurately within established budgets and deadlines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work on multiple assignments and interact professionally with clients and engagement team members.
• CPA license, CPA eligibility, or active progress toward CPA licensure.
• Willingness to learn and use new technologies, including audit software, data analytics tools, and engagement-management systems.
• Strong work ethic, accountability, teamwork, and a good sense of humor!

Skills

Required

• Audit data analytics
• Internal controls
• Risk assessment
• Enterprise risk management
• Excel
• Financial statement preparation
• Disclosures
• Management letters
• Audit findings
• Proposed adjusting journal entries

Preferred

• U.S. GAAP
• GAAS
• Internal control principles
• Financial statement presentation
• Audit workpapers
• Reconciliations
• Lead schedules
• Analytical procedures

Benefits

• 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