Audit Director - U.S. State and Local Government Sector

About the role

SingerLewak is a Top 100 accounting and consulting firm primarily operating in the western region. Serving clients since 1959, SingerLewak has developed a reputation for excellence and expertise in the accounting and management consulting industry.

Providing the services of a large firm with a blended environment of practices, services and industry specializations, SingerLewak continues to demonstrate renowned industry leadership year-over-year.

The firm takes pride in client service and professional and personal advancement, as demonstrated by our SL forward program which promotes a culture of learning and growth through targeted development and leadership programs and SL Cares, together with a continual focus on client service and technological evolution.

The Director is the liaison between the Partner, the client, and the professional staff. Directors are responsible for managing multiple auditing and accounting projects and client engagements simultaneously, and scheduling, staffing and coordinating engagement workflow. Directors develop and train staff, and make associations to develop new business for the Firm. The Director has mastered the skills and requirements of the Manager role and has been identified as possessing the prerequisite for future growth in the Firm. Directors play a lead role in maintaining client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Maintains contact with clients throughout the year; possesses a thorough knowledge of the client and all facets of the client's operations and control systems; building and maintaining good client relationships.
• Either assumes the role of engagement partner or reports directly to the engagement partner on engagements in accordance with firm policies.
• Signs attest opinions as a representative of the firm when assigned the role of engagement partner.
• Oversees all phases of when reporting to an engagement partner and ensures the client deliverable complies with both the applicable accounting framework and firm policy.
• Apprises the engagement Partner, if applicable, of all important developments on the client account; identifies any potential issues on each engagement and implements solutions after partner consultation.
• Responsible for ensuring engagements are properly scheduled.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in discipline or industry, specifically for governmental sector
• Ensures billing and collection practices are executed by engagement teams in accordance with firm policy.
• Supervises staff assigned to engagements and provides on-the-job training; reviews work papers and reports prepared by the engagement team in accordance with firm policy.
• Plays a pivotal role in staff performance evaluations, reviews and periodic counseling.
• Involved in the recruitment of staff and interviews Assurance and Advisory candidates when needed.
• Acts as a representative of the firm in business development matters; develops a network of business contacts and referrals to generate business for the firm.
• Assumes the lead role on prospective client leads assigned to them and responsible for initial communications with prospective clients, generating fee estimates and attending prospective client meetings.
• Maintains appropriate compliance with all Firm-wide policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Approximately 10 years' experience in public accounting and a minimum of 2 years in a senior manager position, with significant experience in the public sector, including auditing state and local governments (i.e., cities, counties, special districts, charter Schools etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• Holds a current and valid CPA license.
• Ability to travel to client and SingerLewak office locations.
• Demonstrated ability to bring in new business to a CPA Firm.
• Significant experience conducting audits in accordance with General Accepted Governmental Auditing Standards (GAGAS/Yellow Book), Generally Accepted Audit Standards (GAAS) and the Uniform Guidance
• Ability to direct, review and train departmental staff.
• Exposure to conducting audits of not for profit organizations

Working Conditions

• Hybrid working environment (work from home, firm office or client location) as needed to service the clients appropriately and train staff
• Same day travel for work at clients' offices, meetings, and seminars, as needed
• Out-of-town travel with overnight stays for work at clients, meetings, or seminars
• Overtime work expected as needed throughout the year with concentration of overtime expected from August to February