Vice President, Accounting & Assurance (Audit)

Job Description:

Position Overview:
We are one of the largest independent CPA and business advisory firms in Northern New England. Our office in India is seeking a VP for our A&A practice. This position is responsible for overseeing client relationships, including managing multiple audit and accounting engagements simultaneously, developing business proposals and other supervisory and administrative duties as required. Ideal candidates will demonstrate high technical aptitude, excellent project management skills and inspire teamwork and development of engagement team members.

What you’ll do:

• Relationship Management:
o Serves as client’s first point of contact, understands importance of fostering a relationship with appropriate individuals at client
o Responsible for seeing that engagement is complete and ready for Partner review within established timeframe and budget; keeps the Partner informed on engagement status and key issues in timely manner
o Develop relationships with key client personnel
o Proactively and effectively identify client’s needs
o Manages expectations of service including work products, timing, and value to be delivered

• Engagement Management:
o Responsible for all phases of audit, review, compilation, or other accounting engagements.
o Plans, supervises, reviews and controls A&A engagements of all sizes and complexities for compliance with all professional and firm standards. This includes supervising time budget development and fee recommendations, working with internal staff and clients to plan engagement objectives and strategies
o Communicates with appropriate individuals within the firm and documents the status of A&A engagements, including keeping Partners informed of all important developments on engagement
o Keeps client and audit team apprised of the progress, problems, and resolutions with the engagement
o Participates in the performance of procedures especially focusing on complex, judgmental and / or specialized issues
o Demonstrates a thorough understanding of complex accounting and auditing concepts and their application to client situations
o Achieves the desired level of fee realization and the desired level of budget realization on services performed and supervised
o Manages production of quality deliverables on time, in scope and within budget; involved in billing process and financial arrangement.

• People Management:
o Manages A&A engagement team, including their training and professional development, productivity, and performance
o Evaluates the performance of A&A engagement team and provides verbal and written feedback regularly
o Identifies personnel issues, makes recommendations, and participates in resolution
o Proactively mentors and develops the technical and business development skills of A&A staff
o Assists with the recruiting and hiring of A&A staff in India office.
o Provides on-the-job training; reviews work papers and reports prepared by staff
o Assists with the development of training programs and acts as instructor in professional development programs

Preferred Skills, Experience and Education:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• Chartered Accountant/Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification required
• Minimum 8+ years professional experience in public accounting, demonstrates a progression in complexity, scope, and number of engagements managed, with extensive supervisory experience
• Excellent technical skills
• Proficient in the use of computers, accounting software and tax software programs
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to train and supervise staff in accounting, auditing, software skills, etc.
• Ability to perform under time pressures and meet deadlines
• Strong work ethic, honest and ethical
• Ability to manage client relationships
• Above average written and verbal communication skills
• Successful problem-solving and analytical skills
• Project management experience
• Ability to effectively deal with engagement situations that may involve controversy and influencing others