Experienced Audit Associate

Ascend Partner Firms•Chapel Hill, NC

29d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ascend is building a dynamic platform for regional accounting firms, providing resources for growth, talent acquisition, quality management, technology, AI tools, shared services, and modernized equity incentives. Blackman & Sloop, a two-office firm with approximately 45 staff, is an independent member of the BDO Alliance and has joined Ascend to support its growth. They are seeking an Experienced Audit Associate to work on audit engagements for commercial and nonprofit clients, including construction, auto dealerships, nonprofit organizations, and employee benefit plans. This role is ideal for an audit associate with one to two years of public accounting experience looking to take on more engagement responsibility and gain exposure to a diverse client base. The position requires teamwork, excellent interpersonal skills, ownership of assignments, and the ability to multitask and meet deadlines.

Requirements

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!

Nice To Haves

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.

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.