Role: Senior Audit Associate

HRforGrowth® is engaged as the talent acquisition partner to conduct this search on behalf of a client organization that is hiring for this role. HRforGrowth is not the employer for this position. HRforGrowth identifies, evaluates, and presents top-tier candidates through its global talent acquisition practice; all employment decisions — including final selection, offer terms, compensation, and conditions of employment — are made solely by the hiring organization.

Our Client is a well-established public accounting and advisory firm providing audit, accounting, tax, and consulting services to businesses and organizations across a diverse range of industries.

The firm serves privately held businesses, growing companies, and sophisticated organizations, delivering comprehensive assurance and advisory services tailored to each client's needs. The organization emphasizes technical excellence, professional development, collaboration, and long-term client relationships.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced audit professional to join a growing Audit & Assurance team, gain exposure to a variety of industries, and work closely with experienced managers, firm leadership, and clients

Location: Lincolnshire, Illinois

Job Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $76,000 – $95,000 per year
 

The Senior Audit Associate will perform and manage assigned audit and assurance engagements while working closely with Audit & Assurance Managers, firm leadership, engagement teams, and clients.

The successful candidate will have a strong public accounting background, multiple busy seasons of audit and assurance experience, and the ability to independently manage assigned engagement responsibilities while maintaining high standards of audit quality, accuracy, and client service.

This position provides exposure to a diverse client base, including construction, manufacturing and distribution, technology, middle-market businesses, privately held companies, and business combinations and M&A engagements.

Key Responsibilities
Audit & Assurance

· Participate in and manage assigned audit and assurance engagements.

· Organize and manage assigned client engagements and engagement responsibilities.

· Perform financial statement audit procedures in accordance with applicable professional standards.

· Assist with audit planning, fieldwork, testing, and execution.

· Prepare and complete audit workpapers and assigned engagement documentation.

· Review financial information and supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.

· Identify, research, and resolve accounting and audit issues.

· Ensure assigned engagement procedures and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.

· Assist with special audit and assurance projects as needed.

Client & Engagement Management

· Communicate directly with clients regarding audit requirements, information requests, engagement status, and findings.

· Work closely with Audit & Assurance Managers and firm leadership throughout the engagement lifecycle.

· Provide clear and timely communication regarding engagement progress, potential issues, and outstanding items.

· Maintain strong client relationships and provide a high level of professional service.

· Take ownership of assigned engagement responsibilities and work independently while knowing when to escalate issues.

· Assist in coordinating engagement schedules, deadlines, and deliverables.

Accounting & Technical Research

· Research accounting and auditing issues and provide appropriate support for engagement conclusions.

· Apply accounting and auditing principles to assigned engagement procedures.

· Assist with evaluating complex accounting matters and unusual transactions.

· Maintain awareness of applicable professional standards and firm policies.

· Support the preparation of accurate and well-organized audit documentation.

Industry & Special Engagement Exposure

· Gain exposure to clients across diverse industries and business environments.

· Support audit and assurance engagements involving:

· Construction

· Manufacturing and Distribution

· Technology

· Business Combinations and M&A

· Middle-Market Companies

· Privately Held Businesses

· Assist with special projects and other assurance-related assignments as required.

Required Skills & Experience

· Bachelor's degree in Accounting is required.

· Minimum of 3 years of public accounting experience.

· Minimum of 3 busy seasons of audit or assurance experience.

· At least 1 busy season of experience at the Senior Associate, Audit Senior, or Supervisor level.

· CPA certification or CPA eligibility is required; active CPA certification is preferred.

· Strong understanding of accounting and auditing principles.

· Strong financial statement audit experience.

· Experience preparing and reviewing audit workpapers and engagement documentation.

· Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Strong project and time-management abilities.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and accounting or audit software.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities, engagement responsibilities, and deadlines.

· Strong client-service mindset and professional communication skills.

· Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with engagement teams and firm leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

· Master's degree in Accounting or a related field.

· Active CPA license.

· Experience serving clients in construction, manufacturing and distribution, technology, or other middle-market industries.

· Experience with business combinations and M&A engagements.

· Experience working with privately held businesses.

· Experience independently managing assigned audit engagement responsibilities.

· Strong technical accounting and audit research capabilities.

· Experience working directly with clients and senior-level stakeholders.

Work Environment

This is a hybrid/on-site position based in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The role requires regular collaboration with Audit & Assurance Managers, firm leadership, engagement teams, and clients.

The position involves a combination of independent audit work, client communication, engagement team collaboration, financial statement analysis, audit documentation, and participation in audit planning and fieldwork.

The successful candidate must be able to manage multiple engagement responsibilities, meet deadlines, communicate effectively with clients and internal teams, and maintain a high standard of accuracy, professionalism, and audit quality.

During busy seasons, the position may require flexibility in work schedules to meet engagement deadlines and client requirements.

Compensation & Opportunity

· Annual Salary: $76,000 – $95,000, based on experience and qualifications.

· Full-Time employment.

· Hybrid / on-site work environment.

· Opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of public accounting clients.

· Exposure to construction, manufacturing/distribution, technology, M&A, and middle-market businesses.

· Opportunity to work closely with experienced Audit & Assurance Managers and firm leadership.

· Professional development and opportunities to strengthen technical accounting and audit expertise.

· Opportunities for career advancement within a growing public accounting and advisory organization.

· Opportunity to develop long-term client relationships and expand engagement management responsibilities.

Additional Requirements

· Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

· Must be willing and able to work in the Lincolnshire, Illinois area under the firm's hybrid/on-site work arrangement.

· Must have professional public accounting audit or assurance experience.

· Must have completed a minimum of 3 audit or assurance busy seasons.

· Must have at least 1 busy season of experience at the Senior Associate, Audit Senior, or Supervisor level.

· CPA certification or CPA eligibility is required.

· Strong financial statement audit experience is essential.

· Must be able to independently manage assigned audit engagement responsibilities.

· Strong client-facing communication and professional relationship-building skills are essential.

· Must be able to manage multiple engagement deadlines and priorities effectively.

Critical Recruiting Requirements

Candidates submitted for this position must meet the following core requirements:

· Minimum of 3 years of public accounting experience.

· Minimum of 3 busy seasons of audit or assurance experience.

· At least 1 busy season at the Senior Associate, Audit Senior, or Supervisor level.

· Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

· CPA certification or CPA eligibility.

· Strong financial statement audit experience.

· Strong client-facing and communication skills.

· Ability to independently manage assigned audit engagement responsibilities.

Candidates without public accounting audit or assurance experience or the required audit busy-season experience should not be submitted.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced audit professional looking to advance their career within a growing public accounting and advisory organization.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of audit and assurance engagements, work directly with clients and experienced firm leadership, research technical accounting matters, and gain valuable exposure to a diverse range of industries and complex business transactions.

The organization provides a collaborative and professional environment where audit professionals can strengthen their technical expertise, develop engagement management skills, build long-term client relationships, and pursue continued career growth

.About HRforGrowth:
HRforGrowth is a full-service HR and talent partner built to support companies that are scaling, transforming, or navigating change. HRFG is globally recognized for delivering quality, speed, and cost-effective talent solutions across every level of the workforce. Through its global talent acquisition practice, HRforGrowth applies world class rigor and precision to identifying exceptional professional and executive talent on behalf of its clients — from temporary staffing to permanent hourly workers through to placing C-suite executives. HRforGrowth is presenting this opportunity in its capacity as the retained search partner and does not serve as the employer of record for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity:In its recruiting and search practices, HRforGrowth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity, and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. HRforGrowth evaluates and presents candidates to its clients without regard to any protected characteristic.

HRforGrowth endeavors to advise the hiring organization to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws — including those enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) — in its hiring decisions, terms of employment, and workplace practices.