Associate – Audit and Tax

Job Description

Associate | Brown Edwards

The Tone:
This is an early career role at Brown Edwards, a Top 100 Firm with a firm-wide staff of approximately 450 professionals in the Virginia / West Virginia / Tennessee region. The company provides assurance, tax, and business advisory services to a diverse clientele, from small companies to large corporations. This Associate role is crucial for executing fundamental audit, tax, and other assignments, contributing to the firm’s commitment to excellence and supporting its core values of Integrity, Community, Respect, Excellence, and Transformative service. Associates gain varied and general experience, developing proficiency under the supervision of experienced accountants.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Pay: $50000–$75000 yearly
• Team: Reports to all levels above the Associate level
• Mission: Execute basic audit, tax, or other assignments to support firm services and client needs.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Office

What You’ll Actually Do
• Engagement Support: Prepare workpapers, post entries to working trial balances, and import client data for various engagements.
• Tax Preparation: Assist with the preparation of individual, partnership, corporate, and other tax returns, including supporting workpapers and book-to-tax adjustments.
• Audit Execution: Perform assigned audit procedures, assist with walkthroughs, testing, and prepare clear, well-documented workpapers in accordance with firm and professional standards.
• Client & Team Communication: Assist with client communication and documentation, while also communicating open items, questions, and deadlines to senior team members.
• Financial Statement Drafting & Review: Draft basic financial statement components and supporting schedules, and review the adequacy of clients’ internal control systems as assigned.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting, providing foundational knowledge for an early career in accounting.
• Experience: Working toward CPA designation, demonstrating a commitment to professional development, along with general experience using Microsoft Office software applications.
• Skills: Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills, coupled with a basic knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS), financial statement disclosures, and individual, partnership, and corporate tax laws.