Assurance Senior Manager (Learning & Development Liaison)

Assurance Senior Manager (Learning & Development Liaison)

Opportunity ID


9288

Department


Assurance

Location(s)


Chicago

State


Illinois


Function


National Assurance

Job Description


The Senior Manager - Assurance Learning & Development serves as the Assurance practice's embedded leader responsible for executing and advancing Assurance learning strategy in partnership with the Center for Learning & Development (CLD).

Positioned within the Assurance business unit, this role combines deep Assurance subject matter expertise with responsibility for translating technical, regulatory, and operational priorities into scalable learning solutions that strengthen audit quality, accelerate professional development, and support consistent capability growth across the practice.

This role acts as the bridge between Assurance leadership and CLD by defining what capabilities must be developed and why they matter operationally, while partnering with CLD to design and deliver effective learning experiences aligned to enterprise instructional standards.

The Senior Manager plays a critical execution role in operationalizing the Assurance multi-year learning strategy through technical learning asset development, SME engagement, and sustained program delivery.

List of Responsibilities

Practice Learning Modernization & Enablement: In partnership with the CLD, the Senior Manager supports the continued evolution of Assurance learning by defining practice-driven development needs and operational realities that inform learning solutions. Drawing upon deep Assurance experience, the role provides technical and workflow context that enables CLD to apply appropriate instructional approaches while maintaining regulatory defensibility and audit-quality standards . This responsibility ensures modernization efforts reflect how Assurance professionals apply knowledge in practice.

Content Quality & Technical Ownership: The Senior Manager provides practice-side technical ownership for Assurance learning content by ensuring materials accurately reflect current assurance methodology, regulatory expectations, and real-world engagement requirements. Working collaboratively with other Assurance subject matter experts (SME) and CLD managers, the role clarifies technical expectations, consolidates practitioner input, and prepares technically validated source materials that support efficient development of learning assets. This responsibility strengthens consistency and quality across Assurance programs while addressing the technical ownership gap created by increasing curriculum scale and complexity.

Curriculum, Competency & Regulatory Alignment: Works with National Assurance Director and CLD to maintain alignment between Assurance curricula, competency expectations, and evolving professional standards. The role interprets changes arising from AICPA, PCAOB, SEC , and internal quality monitoring activities and translates those developments into clearly defined technical updates for learning programs. By helping prioritize and prepare regulatory-driven updates, the Senior Manager improves refresh speed and supports consistent application of standards across the Assurance practice, reducing audit-quality risk associated with outdated or fragmented learning content.

Learning Operations & Practice Execution Alignment: Co-own the Assurance learning calendar, delivery readiness, and execution tracking in partnership with CLD. Supports execution readiness of Assurance learning initiatives by aligning practice priorities, staffing realities, and regulatory timelines with planned learning activities. Acting as the Assurance practice representative in coordination with CLD, the role helps ensure learning initiatives are operationally feasible and appropriately sequenced within the business environment. Provide National Assurance leadership with transparent reports on learning progress, identified skill gaps or risks, and the outcomes of learning initiatives, enabling data-driven decisions and continuous improvement.

In addition to the primary responsibilities above, the role entails secondary responsibilities in stakeholder engagement and change management:

Stakeholder Partnership & Change Enablement: Serving as a trusted Assurance representative, the Senior Manager strengthens alignment between National Assurance leadership, local office Learning Leaders, SMEs, and CLD. The role supports adoption of firmwide learning initiatives by helping stakeholders understand practice implications and preparing Assurance professionals for evolving learning approaches. Through ongoing engagement and feedback integration, the Senior Manager helps embed sustainable learning practices across the Assurance organization without establishing parallel learning governance structures. Champion change management for new learning approaches, preparing stakeholders and end-users in the Assurance practice for shifts toward modern learning methods.

Technical Content Contribution & SME Capacity Enablement: Contributes embedded technical capacity to Assurance learning initiatives by preparing practice-authored technical inputs that accelerate development and refresh learning materials. This includes drafting technical source content, outlining practical application scenarios, and organizing SME contributions into structured inputs ready for development by CLD instructional design partners. By reducing reliance on limited SME availability and preparing technically complete starting-point materials, the role enables faster curriculum updates while allowing CLD to focus on instructional architecture and learner experience design.

Who the Role Reports To: This position reports to a National Assurance Director responsible for Assurance learning and development initiatives within the Assurance practice. (This reporting structure reflects that the role sits in the Assurance business unit, not within the CLD department.)

Who the Role Collaborates With: The Senior Manager collaborates extensively with National Assurance Leadership (including leaders in Learning, Risk, and Quality), Assurance Service Line Leaders , Industry Leaders , and the CLD . The role also works with Assurance partners, directors, other senior managers, and various SMEs across the firm to ensure training content is relevant and effective.

Other Roles Reporting to This Position: None (no direct reports initially). While there are no direct reports at the outset, the Senior Manager may leverage dotted-line or project-based resources within CLD and National Assurance to achieve learning objectives. As the Assurance learning strategy evolves and scales, there may be consideration for future team expansion, including direct reports or additional dedicated resources.

Job Qualifications / Minimum Requirements:

• Deep Assurance Expertise: Extensive experience in the Assurance field - for example, a background in audit or Assurance services - combined with experience in developing or leading professional learning programs. Prior roles in Assurance learning or professional services learning leadership are highly beneficial.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of AICPA, PCAOB, and SEC training and proficiency expectations, as well as familiarity with how these regulatory requirements influence Assurance practice training needs.
• Leadership & Execution: Demonstrated success in leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, ideally in a matrixed environment. Proven ability to translate high-level strategy into practical, operational execution steps and deliver results.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working closely with senior leaders and SMEs. Able to build trust and consensus across both the Assurance practice leadership and corporate learning teams.
• Firm-First Mindset: A strong "firm-first" mentality with a commitment to audit quality, continuous improvement, and talent development in alignment with CohnReznick's strategic priorities.
• Professional Credentials: CPA license or an equivalent professional credential in accounting/auditing is strongly preferred (though not strictly required), given the technical nature of Assurance content and credibility needed in working with practice leaders.

Career Advancement/Path: This role prepares individuals for future national leadership positions spanning Assurance capability development, quality management, or enterprise learning leadership through experience bridging business strategy and learning execution.

Client Service Expectations: This is primarily a practice leadership and execution role focused on internal Assurance training and quality initiatives. This position primarily focuses on internal Assurance capability development and practice leadership initiatives. Client service responsibilities, if applicable, are secondary to the learning execution priorities of the role.

In addition, please take a moment to review our


Studies have shown that we are less likely to apply to jobs unless we meet every single qualification. At CohnReznick, we are dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our other roles.

In Illinois , the salary range for a Assurance - Senior Manager (Learning & Development Liaison) is $150,000 to $200,000. Salary is one component of the CohnReznick total rewards package, which includes a discretionary performance bonus, generous paid time off, expanded, and inclusive parental benefits, and access to best-in-class learning and development platforms, to name a few. To learn more about life at CohnReznick, visit .

"CohnReznick" is the brand name under which CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC and their respective subsidiaries provide professional services. CohnReznick LLP and CohnReznick Advisory LLC (and their respective subsidiaries) practice in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. CohnReznick LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC provides tax and business consulting services to its clients. CohnReznick Advisory LLC and its subsidiaries are not licensed CPA firms.

CohnReznick is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive team to drive business results and create a better future every day for our team members, clients, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. For more information, please see


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