Assurance Director - Commercial Team

Job Description

Job Description

YHB seeks an Assurance Director to collaborate with Principals and clients to deliver efficient, effective, high-quality assurance engagements, develop staff and build the assurance practice. This is a builder role with an expectation of expanding client relationships, developing new business, and continuing to grow YHB’s commercial assurance practice. Our commercial clients include construction, architecture and engineering, government contracting, manufacturing, and wholesale distribution. We value depth in one or more of these sectors and the ability to develop expertise across related businesses. 

The director takes responsibility for engagement quality, significant technical judgments, client service, timely reporting, and engagement performance. The director signs reports and oversees report release for assigned engagements when authorized by YHB, within demonstrated competence and in accordance with applicable professional requirements and the firm’s consultation and review procedures. 

Roles & Responsibilities 

Technical Expertise & Quality 

• Lead assigned engagements from acceptance and planning through execution, review and report issuance. Identify significant risks, resolve or escalate complex matters, and ensure the team documents its judgments and conclusions. 

• Direct risk assessment and audit responses appropriate to the engagement. Evaluate relevant controls, oversee testing where appropriate, and communicate identified deficiencies as required by applicable standards. 

• Review financial statements for compliance with U.S. GAAP or the other applicable reporting framework, and engagement work for applicable professional standards and YHB’s quality-management policies. Complete required consultations and reviews after report release. 

• Maintain strong knowledge of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP), applicable auditing and other assurance standards, and the accounting and business issues affecting assigned clients. Use specialists and technical consultation when an engagement requires expertise beyond the team’s demonstrated competence. 

• Support YHB’s quality-management activities and continuous improvement as assigned. Protect independence, professional skepticism and confidential information; manage scope, staffing and fees without compromising quality. 

Client Service & Engagement Management 

• Serve as a senior contact for assigned clients, communicate significant matters clearly, understand their businesses, and maintain responsive relationships throughout the year. 

• Oversee engagement scope, staffing, budgets, schedules, billings, and collections. Address delivery issues early and balance efficient execution with the work needed for high-quality engagements. 

People Leadership & Practice Development 

• Develop Managers, Senior Managers and engagement teams through coaching, delegation, technical guidance, and timely performance feedback. Participate in staffing, recruiting, and advancement discussions as assigned. 

• Build and grow the assurance practice by developing new client relationships and referral sources, expanding existing relationships and leading proposals, presentations and relevant cross-service opportunities. Work with Principals to identify and pursue market opportunities and take ownership of agreed practice-growth priorities. 

• Contribute to industry knowledge, staff training, and appropriate market-facing activities. Maintain required professional education and current knowledge of standards and client-industry developments. 

Professionalism & Service Excellence 

• Serve as a positive representative of YHB by demonstrating the ability to communicate with others effectively and respectfully in both written and spoken correspondence and to act in a professional manner. 

• Ensure complete confidentiality of all client and firm information. 

• Mitigate risk by conducting thorough and regular assessments and testing of both client internal control processes as well as YHB internal control processes and procedures. 

• Demonstrate strong analytical and critical thinking skills by identifying potential issues early in the engagement process and altering as necessary. 

• Ensure clients feel supported and informed during engagements and throughout the year, establishing yourself as a trusted advisor, and actively seek feedback from clients to improve service delivery and adapt to their evolving needs. 

• Serve as a champion for audit quality, promoting accountability, consistency, and innovation in all areas of client service and engagement execution. 

Productivity & Business Development 

• Follow YHB’s time reporting requirements including timely entry of weekly time for payroll and billing purposes. 

• Take responsibility and ownership of work to meet annual billable hour expectations while ensuring high-quality work to ensure appropriate billing realization for charged hours. 

• Manage a network of decision makers and outside relationships with a goal of creating referrals and references as well as of fostering long-term business. 

• Serve as a leader within their specialized industry area, identifying opportunities to leverage and expand YHB's expertise across clients and markets. 

• Contribute creative ideas and support the coordination of events, webinars, and other marketing activities to showcase YHB’s expertise and services; and assist in the delivery of proposals and presentations tailored to current and prospective clients.  

Continuous Learning & Professional Development 

• Actively participate in professional development activities during periods of non-billable time such as continuing education, training others, firm committees, and/or firm marketing and business development. 

• Complete assigned training courses or learning tracks within the appropriate timeframe. 

• Demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges, maintaining a positive attitude, and a solution-oriented approach. 

• Adapt to changing circumstances with flexibility, ensuring that team objectives are met despite unexpected obstacles. 

• Acknowledge mistakes and take proactive steps to correct them, demonstrating accountability and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

Education, Experience, & Other Requirements  

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience. 

• Graduate Degree in Accounting or related field (preferred). 

• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in good standing, with the ability to meet applicable practice eligibility requirements. 

• Substantial progressive experience in public-accounting audit and assurance, typically 10 or more years, including recent responsibility for complex engagements, significant technical review, client relationships and developing managers and teams. 

• Demonstrated experience serving commercial businesses, with depth in one or more construction, architecture and engineering, government contracting, manufacturing or wholesale distribution. Experience in every listed sector is not required. 

• Experience leading employee benefit plan audits subject to ERISA is strongly preferred.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and applicable professional standards, sound technical research and consultation skills, and a record of resolving significant accounting and auditing matters. 

• Ability to lead multiple engagements, communicate effectively with senior client leaders and teams, and manage engagement resources, deadlines, and economics.