Government Audit Manager

Government Audit Manager

Location: Mankato or Plymouth, Minnesota

Work Arrangement: Hybrid or on-site

Employment Type: Full-time, exempt

Department: Assurance

Industry Focus: Governmental Services

Travel: Occasional throughout Minnesota, with schedules coordinated around client needs

About the Opportunity

CarlsonSV is seeking an experienced Government Audit Manager to lead governmental audit and assurance engagements for cities, school districts, townships, and other public-sector entities throughout Minnesota.

This role is ideal for a CPA or experienced CPA candidate with a strong background in governmental accounting, auditing, and single audits. You will lead engagements from planning through completion, advise clients, develop audit professionals, and help shape the continued growth of our Governmental Services practice.

At CarlsonSV, we believe great work happens when talented people are trusted to take ownership, exercise sound judgment, and build a career that leaves room for life outside of work. If you are looking for meaningful leadership opportunities without sacrificing personal well-being, you will feel at home here.

Position Highlights

• Hybrid flexibility based out of our Mankato or Plymouth offices, with complete workspace equipment for approved remote-work arrangements
• Generous paid time off with three weeks of PTO to start and eleven paid holidays, including three Recharge Days
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, HSA contributions for eligible employees, employer-paid life and disability insurance, and a 401(k) match
• Career growth through CPA certification support, professional development, leadership opportunities, and profit sharing
• Purposeful regional travel throughout Minnesota based on engagement and client needs

Build Your Career Without Putting Life on Hold

At CarlsonSV, meaningful growth and a sustainable career go hand in hand. We support work-life balance through hybrid options, flexible scheduling, generous time off, and a culture of trust—so you can lead important client work while maintaining room for life outside of work. Full benefit details are outlined below.

Who We Are

CarlsonSV: Big firm strength. Small firm feel.

We are a growing public accounting and advisory firm that cares deeply about our clients, our people, and the work we do. We provide assurance and advisory, client accounting, tax, and wealth management services while building long-term relationships as trusted advisors.

We are large enough to offer a diverse client base, meaningful professional opportunities, and access to experienced leaders. We are also small enough that colleagues know one another, ideas are heard and considered by leadership, and individual contributions make a visible difference.

Our culture is grounded in four core values:

• Genuine Care
• Strong Work Ethic
• Expect Excellence
• Do the Right Thing

Why This Role Is Critical

This is an opportunity for an experienced audit leader to help shape the next chapter of CarlsonSV’s established Governmental Services practice, serving cities, school districts, townships, and other public-sector entities throughout Minnesota.

Beyond managing engagements, you will build trusted client relationships, develop audit professionals, solve complex problems, and have a meaningful voice in the practice’s continued growth—supported by experienced leadership and a strong client foundation.

What You’ll Do

As a Government Audit Manager, you will take a leading role in serving our governmental clients while working closely with partners and other members of the Governmental Services team.

Your responsibilities will include

• Lead governmental audit and assurance engagements from planning through completion.
• Manage financial statement audits and single audits for governmental and public-sector clients.
• Review audit workpapers, financial statements, and engagement documentation.
• Apply strong technical knowledge of applicable accounting standards including GASB, GAAP, GAAS, Government Auditing Standards, and Uniform Guidance requirements. Communicate audit findings and recommendations clearly to clients, governing boards, and management teams.
• Develop strong, long-term client relationships and serve as a trusted advisor beyond the annual audit.
• Manage engagement timelines, budgets, staffing, and deliverables.
• Mentor, coach, and develop staff and senior-level audit professionals.
• Contribute to recruiting and developing the next generation of governmental auditors.
• Work with firm leadership to identify opportunities to improve processes, client service, training, and team development.
• Help strengthen and grow CarlsonSV’s Governmental Services practice.

Required Qualifications

You may be an excellent candidate if you:

• Hold an active CPA license, or are a CPA candidate with significant governmental audit experience, including single audits.
• Have progressive public accounting audit experience, including experience leading governmental audits from planning through completion.
• Understand the bigger picture behind the numbers and enjoy serving as a leader and trusted advisor.
• Have strong knowledge of governmental accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and applicable auditing standards.
• Have experience reviewing audit workpapers and financial statements.
• Communicate confidently and professionally with clients, governing boards, management teams, and colleagues.
• Bring curiosity, analytical thinking, intentionality, and strong problem-solving skills to your work.
• Take ownership and can manage multiple engagements, deadlines, and priorities.
• Thrive in a collaborative, evolving environment and enjoy mentoring others.
• Want to contribute ideas and help shape the Governmental Services practice.
• Enjoy building relationships that extend beyond the required audit, including visiting clients and working at client locations.
• Are willing to travel throughout Minnesota based on engagement and client needs.

Preferred Qualifications

The following experience would be especially valuable:

• Experience presenting audit findings to governing boards or other public-sector leadership groups.
• Experience supervising, reviewing, and developing audit professionals.
• Strong knowledge of GASB standards, Government Auditing Standards, Uniform Guidance, and single audit requirements.
• Experience advising governmental clients on accounting, financial reporting, compliance, or internal-control matters.
• Interest in practice development, client relationship management, and process improvement.
• A desire to take on increasing leadership responsibility as the practice grows.

Why CarlsonSV?

At CarlsonSV, you will have the support and collaboration of experienced firm leaders, the autonomy to bring forward your own ideas, and a clear opportunity to expand your leadership responsibility as the Governmental Services practice grows.

Compensation and Benefits

CarlsonSV offers competitive compensation that is reviewed regularly based on experience, qualifications, responsibilities, and market conditions.

Our benefits include:

• Profit-sharing opportunities that allow employees to share in the firm’s success
• Flexible scheduling and hybrid-work options
• Complete workspace equipment for approved remote-work arrangements
• Medical insurance, with CarlsonSV contributing toward employee premiums
• Dental and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account options, including up to $5000 employer contributions for eligible employees
• Flexible Spending Account, Limited FSA, and Dependent Care FSA options
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• A 401(k) retirement plan with up to a 4% company match
• Three weeks of PTO to start, increasing with years of service and available as earned
• Eleven paid holidays, including three Recharge Days
• Professional certification support and eligible CPA examination reimbursement
• Professional development and leadership-development opportunities

Specific plan terms, eligibility requirements, employee contributions, and benefit amounts are governed by the applicable plan documents and CarlsonSV policies

Join Our Team

At CarlsonSV, we would like to hear from you.