[MICPA87]

Hello,

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but I figured you guys could shed some light.

Long story short, I’ve been working at a regional, 60 person public accounting firm for 3 years doing a mix of corporate/individual tax and reviews/compilations of small to mid size companies.

I’d like to move more into assurance doing audits, but my current job doesn’t really allow for it. Going for a long shot, I applied for a senior auditor position at two big 4 firms on-line by simply filling out an application (no cover letter or anything) and including my resume. I was surprised to get two calls back shortly later. After two brief discussions, I have now have two interviews.

My question is: am I over my head here? I have zero audit experience, but the interviews are are both for senior auditor positions. I explained this to the one recruiter, and while she seemed slightly surprised, she never the less passed my resume on. The other recruiter didn’t explicitly ask if I had audit experience, but I was extremely clear what my current job entailed. Partners at both firms expressed a desire to interview me. Do I stand a chance, because this is rather exciting.

Thanks.

FAR(11/14/11)- 92
AUD(01/04/12)- 91
REG(05/30/12)- 93
BEC(07/21/12)- 88

CPA - Michigan

[fuzyfro89]

They may interview you if they are interested in you at least a little…

… but your offer may or may not be for a senior position. Likely, in the interviews, they will get more in depth about your personality/experience/etc. and evaluate you in 2 parts:

1) Do I want this person to work at my firm?

2) What position do I believe they are best for?

[Anonymous]

Fuzyfro hit the nail on the head. If anything, they may decide to take you on as an “experienced” Associate, with the promise to bump you to senior after a year.

On the other hand, they may be really HURTING for seniors right now and bring you on as one. Every now and then a wave of seniors bounces all at once because they get tired of being dumped on.

Regardless of any of that- the partner has to like you.

[AScott89]

I think you'll do fine. Even if you haven't done actual audits, you can still learn right? If you can do the compilations and reviews it shouldn't be that hard to make the jump to audit. It would just mean going more in-depth than you're used to.

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B - 65, 74, 2/26/18
A - 72, 68, 84
R - 72, 82
F - 55, 79

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[TNCPA16]

It's worth going to the interview – like previous posters said, they may not offer you a senior position but might offer you an experienced staff position, or keep you in mind for future positions. If they like you, they'll find a place for you. A friend of mine applied for a tax position at a Big 4. They interviewed her and ended up offering her an IT auditor position (I don't understand their hiring practices sometimes…)

A senior position would be tough without experience. At the senior level, you would be expected to know how to audit and be able to lead engagements. A firm isn't going to invest the time to train you like they would someone at the staff level. There's a learning curve at every job…just getting used to different methodology and practices, but to add not having the basic auditing skills too? Not to say you couldn't handle it, but it's not going to be easy.

And, just a comment to AScott89's post – auditing is more than just going a little more “in-depth.” So much of auditing today, especially for pubic companies, is centered around controls. I swear I spend more time talking about controls than I do talking about the financials!

[MICPA87]

Thanks guys. Michaelsjr summed up my thoughts in his first sentence.

FAR(11/14/11)- 92
AUD(01/04/12)- 91
REG(05/30/12)- 93
BEC(07/21/12)- 88

CPA - Michigan

[Author]

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