day in the life of an audit associate
Wondering what it’s like to work at Peterson Sullivan in an entry-level accounting position? Jack Holmes and Angela Wahlroth, two of our Associates, gave us a rundown of a “Day in the Life” of a first year Associate.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Arrive in the office, get coffee, breakfast, and catch up with co-workers. Start responding to e-mails and set up daily schedule. Update status on Time Entry to let Managers and Partners know when you are In Office or Available for Work. Check confirmation.com for status of bank confirmations sent out.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Wrap up work from the day before. Check for review points and comments in the binder for recent audits you have worked on. If available for work, talk with other seniors or managers to see if they have any projects. Talk with your “Buddy” (another employee who just completed their first year) if you have questions or you need a coffee break.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Grab lunch with friends at one of the many restaurants in the Two Union Square building lobby.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Touch base with Seniors or Managers if you have any questions about your work (no question is a stupid question!). If you have free time, study for CPA exams.
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Review work that needs to be done for the next day. E-mail Seniors or Managers and give a status update on current projects. If going on an audit the next day, find out when and where you are meeting and what workpapers you should check-out. Check workpapers back into the binder that you are done with for the day, and release your time.
After work
Attend networking events, WSCPA activities, or firm-sponsored sports activities
Here’s some typical in-office projects for first year Associates:
Send out confirmations, Trial balance entry, Proofread, Draft various letters, Prepare for planning meetings, Participate in any training, Study for CPA exams, and Other various projects
Here’s what a typical day at the client might look like:
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Arrive at the client and connect with the rest of your team
Meet the main client contact and locate the room you will be working in
Set up your laptop, portable monitor, portable scanner, wireless Internet etc.
Talk to other team members about what sections you are auditing – ask any questions you have about the sections and develop an understanding about them
9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Plan where the team will go for lunch – this is an important responsibility for first year associates!
Start going through your assigned sections and doing appropriate workpapers
Ask questions or clarify things with other Associates or Seniors if you are unsure of anything
Start to develop a list of questions you have for the client
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Go for lunch and hope you made a good choice for the team!
12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Resume work on your sections of the audit and perform the necessary audit procedures
Talk to the client about the list of questions you have accumulated throughout the day
Continue your work based on the information received from the client
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Create an open items list of things for you to pick up on the next day
Discuss with your team and the client about what time to meet the next morning
Typical Accounts First Year Associates will Audit:
Cash, Fixed Assets, Prepaid expenses, Accounts Payable
Typical Clients you May Work On:
Not-for-profits, Various industries of private companies, Public companies, Auto dealerships, Broker/dealers, 401k
