Public Accountant job description

Job brief

We are seeking a dedicated Public Accountant to join our growing CPA firm and serve a diverse portfolio of clients across manufacturing, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors. In this role, you will conduct financial statement audits, prepare complex tax returns, and provide strategic advisory services that help our clients achieve their financial goals and maintain regulatory compliance. You will work directly with client executives, CFOs, and accounting teams while developing expertise across multiple industries and accounting specializations. If you are passionate about public accounting excellence and want to build a rewarding career with significant client interaction and professional growth opportunities, we invite you to apply.

What is a Public Accountant?

A Public Accountant is a licensed CPA who provides external accounting services including audits, tax preparation, and financial consulting to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals. Working at public accounting firms ranging from Big Four to boutique practices, Public Accountants apply GAAP and IFRS standards to verify financial statement accuracy, prepare complex tax returns, and deliver advisory services such as forensic accounting and business valuation. Their independent expertise ensures regulatory compliance, supports capital market transparency, and provides objective financial analysis that stakeholders rely on for critical business decisions.

What does a Public Accountant do?

A Public Accountant conducts field work at client sites to perform audit procedures, testing internal controls and substantiating account balances through confirmations, analytical reviews, and detailed transaction testing. They prepare individual and corporate tax returns using software such as ProConnect, Lacerte, or CCH Axcess, researching tax code changes and optimizing client tax positions while ensuring IRS and state compliance. Public Accountants also compile interim financial statements, assist with SEC filings for public companies, and present findings to client management teams and audit committees during busy season engagements from January through April.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and execute financial statement audits under GAAS standards, performing risk assessments, testing internal controls, and documenting findings in audit workpapers using CaseWare or TeamMate software
• Prepare federal and state tax returns for corporations, partnerships, and high-net-worth individuals using ProConnect Tax or CCH Axcess, ensuring compliance with current tax regulations
• Conduct substantive audit procedures including accounts receivable confirmations, inventory observations, and analytical reviews to verify financial statement assertions
• Review and compile monthly and quarterly financial statements for private companies, ensuring proper application of GAAP accounting principles and disclosure requirements
• Assist with SEC reporting requirements for public company clients, including 10-K and 10-Q filings, proxy statements, and quarterly earnings support
• Provide business advisory services including cash flow projections, internal control assessments, and merger and acquisition due diligence support
• Research complex accounting and tax issues using authoritative literature such as the FASB Codification, IRC regulations, and state tax codes
• Supervise and mentor staff accountants and interns, reviewing their work quality and providing technical guidance on audit procedures and client service delivery

Requirements and skills

• Active CPA license in good standing with relevant state board of accountancy, with commitment to meeting continuing professional education requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting with 150 credit hours completed to meet CPA education requirements, Master's in Accounting or MBA preferred
• 3+ years of public accounting experience at a regional or national CPA firm, with exposure to audit, tax, and advisory service lines
• Proficiency in audit software such as CaseWare Working Papers, TeamMate Analytics, or MindBridge AI, along with advanced Excel skills including pivot tables and VLOOKUP functions
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, GAAS, and federal tax code provisions, with ability to research complex accounting and tax issues using professional literature
• Experience with tax preparation software including Lacerte, ProConnect, or CCH Axcess, and familiarity with QuickBooks, Sage, or other client accounting systems
• Excellent client service skills with ability to communicate technical accounting concepts clearly to business owners, CFOs, and audit committees
• Strong project management abilities to handle multiple client engagements simultaneously during busy season while meeting strict deadlines and quality standards

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