Role and industry
Audit Manager Recruiters for CPA firms with construction audit clients
Financial Headhunters: You need a manager who can detect revenue recognition red flags in job cost reports to protect bonding capacity
This is what we do all day: recruit accounting, finance, banking and insurance professionals.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
Need someone now? Call 954-280-9139.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
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- Business Systems Finance Lead
- No upfront fee
- Pay only if you hire
- Accounting, finance, banking and insurance
- We reach people who aren’t on job boards
- Replacement terms on standard searches
01
What does this hire really come down to?
This manager directs field audits where revenue recognition hinges on work-in-progress schedules, over-under billings, and precise job cost accounting. You need someone who spots red flags in construction contracts that threaten bonding capacity. They must reconcile client software reports with audit evidence immediately.
They oversee the team responsible for verifying construction-specific accruals and identifying variances in cost projections. If they cannot explain why a project margin shifted mid-year based on field reports, the audit quality fails. They manage the internal review process to hit filing deadlines for surety bonding requirements.
Ask candidates how they audit percentage-of-completion calculations for multi-year projects. Question how they verify equipment capitalization versus repair and maintenance expenses for heavy machinery. Challenge them to explain their process for auditing complex joint venture structures common in large general contracting firms.
When assessing this role, require a detailed description of how they evaluate a work-in-progress schedule. Ask the candidate to explain their process for reconciling job costs in Viewpoint Vista. Have them describe a scenario where they identified an unrecorded liability for materials on a construction site. What steps do they take to verify that revenue recognition matches the physical site progress? Ask them to demonstrate how they document the review of a change order that significantly impacts the gross margin of a project. Require an explanation of how they resolve disagreements with clients who argue for capitalizing costs that belong in expenses. Ask them to outline their method for tracking multiple active audit timelines to prevent documentation gaps. Test their ability to verify percentage-of-completion calculations by asking how they check against subsidiary records. How do they handle a situation where a client resists providing audit evidence for pending billings?
02
What do we check before you see anyone?
We verify they have active CPA licensure required for signing off on financial statements. We confirm experience specifically within CPA firms auditing construction contractors rather than general corporate accounting. We test their proficiency with industry-standard platforms like Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, or Foundation. We check their history of managing multiple concurrent engagements during the construction industry busy season. We confirm they understand how to reconcile job cost reports to general ledgers. We evaluate their ability to provide direct technical feedback to audit staff regarding project-based internal controls.
Before you meet a candidate, we walk through the specific reporting requirements of your current client list to identify where their past work aligns. We require them to walk through a recent job cost audit file, explaining how they handled a situation where a client understated project costs to improve perceived margins. We check if they have managed a team during an active project lifecycle where financial data flow remained broken due to poor software integration. We ask them to describe the difference between auditing a lump sum contract and a cost plus contract, specifically regarding how they verify the bill of materials. We also evaluate the tradeoff between spending more hours on deep-dive field testing versus relying on sampling for smaller subcontractors, asking them to describe a time they had to justify their sampling logic to a defensive client. We test how they handle a situation where a project manager refuses to disclose a pending claim, and ask them to outline their internal process for verifying that the client provided all contract modifications. We ask for concrete examples of how they tracked unbilled revenue across five different clients simultaneously. We verify their approach to training staff on site-specific risks, checking if they prioritize verifying physical site progress over merely checking invoice copies. We confirm they know the specific audit evidence required for equipment depreciation policies in high-volume heavy construction environments.
03
Where do we find them?
We source from regional and national CPA firms with dedicated construction practices. We target managers who seek a move because their current firm lacks long-term growth opportunities or because they desire more direct involvement with larger, complex infrastructure clients. We also look for those moving between firms due to geographic relocation or a desire for a different industry niche balance.
04
Which hiring mistakes should you watch for?
- 01Hiring managers assume corporate accounting experience in construction translates to public accounting audit methodology.
- 02Overlooking the requirement for specific experience with percentage-of-completion accounting standards.
- 03Neglecting to test whether the candidate can review and correct staff-prepared workpapers for job cost variance analysis.
05
The search in three steps
- 01We identify managers currently running construction audit portfolios at competing CPA firms.
- 02We vet their technical grasp of revenue recognition and job costing through structured screening questions.
- 03We present only those candidates who demonstrate the ability to manage complex engagements and field teams independently.
06
Which related hiring decisions are worth comparing?
How your Audit Manager search runs
From the opening to the start
Tell us who you need
Tell us about the job, your team and the experience you need.
We find and contact people
We research suitable people and speak with them about the job and their interest.
You meet the strongest candidates
We introduce candidates with relevant experience and explain why each could fit.
We help you complete the hire
We help with interview feedback, the offer and arrangements for the start.
Questions people ask
Do I pay for your efforts before you find a construction audit manager?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
How are these terms documented?
All engagement terms are agreed upon in writing before we begin the search. We operate on a contingency basis unless a different structure is requested.
How does this role differ from a Senior Audit Manager?
The Audit Manager focuses on execution and direct field supervision. A Senior Audit Manager takes on more firm-wide administrative and business development responsibilities.
What software proficiency is required for this construction focus?
The candidate must understand the logic behind Sage 300 CRE, Viewpoint Vista, Spectrum, or Foundation. Mastery of these tools is needed to audit client WIP schedules effectively.
When will we meet candidates?
Timing depends on the requirements, location and pay. We discuss the likely obstacles after learning about the job and keep you informed as the search progresses.
How do you handle counteroffers?
We discuss why candidates want to move and what might make them stay. If a counteroffer comes up, we help both sides work through the decision without making promises for either party.
What is your guarantee?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
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No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
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