Senior Audit and Financial Reporting Specialist

Job description

### **About the Company** Our client is a professional services firm supporting Australian businesses with audit, assurance, and financial reporting services. The firm works across a diverse portfolio of clients and is committed to delivering high-quality outcomes that meet Australian regulatory, accounting, and auditing standards. As part of their growing outsourced team, they are seeking an experienced Senior Audit and Financial Reporting Specialist to support audit engagements and financial reporting requirements for Australian entities. ### **Job Overview** The Senior Audit and Financial Reporting Specialist will be responsible for managing Australian audit engagements and financial statement preparation from planning through to completion. This role requires a strong understanding of Australian Auditing Standards (ASA), Australian Accounting Standards (AASB), and Australian regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will be capable of working independently, exercising sound professional judgment, and delivering high-quality audit and financial reporting work with minimal supervision. The role is **initially offered on a part-time basis, with the opportunity to transition to full-time** as the role develops. The preference is for candidates who can work in **Sydney business hours**, with some flexibility for the right person. ### Key Responsibilities ### **Audit Engagements** - Perform end-to-end audit engagements in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards (ASA). - Prepare audit planning documentation, including risk assessments, materiality calculations, and audit programs. - Conduct substantive testing, analytical procedures, and internal control testing. - Identify and assess audit issues and their impact on financial statements. - Prepare audit working papers and supporting documentation. - Complete audit completion procedures, including subsequent events reviews and going concern assessments. - Draft management letters and communicate audit findings to engagement teams. - Prepare audit clearance files for manager and partner review. ### **Financial Statement Preparation** - Prepare general purpose financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (AASB). - Prepare consolidated financial statements where applicable. - Draft accounting policies, disclosures, notes to the financial statements, and supporting schedules. - Prepare cash flow statements and financial statement reconciliations. - Ensure compliance with Australian financial reporting and disclosure requirements. - Research and document technical accounting treatments. ### **Technical Accounting & Compliance** - Apply AASB and ASA requirements across audit and financial reporting engagements. - Research and interpret complex accounting and auditing matters. - Assess disclosure requirements and ensure compliance with applicable standards. - Maintain current knowledge of Australian accounting, auditing, and regulatory developments. - Exercise professional judgment in accordance with ethical and professional standards. ### **Client & Team Support** - Communicate professionally with Australian managers, partners, and client finance teams. - Manage multiple audit and reporting engagements simultaneously. - Review work completed by junior team members where required. - Escalate technical issues and engagement risks appropriately. - Contribute to audit quality improvements and process efficiencies. ### Mandatory Requirements - **Experience:** Minimum **4 years of continuous, Full-time, Hands on external audit experience** for Australian entities over the last 4 years. - **GPFS:** Hands-on experience preparing General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS Tier 1 and Tier 2) compliant with AASBs and the Corporations Act 2001 for Australian entities. - AASB and Australian companies ### Key Technical Competencies - **Substantive Testing:** Ability to independently design and execute substantive procedures across key cycles (e.g. planning, materiality, revenue, trade debtor, inventory, cut-off, unrecorded liabilities search, PPE, employee provisions, and NFP grant accounting etc). - **Internal Controls Documentation:** Capability to conduct walkthroughs, document process narratives or flowcharts, and identify control deficiencies. ### Communication & Soft Skills - **English Proficiency:** **Excellent command of written and spoken English**, as they will need to draft clear audit working papers, clear review notes, and communicate directly with local team members and Australian client management. - **Attention to Detail:** **Strong analytical mindset and meticulous attention to detail** for tracing source documents, reviewing complex financial disclosures, and ensuring workpapers are audit-ready with minimal supervision. - **Time & Task Management:** Ability to manage competing priorities, meet tight statutory deadlines, and proactively flag audit variances or roadblocks to seniors/managers. - **Remote Work Readiness:** Strong remote collaboration skills, Microsoft Teams/Zoom, and secure document-sharing platforms. ### Systems and Softwares - CaseWare - Xero - MYOB - QuickBooks - Microsoft Excel (Advanced) - Other audit and financial reporting platforms ### Nice-to-Have Skills - Experience preparing consolidated financial statements. - Exposure to ASIC reporting and compliance requirements. - Experience reviewing and mentoring junior audit team members. - Knowledge of Australian corporate reporting obligations under the Corporations Act. - Experience working with multiple client industries and complex group structures.