A Day In The Life Of An Audit Associate At A Big 4 Accounting Firm
A Big 4 Audit Associate's workday is drastically different depending on the time of year; "January through March...are really busy months," involving long hours at client sites performing "substantive testing" and collaborating with colleagues, while the rest of the year offers more flexibility, with remote work options and opportunities beyond audit work.
Teamwork, Busy Season/Deadlines, Client Interaction, Work-Life Balance, Travel
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Joel Bobe
Audit Associate
Big 4 Accounting Firm
The George Washington University
UNC - Chapel Hill
International Relations & Affairs, Philosophy
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Audit work is concentrated in the first three months of the year following the fiscal year end, making it a busy period.
2. The work environment is collaborative, involving teamwork with colleagues and interaction with clients at the client site or in a dedicated audit room.
3. The work-life balance varies depending on the time of year, with a heavier workload during peak season and more flexibility during the rest of the year, allowing for work from home and other non-audit activities like recruiting and happy hours.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of an audit associate look like?
In audit, things really depend on the time of the year. Auditors are generally busier after year-end and less busy during interim periods, which make up the rest of the year.
Let's talk about what life looks like for a fiscal year-end that closes on December 31st. From January through March, auditors do most of their work. This is because they are reporting on the financial statements as of year-end, and all substantive work happens within those first three months.
These are very busy months. What your day looks like depends on your role. For example, I wake up early, around 5 AM, get my workout done, and then head to the office. During this time of year, you'll spend a lot of time at the client's site.
I would drive to downtown Denver, where I live, and go directly to the client's site. There, I do all the substantive testing, talk to the accounting department, and get support for the samples we take. It's a very collaborative environment, so I spend a lot of time with my teammates and the client.
Often, we have a dedicated space at the client site called the "audit room." This is where the audit team members perform most of our work. We'll get lunch, usually by ordering DoorDash, which is always nice. If we stay late, we'll do the same for dinner.
Afterward, we go home and likely continue working until around 9 or 10 PM. Then, it's time for sleep. During those three months, it's quite hectic, and work takes up the predominant piece of my life.
During interim periods, things are much more relaxed with greater flexibility. For instance, I'm working from home today, and other days I work in the office. There are also other events, like happy hours or recruiting opportunities, for activities that aren't primarily audit-related. It really varies and depends on the time of year.