Main Responsibilities Of An Audit Associate At A Big 4 Accounting Firm
Joel's career at a Big 4 accounting firm initially involved "issuing audit opinions on financial statements," including risk assessment and testing procedures. More recently, Joel transitioned to a burgeoning area focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, where responsibilities now include "providing assurance services over reports on emissions" and helping companies meet new reporting requirements while simultaneously building the firm's capabilities in this field.
Financial Statement Auditing, Assurance Services, Sustainability and ESG Reporting, Internal Controls, Risk Assessment
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. Joel's career path includes transitioning from financial statement auditing to a burgeoning field in sustainability and ESG reporting.
2. His work involves assessing company risks, testing accounting systems, and issuing opinions on financial statements and internal controls.
3. He highlights the growing demand for ESG reporting expertise and the expanding role of accountants in this area, offering career advice for students interested in sustainability and assurance services.
Transcript
Q2: Main responsibilities
What are your main responsibilities within your current role? I've recently switched roles at my firm. We offer a variety of accounting services, including audit, tax, and advisory, which is similar to consulting.
For the past couple of years, I worked as a financial statement auditor. My job involved issuing audit opinions on the financial statements companies release annually. This required assessing risks related to the company, its processes, and accounting systems throughout the year.
At year-end, we would perform procedures like testing samples of journal entries or controls. This was done to issue an opinion on their financial statements and internal controls. That broadly covered my previous role.
I have since transitioned into what is essentially a new career in accounting, focusing on sustainability and ESG. ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Companies are increasingly required to report on their emissions.
This is a rapidly growing and very new field that is expected to continue expanding in the future. A small group within our firm specializes in this area, and I found it very exciting.
My current responsibilities are much broader. I still provide assurance services, which means offering assurance over reports, primarily those concerning emissions. However, I also assist companies in preparing for these new reporting requirements.
This includes ensuring they align with current and future standards. Additionally, I'm involved in building our firm's capabilities to meet the growing client demand and this new type of work. These are my new responsibilities.