Audit Senior Associate

Position: Audit Senior Associate

Location: Hybrid, near San Diego or Sacramento, CA

Employment Type: Full-time

Grinding Rock CPAs & Advisors is an assurance-focused firm serving tribal governments, tribal enterprises, state and local governments, and non-profit organizations. With an approach focused on efficiently delivering results for our clients, we work collaboratively to strengthen financial governance and build trust among stakeholders. By aligning technical expertise with the unique needs and goals of a community, we deliver services that reinforce financial stability and cultural resilience.

We are hiring an Audit Senior Associate to support and lead fieldwork across audit and attestation engagements, with a primary focus on tribal governments and tribal enterprises, and state and local governments. This role is ideal for an experienced auditor who is ready to take ownership of engagement areas, work closely with clients, coach junior staff, and build deeper expertise in tribal accounting, compliance, and enterprise operations.

The Audit Senior Associate plays a key role in planning and executing audit engagements, performing and reviewing fieldwork, preparing financial statement support, and helping ensure engagements are completed accurately and on time. This position requires strong technical audit skills, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively in environments with complex funding, governance, and reporting requirements.

• Perform and lead day-to-day audit fieldwork for financial statement audits, compliance engagements, and other attestation projects
• Execute testing in higher-risk and more complex audit areas, including cash, revenues, expenditures, payroll, internal controls, and compliance
• Prepare and review work papers, schedules, confirmations, and audit documentation for completeness and quality
• Assist with planning procedures, risk assessments, materiality, sampling, and engagement wrap-up
• Prepare draft financial statements, footnotes, and related audit support
• Communicate with client finance teams to request documentation, resolve questions, and keep engagements moving
• Identify internal control, compliance, and reporting issues and elevate them with clear recommendations
• Support audits involving federal awards and Single Audit compliance
• Supervise and coach associates and interns, including reviewing work and providing practical feedback
• Help managers and partners keep engagements on schedule and within budget
• Contribute to a professional, respectful, and client-centered engagement experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting
• 3 to 5+ years of public accounting audit experience
• Strong experience performing financial statement audit fieldwork and preparing audit documentation
• Experience working with tribal governments, tribal organizations, tribal enterprises, or state and local governments
• Understanding of governmental and fund accounting concepts
• Experience with internal control testing and audit risk assessment
• Strong Excel, workpaper, and audit documentation skills
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• CPA license or progress toward CPA preferred

We are especially interested in candidates with experience in these fields:

• Tribal government audits
• Tribal accounting environments
• Tribal grants, federal funding, and compliance requirements
• Working with tribal leadership, finance teams, and community-focused organizations
• State and local government audit experience
• Familiarity with governmental reporting, public sector controls, and stewardship expectations

• Financial statement…