Assurance Manager- Construction & Real Estate

About TSS Advisors

Founded in 1986, TSS has grown to become the largest professional advisory firm headquartered in New Hampshire. With over 90 employees dedicated to the broad range of clients and mix of services seldom seen in a local firm, we have experience and expertise to assist our clients in meeting their goals, whether individuals or business entities, regardless of their size or industry.

At TSS, we recognize that professionals today need to be business consultants, advisors, planners and strategists. We need to be knowledgeable not only in accounting and tax law, but also in business analysis and valuation, estate planning, employee benefit administration and much more.

Over the last few years, we have acknowledged and embraced the fact that the accounting profession and industry is evolving. With this, we are taking our commitment to excellence to a new level by partnering with Ascend. This will accelerate our strategic growth model by providing access to new resources and additional partnership opportunities.

About Ascend

At Ascend, we understand the struggles that accounting & finance professionals face in traditional public accounting firms - from rigid hierarchies, overwhelming workloads, and the elusive work-life balance. It’s time for a transformative change. We believe your ambition should not be constrained by outdated practices or opaque career paths. Here, you’re not just a number; you’re a valued member of a community that supports & celebrates your professional & personal fulfillment. Our mission is to transform the public accounting experience into one where work-life harmony is a reality, and where your career advancement is supported by a nurturing network and comprehensive resources.

Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings our partner firms into the new age. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while having access to resources of a large CPA firm. These resources include growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives.

Founded in January 2023, Ascend attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation. Explore Ascend at www.ascendtogether.com, where your career soars without sacrificing your quality of life.

About the Role

We are looking for a talented Assurance Manager to join a dynamic team working with clients in a variety of industries, with a primary focus on construction and real estate assurance engagements. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a dedicated manager of TSS’s growing construction practice, partnering directly with the practice’s lead partner to build the team and the niche. Our ideal candidate is an enthusiastic CPA with a positive attitude who is passionate about client service, professional growth, and leadership. The candidate should possess considerable technical accounting, review, and audit skills (with construction industry experience strongly preferred) and excellent interpersonal skills. A successful candidate has the ability to effectively lead project teams, deliver an excellent customer experience, and drive the professional development of the candidate and their team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage assurance engagements, primarily for regional construction contractors and real estate entities, as required by bonding, lender, or other stakeholder requirements, including:
  • Lead team in defining and developing assurance strategy and plan
  • Monitor progress against the engagement plans, budgets, and deadlines.
  • Lead technical engagement areas, including job costing and related revenue recognition on long-term contracts.
  • Review staff working papers
  • Manage day-to-day client relations
  • Present findings and recommendations to clients, including financial reporting needs for surety, bonding, and lending relationships
  • Prepare and issue review reports and financial statements in accordance with AICPA review standards (SSARS)
• Provide support on process improvements and team initiatives
• Serve as the primary manager of TSS’s construction team, partnering with the practice’s lead partner to grow the niche, shape service offerings, and build out staffing and training for the team
• Coordinate with the tax team on shared construction and real estate clients and their owners to keep deadlines and information aligned (no tax preparation work is expected)
• Develop and maintain client relationships
• Supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate assurance staff
• Conduct periodic performance reviews and provide productive feedback to staff
• Identify and foster business development opportunities within the regional construction and real estate community

Required Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field
• 5+ years of public accounting experience performing and/or managing assurance engagements
• Hands-on experience performing and managing assurance engagements for for-profit clients
• Ability to effectively lead and be a member of a team, providing support, building and maintaining relationships, and effectively communicating with team members
• Knowledge of US GAAP and AICPA standards for review engagements (SSARS) and attestation engagements
• Experience in managing client relationships
• Demonstrates integrity and professionalism
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent time management, project management, and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Construction industry experience preferred, particularly serving small to mid-sized regional contractors, subcontractors, and real estate entities
• Strong understanding of construction-specific accounting, including job costing and related contract specific, revenue recognition methods, AIA-style progress billing, and retainage.
• Familiarity with surety, bonding, and lender reporting requirements common to contractors
• Experience with commercial and residential real estate entities
• Experience with construction accounting and job cost software
• Experience performing assurance engagements
• Capability/desire to help grow a niche practice, including training and developing staff on industry-specific work

What We Offer

• Health, Vision, Dental, and Voluntary Insurance options
• Competitive PTO Package
• 401(K) and Match
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule
• Performance Bonus
• Career Advancement/Equity Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Employees
• Commitment to Firm Culture through Work Events and Community Involvement
• Opportunity to help build and lead a growing construction practice alongside an established partner

At Ascend, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Ascend hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.