Audit Issue

biddyboo

I've just started a new job as auditor/accountant with a practice. I'm qualified ACA and am also qualified Auditor. A member of their staff who is not qualified wants me to attend an audit with him where I would be audit senior to a non qualified audit manager. He has also stated that he wants me to address any queries to him only and not the audit partner and he has already selected the testing and the invoices etc. Feeling v compromised. Any advice?

viztopia

Do you not know who you should report to? Seems strange if you don't know this as everyone has a role and a job. Just because the person is not qualified doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing .

biddyboo

I have to report to this unqualified person whilst on the job. I normally lead audits and its strange in this place that I'm being asked to be an audit senior and he is micromanaging the audit i.e. selecting the invoices he wants me to test etc.. Don't want to have anything to do with it. Getting a very bad vibe from the place. Anyone else got any advice?

barneystinson

biddyboo wrote: »

I have to report to this unqualified person whilst on the job. I normally lead audits and its strange in this place that I'm being asked to be an audit senior and he is micromanaging the audit i.e. selecting the invoices he wants me to test etc.. Don't want to have anything to do with it. Getting a very bad vibe from the place. Anyone else got any advice?

Ummm yeah, get over yourself.

Were you hired as an audit senior? If so, you report to the audit manager, and if you don't like it you'd better get looking for another job...

(Unless you're explaining it badly and this audit is somehow exceptional to how they would normally operate.)

Jim2007

biddyboo wrote: »

I've just started a new job as auditor/accountant with a practice. I'm qualified ACA and am also qualified Auditor. A member of their staff who is not qualified wants me to attend an audit with him where I would be audit senior to a non qualified audit manager. He has also stated that he wants me to address any queries to him only and not the audit partner and he has already selected the testing and the invoices etc. Feeling v compromised. Any advice?

I'm a bit confused, were you taken on as an audit manager and now you are being asked to work as an audit senior or what?

As for the audit itself, I don't see what the audit issue is that you refer to. The partner is the one responsible for the audit and it is his decision how he staffs it. Obviously he has confidence in this manager and you must accept it, unless there is a genuine issue in which case you need to take it to the partner. But the fact that you have to report to an unqualified manager is most certainly not an audit issue.

biddyboo

Thanks Jim for your frank reply.
The unqualified audit manager has a history of trying to demean other staff possibly because of his own hang ups and that he feels threatened by qualified staff.
Lots of starters and leavers in this practice.
Guess I'll be another statistic in the history of this practice.
Thanks for your advice.

Synode

Your posts are very demeaning towards that person because they aren't qualified. They are senior to you in the firm, so do what they ask or find a new job.

biddyboo

Wow. So much for professional competence "do what they ask or find a new job".

Perhaps that's what's wrong with this country as a whole.

Too many bullies who don't know what they are doing telling those that do to shut up or find a new job

Mind boggling.

BabySlam

biddyboo wrote: »

Wow. So much for professional competence "do what they ask or find a new job".

Perhaps that's what's wrong with this country as a whole.

Too many bullies who don't know what they are doing telling those that do to shut up or find a new job

Mind boggling.

You are very judgemental towards people trying to help you.

Jim2007

biddyboo wrote: »

Thanks Jim for your frank reply.
The unqualified audit manager has a history of trying to demean other staff possibly because of his own hang ups and that he feels threatened by qualified staff.
Lots of starters and leavers in this practice.
Guess I'll be another statistic in the history of this practice.
Thanks for your advice.

Well for almost all of my career I've worked freelance, so I've had a lot of experience in being the new guy, so all I can do is tell you how I'd approach the situation...

First of all I'd ignore all the rumours etc and give him the benefit of the doubt until you have actual experience to base your opinion on. Reacting to office gossip that you have no experience of is an excellent way to get off on the wrong foot with someone.

Second I'd concentrate in establishing my own credibility within the firm, before I'd go taking on anyone else in the firm. Do what ever work you are asked to the best of your ability, be helpful, contribute where you can and so on.

When you join any new workgroup there are two thing you can expect: people will be welcoming and more than likely helpful, the second thing you can expect is that they'll expect you to confirm to the group think - if they don't like the boss, you're expected not to like the boss etc... So the best approach is to not come to any firm conclusions until you've put in about six months at least.

biddyboo

Thanks again Jim. Bet you could write the book. Would make for interesting reading. Again, thanks.

CIARAN_BOYLE

biddyboo wrote: »

Thanks again Jim. Bet you could write the book. Would make for interesting reading. Again, thanks.

Are you still on probation with this new firm? If so its probably some form their assessment of you as an individual or as an employee.

dbran

Hi Biddyboo

I understand your frustration. Sometimes a manager who has been there for a while may know the client better then you and may know what it takes to get the job over the line and on time. That in reality is what its all about and not just about the correct level of testing etc.

As the other posters have said, so long as the person who ultimately signs the audit report is qualified to do so it is not an audit issue ie the partner on the job has their own practicing and audit cert and is not relying on something that you have.

Just curious, what position did you have in your last employment and what made you want to move? You say you are a qualified auditor, do you mean that you have a valid auditing cert or just passed the relevant examinations.

Best Regards


Dbran