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Not a stupid question at all! Public accounting can be a whole different world from government. In audit, team structure usually depends on firm size, but a typical team might have a partner, senior manager, manager, senior associate, and a couple of associates. Caseload varies, but busy season can be brutal.
Pro
This is just flat incorrect - there would def be more managers than associates.
It depends. But typically you have principle at the top then directors and managers, seniors, associate, interns. Every company is different though. It is a good question. Definitely do your research before accepting any job offers.
Pro
Usually a staff leads a few partners, along with a few staff managers. Always listen to your staff. That’s how you become partner.
Speaking for a mid size firm- a lot really depends on the size of the engagement you're working on. I've worked on engagements where it was a partner, manager, and a single staff and I have worked on engagements where it is partner, 1-2 managers, 1-2 Seniors, 2-3 staff and interns. Also, at least at my firm, most of my "teams" only last for the engagements. I tend to work with different groups of people through the season, with some overlap of course.
As to the workload, during busy season, I generally juggle 4-5 full audits between January - April along with the 1-2 compilations/ reviews. Outside of the busy season, I specifically work in an industry that gets super busy during the summer with engagements that are smaller scope. Between May and October its roughly 10 projects give or take with the teams being a Partner, Manager and Staff. Again, it all depends on the size of the engagements. and which specific firm you go to.
Some follow-up questions:
1. How long does each of those 2 types of engagement take? I understand each case is different, but garden variety
2. How is work divided among the group on a bigger case? In my current job, each auditor has their own caseload, and there is much more individual work than group work
So I worked at the irs as an agent in tege-EP. I had 15 to 20+ cases at a time.... about 6 months to close for epcrs, If audit cap maybe 9 to 12 months.
Went to BDO still mostly EPs but all FS audits around 10 companies and plans at a time. 4 or so months to complete for 10/15 deadlines. It was much easier audits.
Went to smaller firm and did FS audits for 401ks, non profits and union pensions and health plans and 5500s and the 990s. 3 to 4 months probably 10+ companies at a time hours were very long 65+ these are way.more complicated audits.
All had had interns, then to 1st year associate, then 2nd year, maybe 3rd year/experienced associate, pr theyd be Senior associate 1st year, 2nd/experienced senior. Next was supervisor at little firm. BDO it was partner. BDO you had to have your CPA passed senior. In an interview I learned at CLA you had to have your CPA to be a senior. But my smaller firm you could be a supervisor without your cpa. After that at bdo it was partner, manager, director, etc.
Audit alone at the irs.
BDO was 2 associates or maybe 1 intern 2 associates, 1 experienced associate or not, 1 senior, and the partner. But i had sometimes where it was me and the partner.
Little firm, 1 associate, 1 senior, 1 supervisor, 1 Partner. But I also had times where it waa me and the partner.
Now in a niche government industry internal auditing I work alone again but the department is 3 auditors, 1 senior auditor, 1 manager. We collaborate a lot and discuss things a lot.
Well heck apparently I had a muxh bigger load than most people. Oh the struggles of EPs.
At the niche job now. Ill have 6 full scope audits for the year with 6 month limited scope follow ups for each one. Flat 40 hours. No OT allowed.