Auditor / Jnr. Auditor

Job Title: Auditor / Jnr. Auditor
Reporting to: CONTRACT COMPLIANCE AUDIT DIRECTOR / MANAGER
Location: HOME BASED
Direct Reports: This position has no line management responsibility, however you will be working within a team and may be required to coach/assist Junior or Admin Audit staff.

THE ROLE

The role is to assess on behalf of our Clients, Supplier compliance to the Financial Terms & Conditions of contracts utilising a customised audit methodology. Following analysis and substantive testing of acquired relevant billing records and other backup data from the party under audit, you will be required to quantify any financial variances indicating actual or potential overcharging to produce a Report for the Client. Although audits prioritise Compliance to the Financial Terms & Conditions, broader financial risks associated with billings including operational risks may also form part of this reporting.

The successful candidate will have had exposure to financial analysis and project/improvement initiatives outside of 'core' finance and the ability to work with large data sets, to determine trends and present financial data in a concise way to both financial and non-financial professionals. The successful candidate is required to be fluent in English (verbal and written), and should preferably have knowledge/experience of audit methodology and process although training in the PRGX specific methodology will be provided. Excellent analytical skills are required. A second language (business fluent or mother tongue level of French, German, Spanish) would be an advantage but is not essential.

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Contract Compliance Auditor you will be required to:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Able to confidently and diligently perform the complete audit process from start to finish (i.e. supplier/client engagement through to reporting and settlement of claims)
2. For less complex audits (i.e. rate card, catalogue pricing) would be comfortable performing more than one audit simultaneously
3. Typically be a mentor or point of assist for Auditors or Junior Auditors within the team and be able to draw upon commercial audit experience or share innovative approaches to test/write claims
4. Draft end of project reports with autonomy for owned and delivered audits but also be a point of call for any QA for peer report reviews
5. Be aware of the importance of timely completion of each audit cycle and recognise scope/opportunity limitations and call these out pro-actively
6. Review contract terms and conditions to identify and document contract risk exposures and areas of possible financial leakage/loss
7. Interview client key stakeholders regarding the terms of the agreement to determine contract intent
8. Perform substantive testing of both client and supplier transactional data to document and verify compliance to commercial terms
9. Understand, analyse and manipulate complex electronic data sets and be proficient with software such as Excel to identify discrepancies
10. Prepare and submit audit reports (Internal and External stakeholders) to include identified monetary discrepancies, and any recommendations by providing documented and supportive details
11. Work efficiently across multiple audits with accuracy and flexibility, whilst adhering to overall timing of an audit cycle, including day-to-day management of the audit tasks and objectives to maximise revenue against budgeted targets
12. Participate in the negotiation and resolution of identified monetary discrepancies with suppliers and clients
13. Produce written correspondence to vendor inquiries, prepare reports for Internal Management concerning scope of audit, issues found, recovery amounts, and recommendations for future improvements
14. Offer contract and business improvement recommendations based on industry experience to enhance contract value for clients including preventive measures for discovering and preventing future incorrect payments
15. Maintain positive client and supplier relationships

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Capable of working in a fast-paced, demanding, entrepreneurial work environment
2. Be a team player, ability to coach audit assistants/new auditors as and when required
3. This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities; however, candidates are expected to demonstrate excellent leadership qualities
4. As work may be performed at the supplier site, expectation is for candidate to be appropriately sensitive and non-obtrusive
5. Travel to client or supplier sites can be expected (up to 25%) depending on audit requirements

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Personal Attributes: Confidently conduct effective client/supplier interviews, present information to senior management of client/supplier personnel to identify potential audit issues. Customer relation skills are critical particularly in managing interfaces between the customer and the audited supplier or between the commercial and technical organisations.

Be able to read, analyse, and interpret contract information and from a variety of other related accounting and business process systems. Clearly document audit issues in prescribed style and format. Good writing skills are essential for the development of individual audit reports and in creating a final audit report for senior management.

Strong mathematics skills to comprehend and utilise algebraic equations for use in spreadsheets or databases to develop audit issues. Ability to understand and apply statistical sampling and extrapolation methodology to quantify claims.

Define financial variances, collect and extrapolate data, establish facts, and draw accurate, valid conclusions. Drawing inferences from information, applying logical reasoning based on a combination of experience, information and producing evidentiary information.

Skills in the following software: Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), Database (Microsoft Access), Word processing (Microsoft Word), Internet software, E-mail software is essential. Knowledge of Microsoft Power Point is preferred, but training will be given.

Innovative problem-solver; brings creativity, originality and tenacity to problem solving. Uses available technology in ways to increase productivity as well as identify and resolve problems in a timely manner, individually and in team settings.

Experience & Education

Essential: BA/BS degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or other closely related field required. Alternatively, extensive prior experience in contract compliance, or other closely related financial audit (Internal Audit, Retail Audit, Procurement, etc.) experience in a commercial environment.

Desirable: Any additional language skills - German, Polish or French. Accounting certification highly desirable or demonstrable knowledge of accounting principles, including such concepts as cost accounting and allocations, overhead, manufacturing costs, general ledger and financial statements. Experience of accounting systems (SAP, JDE, Oracle, etc.) with an emphasis on P2P, and Accounts Payable. Some experience in understanding and assessing operational processes and internal controls, including defining practical recommendations for improvement. Commercial business acumen, with exposure to areas such as payroll; insurance; benefits; internal controls; common business practices and contract language. Previous experience in procurement, contracting or conducting vendor and supplier audits for contract compliance a plus.

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the role.