Audit Head

Job Description

Audit Head – Statutory Audit, Tax Audit & Compliance (CA Firm)

Role Overview

The Audit Head will lead the statutory audit, tax audit, GST audit, and compliance delivery functions for clients across multiple industries. The role involves planning and reviewing audits, guiding audit teams, ensuring regulatory compliance under the Companies Act, Income Tax Act, GST laws, ensuring audit quality, managing client expectations, and supporting partners in practice management.

This position requires deep technical competence, strong client communication, review discipline, and the ability to train and lead multiple concurrent audit teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Statutory Audit Execution & Review

• Lead statutory audits of private limited companies, LLPs, partnerships, trusts, and subsidiaries.
• Review financial statements, notes, CARO reporting, and disclosures as per Companies Act.
• Evaluate internal controls, processes, and accounting policies.
• Ensure timely completion of audit reports and documentation compliance.

2. Tax Audit (Form 3CD)

• Oversee planning, execution, and review of tax audit reports.
• Review books of accounts, TDS/TCS compliance, depreciation, disallowances, and audit clauses.
• Resolve complex 3CD reporting issues and maintain audit trail documentation.

3. GST Audit & Compliance (as applicable)

• Review GST workings, reconciliations (GSTR-2A/2B, 3B, 1), ITC eligibility, and adjustments.
• Guide teams on audit observations and corrective controls.
• Support clients during departmental queries, audits, and assessments.

4. Audit Planning & Methodology

• Prepare annual audit calendars, staffing plans, and client communication protocols.
• Risk-based scoping, sampling techniques, and review frameworks.
• Standardize checklists, documentation templates, and review matrices.

5. Team Leadership & Training

• Supervise, mentor, and guide Assistant Managers, Seniors, and Articles.
• Conduct technical training on Ind-AS basics, ICAI Standards on Auditing, GST, and tax laws.
• Review working papers and provide technical feedback to improve team capability.

6. Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure compliance with:
• Companies Act 2013
• Income Tax Act & Rules
• GST Acts & Rules
• ICAI Auditing Standards
• CARO 2020 reporting
• Track regulatory changes, update firm SOPs, and circulate knowledge notes.

7. Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary audit escalation point for client CFOs and finance heads.
• Conduct kick-off meetings, progress updates, and closure presentations.
• Build strong client trust through guidance and professional skepticism.

8. Assessment, Scrutiny & Litigation Support

• Assist clients during:
• Income Tax assessments
• GST department inquiries
• Audit queries
• Notices and reconciliations
• Provide documentation support and representation preparation.

9. Workpaper Finalization & Documentation Hygiene

• Ensure all documentation is properly archived as per SA 230 guidelines.
• Conduct internal peer reviews and quality checks.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of:
• ICAI auditing standards
• Schedule III Formats
• CARO reporting
• Clause-wise 3CD reporting
• Section-wise GST implications
• Robust understanding of internal financial controls (IFC).
• High discipline toward planning, review cycles, and audit trails.
• Ability to identify material misstatements, non-compliances, and control weaknesses.

Tools & Technical Exposure (Preferred)

• Tally Prime
• Busy/Zoho/Microsoft ERP/QuickBooks (optional)
• Excel (Advanced) – Index-Match, Pivot Tables, Reconciliations
• Audit management tools (if applicable)

Experience Profile

• Minimum 7–12 years of post-qualification experience in audit practice.
• Prior mid-tier audit firm leadership experience preferred.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent statutory/tax assignments.
• Exposure to assessment proceedings advantageous.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Timely completion of statutory/tax audits
• Zero/Reduced repeat audit observations
• Compliance accuracy (Tax/GST/TDS)
• Audit quality scores & review remarks
• Reduction in client penalty risk
• Team training & performance uplift
• Client satisfaction & retention
• Timeliness of CARO/3CD sign-offs
• Documentation discipline & SA adherence

Behavioral Traits

• Strong professional ethics & confidentiality
• Analytical thinking and structured problem-solving
• Ability to challenge positions tactfully
• Calm under scrutiny pressures
• High ownership and accountability

Soft Skills

• Executive communication with partners & CFOs
• Team motivation and mentoring capability
• Conflict resolution & escalation handling
• Process improvement mindset