RA&A Associate or Senior Associate [Chicago, IL]

Job Description:Cohen & Company, LTDCertified Public AccountantsAt Cohen & Company, our purpose is to engage, teach, inspire, and improve lives through the power of knowledge and trust. We value great people, teamwork, a competitive spirit and courage, and the ability to adapt and remain optimistic.Named one of the fastest growing accounting firms in the country, Cohen & Company offers assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients throughout the U.S. and worldwide. The firm serves a broad range of clients, from privately held companies and their owners; to public and private funds, advisors and fund service providers within the investment industry; to Fortune 1000 multinational enterprises. Cohen & Company was founded in 1977; has more than 650 associates in Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; and has an international presence in the Cayman Islands and Ireland. Learn more at cohencpa.com.Cohen & Company’s Advisory Division is passionate about helping owners, management teams and investors navigate business and transactional environments. Our Advisory Division work focuses on Valuation & Litigation Support Services, M&A Advisory, Transaction Services, and Management Consulting. These RA&AAssociate and RA&A Senior Associate positions would fall into our Risk Assurance & Advisory department within our Advisory Division with a primary focus within the SOC practice. Our Risk Assurance & Advisory team are problem solvers who are continually looking for innovative ways to help both small, fast growing businesses to large entities respond to critical business needs, such as those related to SOC compliance, operational infrastructure, risk management, and IT controls. You can expect something different when working with our team. We don’t view advisory as one-off projects, but rather a long-term relationship to help our clients be successful. Our seasoned consultants, who will be your teammates, have expertise across industries and functional domains, and their experience, insights and tools can help you learn and grow throughout the course of your career at Cohen & Company.We are very excited about our growth opportunities and are seeking individuals with entrepreneurial energy and a commitment to client service to join our Risk Assurance & Advisory team in any of our office locations! We are also open to candidates who prefer to work remotely!• Open to a variety of levels- RA&A Associate (candidates with no or limited experience)- RA&A Senior Associate (candidates with up to 5 years of experience)• Location- Primary: Hunt Valley, MD- Secondary: Detroit, MI, Cleveland, OH, Akron, OH, Youngstown, OH, St. Clair Shores, MI, Milwaukee, WI, Chicago, IL, New York, NY, & Pittsburgh, PA- Open to candidates who can work remotely!Responsibilities:• Provide services related to controls around the financial reporting, COSO, compliance, and operational processes, including business process and IT management controls• Engagement execution and client service activities focused primarily on supporting SOC 1 and SOC 2 examinations under AICPA standards.• Evaluate the design and operational effectiveness of IT operational controls• Create documentation for systems, applications, and risk management programs• Evaluate disaster recovery, back-up plans and systems• Evaluate and recommend logical and physical security improvementsRequired Experience:Requirements:• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Information Technology, or related field, plus up to 5 years of relevant experience• Preferred certifications include CPA license, CISA or CIA (or pursuit of one or more of these)• Foundational knowledge of internal control design, testing, and documentation• Prior experience with reading, analyzing, or producing SOC 1 or SOC 2 reports desirable• Prior experience with SOX 404 control testing beneficial.• Foundational knowledge of Service System and Organization Controls AICPA compliance and reporting requirements, with an emphasis on testing & reporting requirements• Foundational knowledge of information technology general controls, including change management, access to programs and data, computer operations and systems development• Exposure to a variety of technologies, operating systems, databases, and reporting and data analytics tools• Exposure to the COSO Framework and/or other leading business and IT control frameworks• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications• Exceptional documentation and writing skills• Ability to work independently and to discern when to ask questions• Inquisitive and quick learner with a strong desire to try new tasks• Absolute adherence to strict confidentiality and privacy considerations• Must have the ability to travel up to 30%• Availability to work overtime hours as neededAdditional Requirements for the RA&A Senior Associate role:• Experience in planning and performing SOC 1 and 2 examination engagements. Working knowledge of third party vendor risk assessments and organizational risk assessments,• Ability to identify key risks and controls, and assess control design appropriateness. Ability to identify improperly written controls and optimize control descriptions.• Demonstrated project management skillsLearn more about us!• Cohen & Company: www.cohencpa.com• Careers: www.cohencpa.jobsWe are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity of thought and background to build an inclusive and energized culture and better meet the needs of our clients.From: Cohen & Company