Summary
PwC Middle East is seeking an External Audit Senior Associate for its Assurance practice in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The role involves examining financial statements and records, testing controls, completing audit files, and supporting engagements from planning through completion. The successful candidate will review associates’ work, coach team members, communicate engagement risks and progress, and help maintain client relationships. A relevant degree and progressive external audit experience at a Big Four firm are required; a professional qualification and Arabic-English proficiency are preferred or advantageous.
The posting
As published on pwc.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
About Us
With offices in 152 countries and nearly 328,000 professionals, we are one of the world’s leading professional services networks, helping organisations and individuals create lasting value through Assurance, Tax and Advisory services. For over 40 years, we have contributed to the Middle East’s transformation journey, partnering with governments and businesses to deliver sustainable solutions. Today, more than 12,000 of us across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are shaping the region’s future.
Line of Service Overview
Our Middle East Assurance practice includes over 2,300 people based in 12 countries across the region and is part of PwC’s global network that is operating worldwide. PwC Middle East’s Assurance practice combines the right mix of human-led and tech powered solutions to provide our clients with quality audits and other risk services that create confidence and impact in our region and across society.
Business Unit Overview
Core Assurance is a cornerstone of our Assurance practice, focused on delivering high-quality audits that build trust and drive sustained outcomes.
Our teams apply deep technical expertise and leverage advanced digital tools to provide independent assurance over financial reporting. Through a human-led, tech-powered approach, we help clients meet regulatory requirements, enhance transparency, and strengthen stakeholder confidence, creating impact across industries and society.
How You’ll Contribute
As an External Audit Senior Associate, you’ll work as part of a team of problem solvers, helping to solve complex business issues from strategy to execution. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Using your analytical skills to analyse the client's financial statements and ensure they adhere to financial regulations.
- Examining financial and accounting records, other documents, and tangible items such as inventory, or plant and equipment.
- Asking a range of questions – from formal written questions to informal oral questions – to a range of individuals at our client organisations.
- Testing the client organisation's internal controls and processes.
- Building trust and credibility with the clients by understanding their expectations and delivering high quality services.
- Taking accountability for researching and understanding key facts on the client’s industry information before the engagement begins.
- Communicating with the Manager and/ or Partner in a timely manner with respect to engagement progress – risks, issues, variances from plan in terms of time, budget, etc.
- Taking full ownership of external file completion.
- Analysing engagement economics of self and field staff and explaining variances from the budgets.
- Reviewing the work of the associate levels and providing them on-job training, coaching and timely constructive feedback to help them grow in their career.
- Ensuring you are adhering to compliance with the risk, quality and independence matters.
- Having an understanding in business development activities to help identify and research opportunities on new/existing clients along with building and maintaining strong relationships with clients.
- Engaging and dealing effectively with diverse teams from the planning through the completion phase of the audit as well as closely following up on the progress of the requested tasks to ensure meeting the timeline and the firm’s internal KPI’s.
- Taking part in the digital initiatives and upskilling areas which aligns most with your team’s business needs.
- Performing other procedures as necessary to support issuance of the assurance deliverables.
What You’ll Bring
You are ambitious and you utilise opportunities to grow and develop. In addition, you recognise yourself in the following characteristics:
- A degree in accounting, finance or any other related academic major.
- Completed or pursuing a professional qualification, such as ACCA, CA, ACA, CPA (preferably).
- Progressive experience at the Senior Associate level working with a range of external audit clients in a Big 4 professional services firm.
- Experience in auditing diverse range of industries.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills that allow you to thrive in a team environment.
- Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English (oral and written) is a plus.
- Business development and client relationship building skills.
- Willingness to challenge the ‘norms’ and to create a cohesive and effective working team.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Knowledge in any Audit technologies, and experience using Data Analytics tools is a plus.
- Commitment to valuing differences and working alongside diverse people and perspectives.
- Thorough technical skills and experience regarding applicable accounting reporting and auditing standards, with demonstrated exceptional performance.
- Experience in the design of engagement procedures based on risk and materiality.
- Previous experience in coaching and leading engagement teams.
- Strong technical knowledge and having the ability to research issues, present alternatives and conclusions to client/Manager.