Senior Audit Associate - Employee Benefit Plans

PKF O'Connor Davies

📍Harrison, NY
Posted May 19, 2026

Job Overview

Position

Senior Audit Associate - Employee Benefit Plans

Company

PKF O'Connor Davies

Location

Harrison, NY

Work Type

On-site

Job ID

li-4407455205

Job Description

About PKF O’Connor Davies
PKF O’Connor Davies is a top-ranked accounting, tax, and advisory firm with offices across the U.S. and internationally through our PKF global network. For over a century, we have built our reputation on deep industry expertise, a personalized approach, and a commitment to delivering real value to our clients.

Our mission is to provide exceptional service while fostering long-term relationships built on trust and integrity. We serve a diverse client base across industries and sectors, helping organizations and individuals navigate complex challenges with confidence.

At PKF O’Connor Davies, culture is at the heart of who we are. We believe our team members are our greatest asset, and we invest in their growth and success through mentorship, professional development, and continuous learning opportunities. Our goal is to foster a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued, innovation is encouraged, and team members can make an impact. We are also committed to supporting work–life balance, offering flexibility and resources to help our team members grow their careers while maintaining fulfilling personal lives.

If you are looking for a career where you can grow, contribute, and be part of a firm that values both excellence and community, PKF O’Connor Davies is the place for you!

We are seeking an experienced Senior Auditor with a strong background in Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) audits to join our audit team. This role will lead and execute audits of defined contribution and defined benefit plans, ensuring compliance with ERISA, DOL, and IRS regulations. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, technically strong, and capable of managing engagements and mentoring staff.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead audit engagements for employee benefit plans, including 401(k), 403(b), pension, and health & welfare plans

  • Plan, execute, and complete audit fieldwork in accordance with GAAP and ERISA requirements

  • Review audit workpapers, financial statements, and disclosures for accuracy and compliance

  • Identify audit risks and develop appropriate audit strategies

  • Evaluate internal controls and recommend improvements

  • Ensure compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations

  • Coordinate with clients, third-party administrators, custodians, and actuaries

  • Prepare and review Form 5500 and related schedules (as applicable)

  • Supervise, mentor, and review the work of audit staff and seniors

  • Maintain strong client relationships and provide value-added recommendations

  • Stay current on regulatory and industry developments affecting employee benefit plans

Qualifications

  • Must be able to work in the office a minimum of 3 days per week

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited college/university required

  • CPA license required (or actively pursuing with significant progress)

  • 3+ years of public accounting experience, with a focus on employee benefit plan audits

  • Strong knowledge of ERISA, DOL audit requirements, and IRS regulations

  • Experience auditing defined contribution and defined benefit plans

  • Familiarity with Form 5500 preparation and review

  • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills

  • Proficient with computer software packages and platforms including Microsoft Office Suite, ProSystems and CCH.

  • Ability to meet challenging client requirements, provide services, and possess strong communication, interpersonal, analytical, and research abilities.

  • Ability to exercise independent judgment and make sound decisions and recommendations in client related matters pertaining to the audit.

  • Must be able to work additional hours as needed to meet client deliverables.

  • Must be willing to travel locally to clients when required and have access to a car/public transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with large plan audits (100+ participants)

  • Knowledge of SOC 1 reports and reliance strategies

  • Experience working with multiple TPAs and custodians

  • Ability to manage multiple engagements and deadlines simultaneously

Compensation & Benefits:
*The compensation for this position ranges from $80,000-$90,000. Actual compensation will be dependent upon the specific role, office location as well as the individual’s qualifications, experience, skills, and certifications.*
At PKFOD, we value our team members and are committed to their success and well-being. As part of our comprehensive benefits and compensation package, we offer:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision plans

  • Basic Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Life Insurance

  • 401(k) plan and Profit-Sharing program

  • Flexible Spending & Health Saving accounts

  • Employee Assistance, Wellness, and Work-life programs

  • Commuter & Parking benefits programs

  • Inclusive Parental Leave Benefits

  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • Paid Firm Holidays

  • Community & Volunteering programs

  • Recognition & Rewards programs

  • Training & Certification programs

  • Discretionary Performance Bonus

  • Eligibility for benefits is determined based on position, hours worked, and other criteria. Specific details will be provided during the hiring process.

*We are interested in all qualified candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States. However, we
are not
able to sponsor work visas.*
*PKFODA is an equal opportunity employer. The Firm is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all persons in connection with hiring, assignment, promotion, compensation or other conditions of the employment relationship regardless of race, color, age, sex, marital status, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, philosophy/religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, political affiliation or belief, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.*
*To all staffing agencies:
PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP (“PKFOD”)
will not
be utilizing agencies to staff this position. Please do not forward resumes to PKFOD partners and/or employees at any of our locations regarding this position. Any recruiter who would like to partner with PKFOD on other positions must have an updated contractual agreement with PKFOD through the Director of Talent Acquisition. Please be reminded, PKFOD is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. All unsolicited resumes will become the property of PKFOD.*

Interview Prep

AI-powered insights to help you prepare

Key Skills

Required:
Preferred:

Practice Questions

💡Technical Questions (3)
  • 1.When auditing a defined benefit plan, how do you approach the coordination with actuaries and the testing of actuarial assumptions compared to a defined contribution plan?
  • 2.Walk me through your process for evaluating internal controls and identifying audit risks specific to a 401(k) plan.
  • 3.What are the most common ERISA and DOL compliance issues you look for when reviewing Form 5500 and the accompanying financial statements for an EBP?
🎯Behavioral Questions (3)
  • 1.Tell me about a time you identified a significant compliance issue or error during an EBP audit fieldwork and how you handled communicating it to the client.
  • 2.Describe a situation where you had to mentor a staff auditor who was struggling with the complexities of EBP audits, such as understanding ERISA requirements.
  • 3.Give me an example of a time you had to manage multiple EBP audit engagements with tight deadlines during busy season. How did you ensure everything was completed accurately?
🧩Situational Questions (2)
  • 1.You are leading an audit and the third-party administrator is unresponsive to your requests for crucial investment and participant data, which is threatening your timeline. How do you proceed?
  • 2.During fieldwork for a large 100+ participant health and welfare plan, a staff auditor approaches you unsure of how to test a complex, non-traditional investment that lacks readily determinable fair value. How do you guide them?

Resume Keywords

Make sure these keywords appear on your resume

Employee Benefit PlansERISADOL401(k)Defined BenefitForm 5500Internal ControlsAudit SupervisionThird-Party AdministratorsGAAP

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