Consultant - Financial Institution Advisory

BRG’s Financial Institution Advisory practice specializes in helping commercial banks, consumer finance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks, capital market participants and insurance companies solve pressing complex business issues. The group brings a mix of functional experts—including CPAs, CFAs, CROs, CRCMs, FRMs, former regulators, financial modelers, technologists, former bankers, and longtime consultants—to address immediate risks and drive tangible benefits.

The team of experts are looking for a highly energetic, junior level CPA, with 2 to 6 years of experience, who is eager to take their public accounting audit experience to the next level.  Rather than auditing, you will be doing a variety of more challenging work such as analyzing financial statements, helping clients implement new accounting standards, performing investigations into accounting policies / practices, and addressing whether audit procedures were executed sufficiently.   Other assignments include helping clients implement new accounting and risk systems and assisting financial institutions in executing transactions including portfolio acquisitions, mergers and spin-offs.   The work will be varied and high paced such that you will get a broad array of experience that you may not be exposed to at the Big 4 or other large accounting firms.   

The ideal candidate is a licensed CPA (or has passed multiple exam sections) with hands-on experience executing SEC registrant audits at a large public accounting firm. We highly prefer candidates who bring a solid baseline knowledge of financial instruments and possess direct audit experience within the financial services sector, specifically with banks, fintechs, broker-dealers, REITs, investment management firms, or insurance companies.

BRG is high-end boutique consulting firm that works for premier global institutions, regulators and also serves in an expert witness role in some of the most contentious accounting and auditing litigation. The Financial Institution Advisory group is small enough that you will immediately feel comfortable in the group but big enough to work on some of the most high-profile matters impacting the financial services world. 

Responsibilities

• Work directly with senior professionals (many of whom are former Big 4) to execute various financial institution advisory projects related to accounting, auditing, financial analysis.  Unlike the Big 4 you will also have the opportunity to work on financial risk management engagements including credit risk, valuation, capital planning, and stress-testing, liquidity, resolution planning, and model risk management.  Functional areas of work encompass accounting, auditing, SEC reporting, regulatory, risk and controls; finance and accounting; technology enablement; and business process optimization.
• Work on data / document intensive projects, including analytics, controls, governance, and financial analysis, to support a variety of different engagements.
• Plan and manage all aspects or certain aspects of client engagements depending on their size and complexity.
• Delegate assignments to staff, instruct and monitor progress, and review work product for completeness and accuracy.
• Develop analyses and client ready work product that demonstrates insights in to the key risks or roadblocks related to the matter.  
• Establish controls and procedures to ensure the accuracy of analyses and conclusions.
• Manage client relationships and communicate results and work products as appropriate.

• Demonstrate creativity and efficient use of relevant software tools, analytical methods and computer models to develop solutions.

• Participate in group practice meetings, contribute to business development initiatives and office functions such as staff training and recruiting.
• Prioritize assignments and responsibilities in order to meet goals and deadlines.
   

Financial Industry / Product Knowledge

Some foundational knowledge related to the any of the below areas is preferred:

• Banking (community / regional / money center / international / international branch)
• Mortgage (originators, servicers, secondary marketing, GSEs)
• Auto Finance
• Student Loans
• Commercial Loans (including commercial real estate)
• Other consumer finance
• Equipment Finance
• Deposits
• Capital Markets (securitization, prime broker, equity / debt issuance)
• Derivatives
• Structured Products
• Insurance
• Capital Planning
• Liquidity Planning

Functional Capabilities

Prior experience of the following topical areas is highly preferred:

• Auditing
• SEC filings and disclosures
• Control testing
• Risk and Control Assessments.
• Process mapping/flows.
• Business process / control remediation.
• Business analysts (user requirement development / user acceptance testing);
• Credit risk management.
• Financial risk management.
• Quantitative analytics.
• Valuation of financial instruments.
• Project / program managers.
• RPA, current knowledge of AI used for segmentation, pricing/complaint analysis.

Basic Qualifications 

• Master’s degree or equivalent in accounting, finance, or a related field; alternatively, completion of a five-year accelerated accounting program, or a combined bachelor's and master's degree is highly preferred.
• Minimum two to four (2-4) years of relevant experience in an accounting or Big Four consulting firm, specializing in audit, forensics, or dispute and damages matters.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, or documented progress toward obtaining the CPA, is important for long-term career advancement.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.

• Thorough grasp of accounting principles and financial statements, such as GAAP, along with understanding how debits and credits relate to the statement of cash flow, income statement, balance sheet, and trial balance.
• Prior work experience with a focus on financial services in a consulting environment preferred.
• Strong PowerPoint presentation skills/techniques.  Ability to create decks and agendas that provide robust transparency as to project status.

• Proven capability with MS Excel. A desire to expand those capabilities is required, as is the ability to train others to use such tools.
• Desire and ability to manage processes and other more junior staff, as necessary.
• Commitment to producing high quality analyses and attention to details.

• Keen interest in economic or financial analyses and research.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; and

• Desire to work within a team environment.
• Ability to travel to client sites on demand is required.

Salary: $100,000 - $175,000 per year

Job title and compensation to be determined based on qualifications and experience.   
 

Candidate must be able to submit verification of his/her legal right to work in the U.S., without company sponsorship. 

About BRG

BRG combines world-leading academic credentials with world-tested business expertise and purpose-built emerging technologies. Our culture centers on agility and connectivity which sets us apart and gets you ahead.  

At BRG, our professionals include specialist consultants, industry experts, renowned academics, and leading-edge data scientists. Together, they bring a diversity of real-world experience, data, and human and artificial intelligence, to economics, disputes, and investigations; corporate finance; and performance improvement services that address the most complex challenges facing organizations across the globe.

Our unique structure nurtures the interdisciplinary relationships that give us the edge, laying the groundwork for more informed insights and more original, incisive thinking.  When paired with our global reach and resources, our diverse perspectives and technical capabilities make us uniquely capable to address our clients’ challenges. We get results because we know how to apply our thinking to your world.

At BRG, we don’t just show you what’s possible. We’re built to help you make it happen. 

BRG is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, United States military veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, family structure, medical condition including genetic characteristics or information, veteran status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law.