Jobs › Baker Tilly

Audit Manager Manufacturing & Distribution

Baker Tilly · Milwaukee, WI · $90,000–$133,040 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found a control weakness at a client and turned it into useful advice for them.

What they are checking: Whether they add value through the audit, which middle-market manufacturers often expect from their auditor.

How do you coach seniors who are new to auditing inventory-heavy clients?

What they are checking: Whether they can build industry skill in their team instead of doing the hard areas themselves.

Tell me about a client relationship you grew over several years. What did you do to make it last?

What they are checking: Whether they build long-term client trust, which managers are expected to do in a client service firm.

What would you do

A family-owned manufacturer's CFO disagrees with your inventory reserve adjustment. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can hold a professional position with an owner-managed client while keeping trust.

How do you manage budget and staffing across several manufacturing audits during busy season in Milwaukee?

What they are checking: Whether they can run a full portfolio of engagements and plan their team's time realistically.

About the work

What are the biggest audit risks you see for manufacturing and distribution clients?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the industry's real risk areas, like inventory, revenue cutoff and cost accounting.

Walk me through how you plan and observe a physical inventory count at a manufacturing client.

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on experience with one of the most important procedures in this industry.

How do you audit standard costs and inventory overhead capitalization?

What they are checking: Whether they can test the cost accounting that drives inventory value and margin for manufacturers.

How do you test for excess and obsolete inventory, and what makes a client's reserve reasonable?

What they are checking: Whether they can challenge management's estimates with evidence rather than accepting the client's number.

How have tariffs, supply chain changes or ERP conversions affected the clients you audit?

What they are checking: Whether they follow industry trends and understand how those trends create new audit risks.

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The full job description

As published by Baker Tilly.

Overview Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system. Job Description: Responsibilities Are you interested in joining one of the fastest growing public accounting firms? Would you like the ability to focus on one industry sector and further become an expert for your clients? If yes, consider joining Baker Tilly (BT) as an Audit Manager! This is a great opportunity to be a valued business advisor delivering industry-focused audit and other assurance services to middle market clients. You will work side-by-side with firm leadership to serve clients and build the business, having a direct impact on the firm’s success. Additionally, you will be a mentor and coach to a group of talented staff, utilizing your expertise to help develop their technical and professional skills. If you are invigorated by these exciting challenges, then this could be the right opportunity for you! As one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, BT has the ability to offer you upward career trajectory, flexibility in how and where you get your work done and meaningful relationships with clients, teammates and leadership who truly care about you and your development. You will enjoy this role if: • You are looking for an opportunity to build your career in a specific industry, becoming an industry expert to the clients you serve • You can see yourself as a trusted business advisor, working face-to-face with clients to find creative solutions to complex accounting and business challenges • You want to work for a leading CPA advisory firm that serves middle market clients and whose owners have both their clients’ and employees’ best interests in mind and are transparent in their decisions • You value your development and want to work for a firm that provides you the autonomy to own your schedule and career through structured programs (ask us about My Time Off, My Development and Dress for Your Day!) • You want to contribute to your engagement team’s professional growth and develop your own leadership skills to build a career with endless opportunities now, for tomorrow What you will do: • Be a trusted member of the engagement team providing various assurance and consulting services to industry specific clients, positively impacting their financial statements, profitability, and business operations through: • Proactively engaging with your clients throughout the year to understand business goals and challenges • Implementing appropriate testing to assess deficiencies of internal controls and make recommendations for improvement • Managing all fieldwork to ensure quality service and timely delivery of results • Playing an active role in providing valuable financial statement guidance and business recommendations based upon various testing performed and information gathered • Delivering business insight through thoughtful review, analysis, and discussion • Assist with managing client engagement staffing, billings/collections, and ensure client profitability targets are met • Utilize your entrepreneurial skills to network and build strong relationships internally and externally with clients and the community • Invest in your professional development individually and through participation in firm wide learning and development programs • Support the growth and development of team members through the Baker Tilly Care and Teach philosophy, helping associates meet their professional goals Minimum Required Qualifications: • 4-year degree • CPA • Five (5) years of experience Preferred Qualifications: • Experience with Manufacturing clients • Strong technical audit and accounting foundation • Experience leading audit engagements from planning through completion • Proven ability to manage engagement teams, budgets, timelines, and client relationships • Experience serving middle market and/or larger companies • Experience leading audit engagements from planning through completion • Proven ability to manage engagement teams, budgets, timelines, and client relationships • Experience interacting directly with controllers, CFOs, and other senior client executives • Highly developed software and Microsoft Suite skills • Ability to travel as needed The pay rate range for this job position is $90,000 to $133,040. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to applicant’s skills, prior experience, qualifications, degrees, professional certifications, work arrangements and geographic location. Baker Tilly offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to eligible employees.

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