Audit Service Highlight: Lucas Brunson

At Wilkins Miller, we understand choosing the right fit can shape your career in accounting and we want to help you make an informed decision. Recruiting events often start with employers asking you, “Tax or Audit” but there is so much more to a career in public accounting than those two simple words. Our team had a quick Q&A with Audit Senior Associate, Lucas Brunson, for some insight on his career path with Wilkins Miller.

Which service area do you work in and how do you help your clients? 

“I work in the audit and attestation department at Wilkins Miller. Audits can sound very scary, and people sometimes view us as the “bad guys” before learning about what it truly is we do, but we are here to help. As external auditors, we provide reasonable assurance to our clients that their financial information is accurate and reported properly. To do this, we take a deep dive into their records and give guidance on ways to improve. We also provide other services with varying levels of assurance, but an audit is going to be our most in-depth engagement.”

What kinds of projects do you work on and what times of the year are most busy for you?

“We have audit and attest clients that specialize in construction contracting, real estate, manufacturing and production, as well as a large variety of non-profit and government organizations. Depending on what types of clients you work with, your busy season will vary, but most auditors are busiest in the spring and fall. With planning, however, our work can be spread out throughout the year to create less of a jump in workload during those busy times.”

What makes your service area unique and what had you pick it? 

“Audits require a “team,” and are great for people who thrive in a team-based, collaborative environment. Audit engagements typically last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and this allows us to have time to really connect with our clients and understand them and their companies on a deeper level. This connection with both our clients and my coworkers were the main reasons I chose to work in audit, and at the end of an engagement it is a great feeling to know that we are providing a service that helps people.”

What skillsets are most important to succeed for your service area?

“Communication and organization are going to be vital when working on audit and attest engagements. You are in contact with your clients and coworkers daily trying to work through the project, and staying on top of your workload is key when on longer projects like this. Additionally, auditors need to have good attention to detail as we process and review a lot of information to determine the accuracy of our clients’ records.”