Articled Assistant

Position: Articled Assistant (CA)

About the Role

G R A D & Company is hiring Articled Assistants at its Coimbatore office. You will engage in audit, tax, and advisory work from your first year, with your work reviewed by a partner.

About the Firm

G R A D & Company is a firm of chartered accountants founded in Coimbatore in 2021. The firm serves clients ranging from SMEs and startups to multinationals. Service lines include assurance, direct tax, GST, transactions and valuation, virtual CFO, accounting and systems, and corporate compliance.

Learning & Development

Learning occurs through:

• Review of your own work by a partner, explaining changes and demonstrating experienced approaches.
• Structured L&D sessions (online, recorded, with faculty notes).
• Technical sessions cover Acts, rules, case law, interpretations, and recent changes.
• Practical sessions address real-life scenarios with references to Acts, rules, and forms, including shortcuts, formulae, and problem-solving exercises.
• Half-yearly appraisals culminating in a development plan.

Appraisal and Development

• Conducted every six months, assessing technical competence, quality and timeliness of work, client feedback, conduct and values, and L&D participation.
• A partner approves the rating.
• The discussion includes written goals and a development plan for the next six months.

Conduct and Confidentiality

Client data is privileged under the ICAI Code of Ethics and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Breach of confidentiality is considered serious misconduct. Key principles include:

• Data segregation between clients.
• Limited access to identifiers (PAN, Aadhaar, GSTIN, bank details) based on task necessity.
• Storing client data only on firm systems.
• Using personal logins, strong passwords, and multi-factor authentication for firm systems (Google Workspace, ERPCA, CompuOffice, cloud server).
• Verifying requests to change payment details or send data through a second channel.
• Reporting suspected breaches or lost devices immediately.
• Prohibiting posting client or firm information on social media.
• Requiring written partner approval for private client work, gifts, or fees.
• Confidentiality obligations extend post-articleship.
• Issues should be raised with HIC, then Partner, Operations, or the partnership.
• Suspected fraud or unethical conduct can be reported confidentially to any partner.
• Sexual harassment complaints are handled by the firm's Internal Committee under the POSH Act, 2013. Good-faith complaints are protected.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Eligibility: Cleared both groups of CA Intermediate and meet ICAI requirements for practical training.
• Required Qualities: Competence, integrity, fit, care with evidence, reliability, discretion, curiosity, clear writing, and comfort with software.
• Software Proficiency: ERPCA, CompuOffice, Auditors Desk, Google Workspace.

Qualifications

• Cleared both groups of CA Intermediate.
• Adherence to the five principles of the ICAI Code of Ethics: integrity, objectivity, professional competence and due care, confidentiality, and professional behaviour.

Key Responsibilities

• Work on audit, tax, and advisory engagements.
• Tie every figure back to its source and record checks.
• Meet due dates set in ERPCA and flag delays early.
• Keep client information within firm systems and engagements.
• Attempt L&D problems and inquire about reviewer changes.
• Produce clear written notes, observations, and draft replies.
• Quickly learn and utilize firm software.

Terms

• Leave: As stipulated by ICAI.
• Policies: Adherence to the firm's policy manual.
• Notice: As set out in the articleship letter.
• Completion or Transfer of Articleship: Under ICAI regulations.
• Handover of live tasks, files, and pending matters in ERPCA, and return of firm devices and documents upon completion.

Life at the Firm

• Seasons: Work periods include assurance, GST audit, tax audit, TDS filing, and monthly GST filing seasons.
• Holidays: A published holiday list includes national holidays and regional festivals.
• Team Time: Twice-yearly team outings (movie night/dinner), a yearly one-day offsite, and a bi-yearly two-day offsite with an overnight stay.
• Expenses: Reimbursement for work travel, outstation lodging, and meals when working past 9 p.m., on Sundays/holidays, or outstation. In-office refreshments are provided. Claims submitted on Form GRAD-01 by the 26th of each month for monthly reimbursement. Claims older than two months are not paid.

Selection Process & How to Apply

• Apply: Submit CV online at gradandco.com/careers (choose Articleship, attach PDF CV up to 4 MB) or email to [email protected] with subject "Articleship: Your Name". Applications are kept for 12 months.
• Test: Shortlisted candidates undergo an online/offline test (multiple-choice questions and written answers).
• Interview: Shortlisted candidates attend a structured interview with a technical assessment.
• References: Checked where applicable.
• Offer: Selected candidates receive an articleship letter, followed by joining formalities and ICAI registration.

Contact for Questions: Call or WhatsApp +91 7904660190.