Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director to join our rapidly expanding Audit Delivery Solutions Group (‘DSG’) whose vision is to provide scalable, specialised and technology-led commercial solutions to support the Audit business in delivering front-line, high quality, cost-effective audits. Building high quality and sustainable delivery models to embed our culture of high support and high challenge into the heart of what we do.

DSG currently has 7 Centres of Excellence’s (‘CoE’s’) and 5 delivery hubs, with over 700 employees collectively in UK and India, serving more than 60% audit engagements. Our pipeline for the future includes expanding and improving the current service offerings and this role has been created to accelerate the delivery of this vision through senior leadership and subject matter expertise.

The main areas of focus for this role are:

  • The successful candidate will lead on the development of new CoE’s, including identifying technical areas for consideration; performing accounting technical analysis; consideration of audit technology in CoE’s, design and develop operational delivery models alongside the Audit Transformation team and DPP Audit (audit methodology).
  • For existing CoE’s the successful candidate will work with DSG Leadership and key stakeholders in targeting process efficiencies to drive increased output while ensuing high quality deliverables; and develop and implement strategies to generating increased demand.
  • Quality is the overarching principle of our audit strategy. It underpins the foundations for all our processes and requires ongoing controls and governance. DSG needs to be in regular dialogue with DPP Audit through development of new solutions as well as partnering on upholding quality through all our current methodologies and delivery processes. The successful candidate will lead all interactions with DPP Audit and other stakeholders as necessary.
  • DSG has grown significantly as a diverse group of professionals from different fields of skills and capabilities. The number of roles & skill profiles in DSG is much more diverse than any other part of our business. With this, comes diversity of employee needs, career paths, remuneration and growth models as well as aspirations. The successful candidate will work with HR and our Audit Transformation team on the development of rewarding career paths within DSG now and for the future.
  • The successful candidate will work directly with the Head of DSG and play a pivotal role with key stakeholders being the Head of Quality, Head of Audit, Audit COO and Head of Transformation to ensure we lead from the front on delivering Audit’s vision for the future through quality and sustainability, while building rewarding careers for its people.

    • Technical core competencies required for the role

    Our Global Technical core competencies provide clarity and consistency of expectations to ensure the minimum technical requirements are being met by level to drive quality, which is fundamental to achieving our ambition to become the most trusted and trustworthy firm. The relevant competencies for this role are:

  • Technical knowledge: Understands relevant technical accounting and financial reporting standards, regulations and accounting literature. Exhibits and stays current on appropriate industry and specialised knowledge.
  • Technology skills: Uses firm-approved tools and innovative technology solutions to increase quality, productivity, and data insights.
  • Engagement management: Manages and executes the engagements, including project management, team management and remediation of deviations from the plan and timeline.
  • Documentation: Completes documentation demonstrating an unwavering focus on quality.

    • People & Culture

  • Embrace and embed our culture ambition of high challenge, high support which is grounded in Our Values.
  • Operate with acurious and sceptical mindsetensuring that this is embedded in your everyday work.
  • Actively lead and embed a coaching cultureto get the best out of others in an environment where everyone in the team feels empowered to speak up or challenge where appropriate.
  • Be accountable, professional and act in the public interest, working for the benefit of shareholders and wider society.
  • Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity towork with other teams across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose and fun.

    • Experience and Knowledge Requirements

  • Experience of developing central service offerings. (E)
  • Experience in audit delivery while working in a Top 10 Audit firm. (E)
  • Detailed knowledge and experience of IFRS, UK GAAP (FRS 101/102), and Companies Act. (E)
  • Experience of managing teams, coaching and mentoring junior staff. (E)
  • Proven track record of managing and delivering high quality, complex projects with stakeholder deliverables. (E)
  • Experience of developing and presenting accounting training courses. (D)

    • Behavioural Attributes and Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication, and presentation skills; able to communicate complex matters in a clear and compelling manner.
  • Highly effective stakeholder management and relationship building skills; credible and confident with stakeholders at all levels.
  • Strong analytical skills and attention to detail; able to analyse and interpret complex technical information.
  • Effective problem solver; makes pragmatic and logical decisions, drawing on own and others’ technical accounting expertise to provide high quality solutions.
  • Self-driven and resilient; able to thrive in a high-pressure environment.

    • Qualifications

  • Professional qualification from a recognised accountancy body. (E)

    • E – Essential, D – Desirable