Donor Grants Audit Assistant Manager

Ambition is working with one of the UK's leading professional services firms to recruit an Audit Assistant Manager into their Grants Audit team. Due to the international nature of the role, the ability to speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic at a professional level would be highly advantageous. UK external audit experience, including leading audits, is essential.

About the Role

The Donor Grant team audits funds provided by major donors, including the UK Government, EU, and foreign agencies. This role requires on-site audits around the world, with international travel limited to no more than 2 weeks per month. Audits are scheduled to ensure you are back for the weekend. The firm values work-life balance and offers flexibility regarding travel and remote work.

What's on Offer?

This role carries a strong sense of social responsibility, ideal for those passionate about the NFP sector. You'll make a positive impact while travelling the world! The firm is known for valuing its staff, ensuring you won't be treated as just a number.

Role Overview

The firm works within international consortia delivering audit services to major international donors, including EU institutions, UN agencies, national governments, and other global funding bodies. Engagements typically focus on grant funding awarded to organisations operating in international development, humanitarian aid, research, innovation, and cultural programmes. Audit assignments are delivered both across Europe and internationally, depending on where the funding activity and records are based.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering international donor audit assignments, including on-site work across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, typically lasting 1-2 weeks per assignment.
• Travelling for up to 50% of the year, with remaining time spent in the London office planning audits and preparing reports.
• Planning audit engagements, including risk assessment, sampling, and preparation of audit planning documentation.
• Managing logistics for overseas assignments and coordinating with donors, auditees, and internal teams.
• Preparing audit working papers and drafting audit reports and annexes to the required quality standards and deadlines.
• Reporting to managers, directors, and partners, delivering complete audit files and draft reports.
• Remotely supervising local auditors where travel is not possible, ensuring audit work is appropriately briefed and reviewed.
• Managing correspondence with donors and auditees, including responding to follow-up queries during and after assignments.
• Supporting the wider team to ensure audits are completed within contractual deadlines.
• Contributing to business development and tender activity where appropriate.

The role offers scope to broaden as additional work is won from other international donors, NGOs, and international organisations.

Requirements

• Extensive experience leading audits from planning to completion.
• Must have the right to work in the UK as NO sponsorship can be provided for this role.
• A keen interest in specialising in the not-for-profit and grant sectors.
• ACA/ACCA qualified (or equivalent) would be preferred.
• Previous experience with donor grant audit would be beneficial however this is not essential.
• Demonstrating a genuine interest in the sector as well as a willingness to learn is just as important.
• Knowledge of French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic would be highly advantageous.
• Any additional languages would be a bonus (both European and non-European).