Audit Director: Strategy, RI Sign-off & Leadership in Manchester

This is a rare and genuinely senior opportunity for an experienced audit professional to step into a Director-level role at a well-regarded practice, with real breadth of responsibility and strategic influence. Our client is looking for a Director to join their Audit function, holding full responsibility for audit delivery, regulatory compliance, commercial performance, and strategic direction across a substantial portfolio and wider department. The role carries Recognised Individual (RI) status (or equivalent signing responsibility) and operates as a key member of the firm's leadership team, working closely with the Head of Audit to shape, execute, and continuously enhance the audit strategy.

The Director will be accountable for audit quality, risk management, and departmental performance, setting the tone for a strong control environment and a high-performing culture consistent with mid-tier market expectations.

• Portfolio Leadership and RI Responsibility: Hold ultimate responsibility for a significant and complex audit portfolio, including large groups, regulated entities, and high-risk engagements. Act as RI/signing Director on audit engagements, ensuring opinions are supported by robust evidence and fully comply with ISAs (UK), the Companies Act, FRS 102, and IFRS. Approve audit strategies, risk assessments, materiality, and key judgements across the portfolio, providing final technical review and challenge on complex or judgemental areas. Serve as the primary escalation point for significant audit, technical, or ethical matters, and take ownership of relationships with regulators and inspection bodies where relevant.
• Audit Quality, Risk and Regulatory Leadership: Take overall accountability for audit quality, embedding a firm-wide culture aligned to ISQM 1 and regulatory expectations, and lead the firm's response to external inspections (e.g., FRC/ICAEW) and internal quality monitoring. Oversee root cause analysis programmes ensuring meaningful and sustained remediation, embed robust consultation processes across the department, and maintain oversight of independence, ethics, and risk management frameworks.
• Strategic Leadership and Departmental Direction: Play a key role in setting and executing audit strategy, service line growth, and market positioning, including leading on departmental planning, resource modelling, capacity management, and future capability needs. Drive innovation in audit methodology, technology adoption, and delivery models, contribute to firm-wide strategic initiatives, and support succession planning and long-term leadership development within Audit.
• People Leadership and Culture: Provide visible and inspirational leadership across the Audit function, lead and performance-manage Associate Directors and senior team members, and build a high-performance culture that promotes accountability, quality, and continuous improvement. Oversee talent development, retention, and leadership pipeline readiness, acting as a role model for professional judgement, integrity, and resilience.
• Commercial Leadership and Business Development: Hold responsibility for portfolio profitability, fee strategy, and financial performance, including leading major client negotiations covering fees, scope changes, and engagement terms. Drive business development strategy by identifying new opportunities, winning work, and expanding client relationships, while building and maintaining a strong external network to enhance the firm's market presence and contribute to overall revenue growth.
• Client Relationship and Market Leadership: Act as a trusted adviser to senior client stakeholders, including boards and audit committees. Own and manage relationships across key strategic clients, handle complex or sensitive client situations, and provide high-value insights while maintaining auditor independence. Represent the firm externally in professional and industry forums.
• Governance and Communication: Maintain strong governance over audit delivery, ensuring risks are proactively identified and addressed. Provide clear, strategic reporting to the Head of Audit and firm leadership, exercising sound judgement in high-risk or reputational matters.

Typically 10 to 15 or more years of audit experience, consistent with Director-level roles in mid-tier firms, with proven experience operating at Associate Director or Director level within a Top 60 or similar practice. Extensive experience managing complex audits, including large groups and regulated entities, with a demonstrated track record of RI/signing experience and strong audit quality outcomes. A strong track record in business development and portfolio growth, with experience dealing with regulatory inspections and quality frameworks. Expert-level knowledge of ISAs (UK), IFRS, FRS 102, Companies Act, and ISQM 1, combined with strong technical judgement on complex audit and accounting matters and a deep understanding of audit risk, independence, and regulatory compliance. ACA or ACCA qualified, with RI status (or equivalent) expected.

Ambition is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.