Technical Accounting Leader, Audit Quality & Reporting in Leeds

We’re BDO. An accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today’s changing world. We work with the companies that are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high‑growth businesses that fuel the economy – and directly advise the owners and management teams leading them.

Audit quality is central to our strategy as an Audit Stream, the key ingredient to our success. Consistent high audit quality enables us to attract, develop and retain talented people and be proud of our work. Audit quality allows us to compete in the market and demonstrate that we can play a key role in market reform. Consistently high audit quality does not happen by chance. It requires a mindset and culture of challenge and professional scepticism, appropriate resources both people and intellectual, investment in central support for engagement teams and technology solutions. Within the last year we have increased our headcount significantly, invested in new partners, and commenced a significant investment programme in our Audit Quality Department.

The work we do is underpinned by quality. We deliver audits which are trusted and transparent which can be relied upon by companies and their stakeholders. You’ll be someone who is comfortable working pro-actively and managing your own tasks, as well as confident collaborating with others and communicating regularly with Senior Managers, Directors, and BDO’s Partners. You’ll help deliver accurate and transparent reporting to all relevant stakeholders as you provide long term value.

This is an opportunity for talented, high performing and ambitious Senior Manager (grade 015) to join the Corporate Reporting Advisory Team (CRT) in the Audit Quality Department (AQD) in an exciting period, to help to shape the role and the expanding team. You will report into the Team Partners and work closely with Directors.

• Work with Managers, Senior Managers, Directors and Partners within both AQD, the Audit Stream and across the wider firm.
• Maintain and encourage an open and constructive environment in which to provide technical accounting support and advice.
• Bring pre-existing financial services specialist technical accounting knowledge (this might be Banking and Alternative Finance, Fintech or Insurance focused), and experience to the CRT team and contribute to all output areas.
• Provide support and supervision to the more junior team members.

• Technical review of a personal portfolio of annual reports of publicly traded and other higher risk companies, working with the audit team to confirm compliance with financial reporting standards, company legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Providing clear and practical solutions to the most complex technical financial reporting queries, and act as a consultant for the more junior members of the team in your specialist area.
• Preparing and presenting financial reporting training, updates and seminars both internally and externally.
• Helping to develop financial reporting tools and guidance for application by the firm’s partners and staff.
• Writing articles and other publications on financial reporting matters for internal and external communications.
• Assisting with the preparation of draft responses to external consultations in relation to legal, regulatory and financial reporting matters.
• Monitoring external developments in financial reporting areas and, specifically in your specialist area, reporting back to the team and developing an appropriate action plan where required.
• Supporting and coaching the more junior members of the CRT and wider AQD team.

The role would be particularly suited to an individual with experience of working within the technical department of another major firm of accountants, or an experienced auditor who is looking to move into a technical role and is able to demonstrate a strong technical aptitude.

• Be ACA/ICAS qualified or overseas equivalent.
• Be a Senior Manager in a technical team or have other relevant experience in technical financial reporting.
• Exhibit a strong working knowledge of IFRSs, UK GAAP, and the Companies Act.
• Have sector specialism for financial services, particularly Banking and Alternative Finance, Fintech or Insurance.
• Understand the content requirements for the annual report of a company listed on either the Main Market or the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
• Have practical experience of performing technical reviews of annual reports of listed companies.
• Have a proven ability to apply technical knowledge to complex financial reporting issues and provide practical and supportable solutions.
• Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills, and an ability to adapt as appropriate to the scenario.
• Have an ability to create productive relationships across the firm and network and to influence other senior professionals.
• Be willing to work as part of a close-knit team and as a self-directed individual.
• Be highly motivated and proactive, with a desire to innovate and seek new ways of improving our service to internal customers.

At BDO, we’ll help you achieve your personal goals and career ambitions, and we have programmes, resources, and frameworks that provide clarity and structure around career development.

Mutual support and respect is one of BDO’s core values and we’re proud of our distinctive, people-centred culture. From informal success conversations to formal mentoring and coaching, we’ll support you at every stage in your career, whatever your personal and professional needs.

Our agile working framework helps us stay connected, bringing teams together where and when it counts so they can share ideas and help one another. At BDO, you’ll always have access to the people and resources you need to do your best work.

We know that collaboration is the key to creating value and satisfying experiences at work, so we’ve invested in state-of-the-art collaboration spaces in our offices. BDO’s people represent a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we’ll encourage you to build your network, work alongside others, and share your skills and experiences. With a range of multidisciplinary events and dedicated resources, you’ll never stop learning at BDO.

At BDO, we help entrepreneurial businesses to succeed, fuelling the UK economy. Our success is powered by our people, which is why we’re always finding new ways to invest in you. Across the UK thousands of unique minds continue to come together to help companies we work with to achieve their ambitions.

We’ve got a clear purpose, and we’re confident in our future, because we’re adapting and evolving to build on our strengths, ensuring we continue to find the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise. We shape the future together with openness and clarity, because we believe in empowering people to think creatively about how we can do things better.