Ethics Manager in London

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 that lead them.

The Quality and Risk Management Team (QRMT) at BDO comprises several sub-teams including the Office of the General Counsel, Root Cause Analysis, Enterprise Risk Management, Economic Crime, Quality Management, Ethics and Independence as well as Regulatory and Compliance. It provides Partners and staff with the guidance, tools and support to enable them to identify and manage quality and risk issues. The QRMT is led by the Head of Quality and Risk Management Team, who is a partner who reports into the Head of Quality and Risk for the Firm.

Independence and Ethics are of critical and increasing importance to professional services firms, both in shaping organisational culture and ensuring regulatory compliance. They are a central focus for a wide range of stakeholders, including investors, regulators, government bodies and the media, in the UK and internationally. Matters relating to ethics, independence and conflicts of interest are frequently linked to audit quality and the exercise of professional scepticism.

The Ethics Team plays a key role in supporting the firm’s strategy to act in the public interest and uphold the highest professional standards. The team sits within the firm’s Quality & Risk Management function and is led by two Partners, supported by a team ranging from Senior Manager to Apprentice level. Due to the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements, ongoing firm growth, and rising stakeholder expectations, the team’s workload and strategic importance continue to expand. This role offers an opportunity to operate at the heart of these developments, working closely with senior stakeholders across the firm.

Responsibilities

• Interpreting audit independence, ethical, and conflicts of interest requirements, and translating these into application guidance and incorporating them into processes and system updates.
• Advising on the permissibility of non-audit services and related independence considerations under applicable Ethical Standards.
• Working closely with project teams, IT, and senior stakeholders to ensure systems are appropriately designed and implemented to meet regulatory requirements.
• Creating clear policies and procedures for use by the business and Shared Services Centres.
• Designing and delivering training.
• Establishing and maintaining quality control and monitoring processes in line with ISQM1 and QC1000 requirements.
• Providing ongoing advice and support to the business on the application of independence requirements, including the use of relevant systems and processes.
• Monitoring and tracking Ethics Team deliverables ensuring deadlines and objectives are met.

Experience and Skills

• Relevant experience in ethics, independence, compliance or a comparable regulatory environment.
• A good understanding of the ICAEW Code of Ethics and the FRC Ethical Standard for auditors.
• Proven ability to interpret complex regulation and apply it in a practical, commercial context.
• A sound understanding of risk management principles and their application in practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across the firm.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team to solve complex problems and deliver outcomes.
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities, with experience delivering against multiple priorities.
• An interest in, and aptitude for, leveraging technology and systems to improve business processes and compliance outcomes.

We’re committed to agile working, and we offer everyone the opportunity to work in ways that suit them, their teams, and the business. 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.

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.