Audit Director in Clerkenwell

Location: London

Salary: Up to £100,000

The Client

Our client is a medium-sized established Chartered / Certified Accountants firm, managed by ex-big four auditors, consultants and tax experts. They provide Audit, Assurance and Tax services in the UK with a team of experienced Chartered / Certified Accountants and Consultants. They are looking to add an experienced Audit Director / Responsible Individual to their team.

The Role of Audit Director / Responsible Individual

We are seeking an accomplished and commercially astute Audit Director / Responsible Individual (RI) to join our growing audit practice. The successful candidate will be ACA qualified with a minimum of 5 years' experience as a Responsible Individual, possessing extensive statutory audit experience across a diverse client portfolio. The role requires a technically strong professional with excellent client relationship management skills, sound judgment, and the maturity to lead complex audit engagements while mentoring and developing high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities of the Audit Director / Responsible Individual

• Act as Responsible Individual (RI) and sign audit reports in accordance with regulatory and professional standards.
• Lead and oversee a portfolio of audit clients across various sectors, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
• Review and approve audit planning, risk assessments, completion work, and financial statements.
• Provide technical guidance on complex accounting and auditing matters, including FRS 102, UK GAAP, and relevant auditing standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, acting as a trusted advisor to senior management and business owners.
• Identify opportunities to add value and support business development initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, ethical, and quality control requirements.
• Manage engagement profitability, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Coach, mentor, and develop audit managers and wider team members.
• Participate in internal quality reviews and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the audit function.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• ACA qualified.
• Minimum 5 years' experience operating as a Responsible Individual (RI).
• Significant experience leading statutory audits for a broad range of clients.
• Strong knowledge of UK auditing standards, FRS 102, UK GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience managing complex audit assignments from planning through completion.
• Demonstrated ability to review and challenge technical accounting judgments and estimates.

Key Competencies

• Technically strong with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Mature and confident professional with strong leadership presence.
• Exceptional client handling and relationship management skills.
• Commercially aware with the ability to identify client needs and business opportunities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven people management and team development experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high-quality standards.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be a respected audit professional who combines technical excellence with strong interpersonal skills. They will be comfortable engaging with business owners, finance directors, and boards, while providing leadership to audit teams and ensuring the highest standards of audit quality and client service.