Personal Independence - Senior Manager - Permanent - London/Leeds

The UK Independence Team that forms part of the Risk Management (RM) Group of EY UK, currently has a permanent vacancy for a Personal Independence Senior Manager. This is a great opportunity to join a wonderful and diverse team, very much central to the firm, at a time of significant regulatory change within the UK audit profession.

The Independence Team is responsible for ensuring EY UK and Ireland maintain compliance with auditor independence rules and regulations imposed by external regulatory bodies (e.g., UK Financial Reporting Council, US Securities and Exchange Commission, The Irish Auditing & Accounting Supervisory Authority, the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants) and by EY in relation to the conduct of the firm’s auditing business. This also includes ensuring that new audit clients and engagements can be accepted by the firm and do not result in an ethical or regulatory conflict.

Your key responsibilities:

• Advising on a broad range of personal independence, investment product and pension consultations.
• Overseeing and monitoring our systems, processes and procedures ensuring that we are meeting our requirements and delivering quality at the highest levels.
• Leading the partner and employee personal independence audit testing process, liaising with the individuals and reviewers involved, analysing results and any resulting matters to address.
• Managing the resolution, documentation and communication of potential personal independence breaches.
• Key relationship contact for Partner Matters and Talent with regard to onboarding for new partners and employees.
• Identifying trends and hot topics requiring further guidance and training.
• Supporting the UK Independence Leader and Directors on independence related initiatives/campaigns.
• Liaison with UK Firm Communications Team to ensure appropriate messaging to ensure compliance with Independence obligations.
• Supporting UK Independence Leader and Directors with the preparation of matters to be reported to the UK LLP Board and other governance bodies.
• Liaison with EY Global Independence Team.
• Responding to regulatory requests and findings from practice reviews by preparing appropriate reports and action plans, followed by implementation of the proposed actions.
• Setting clear targets and monitoring performance and progress against timetable.
• Coaching / mentoring / managing members of the Independence Team.
• Provide training/support to offshore colleagues in EY overseas ‘shared services centres’ in respect of outsourced independence activities, including development of new service offerings, reviewing the output/quality of work they produce and providing feedback as required.

Experience and Skills Required:

• Independence professionals with significant previous experience at Manager / Senior Manager level.
• Experience of managing a team.
• Individuals with professional qualifications and a strong working knowledge of the concept of Independence and the UK FRC Ethical Standard.
• Individuals with other significant risk management/regulatory/compliance experience.

Skills:

• Strong communicator with colleagues at all levels including delivering tough messages to senior leaders within the firm.
• Ability to build strong working relationships.
• Strong analytical and interpretation skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to think strategically and handle complex concepts.
• Proactive and capable of working using own initiative.
• Proven leadership and team management skills.
• Adaptable and flexible with good team working skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Strong project management skills and proficiency at driving projects to a close.
• Ability to work to pre-determined deadlines and meet objectives under pressure.