Project Manager (Audit Firm Supervision) in Birmingham

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC)’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. We are the UK Competent Authority for statutory audit. We also set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as the UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work, and monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and operate independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries.

Audit Firm Supervision (AFS) is one of three supervisory teams for the largest UK audit firms, working closely with the Audit Quality Review and Audit Market Supervision teams at the FRC. AFS is responsible for our overall supervision of the firms, drawing together the results of work undertaken across the FRC. The Supervisor team within AFS has a deep and broad understanding of the various audit quality initiatives being undertaken by the audit firms. It acts as a central point of contact both for the firm and within the FRC (for that firm) and is in frequent contact with the firms, maintaining a detailed understanding of the firm and driving improvements in audit quality.

The Supervisor team has a forward-looking focus on identifying and prioritising what firms need to do to improve audit quality and holding them accountable for delivering it. Our work culminates in an annual public report on each of the largest firms and a detailed private supervisory letter setting out key priority risk areas and the actions we expect that firm to take. We also produce a combined public report for the smaller Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit firms, as well as reporting privately.

The Role:

The role provides a unique insight into how the PIE audit firms operate and how they are responding to current issues in the profession and the changes in regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will have the satisfaction of being able to influence the practices and procedures of the major audit firms to enhance audit quality and audit market resilience. The successful candidate will lead on certain aspects of our supervisory work and support the Supervisors in respect of the day to day supervision of PIE audit firms, including:

• Developing a sound understanding of the firms’ audit practice, their audit strategy and priority areas.
• Taking a key role for the forward looking supervision strategy for the firms allocated.
• Obtaining and analysing evidence on audit quality and resilience matters from internal and external sources.
• Assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of action plans developed by the audit firms.
• Being one of the main points of contact between the FRC and the firms on supervision matters, leading aspects of meetings with the firms.
• Leading on the monitoring of non-financial sanctions.
• Leading on constructive engagement into breaches by firms of auditing requirements (under the FRC’s Audit Enforcement Procedure or other disciplinary schemes), handling complex cases, developing remedial actions and ensuring that these are adequately undertaken.
• Liaising with internal specialist teams, including the Registration team, providing input into and assessing their conclusions or feedback to firms.
• Drafting reports and management information for Supervisors, AFS and the Supervision Division.
• Contributing to the development and growth of the AFS team, and wider Supervision Division.

The Person:

This role will suit a highly motivated individual with experience working in the audit and/or regulatory sector. The ideal candidate will have:

• A thorough understanding of the regulatory and audit environment.
• An accounting qualification coupled with membership of ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS or ICAI (or equivalent) would be an advantage, but is not essential.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills so that they can quickly evaluate a significant amount of information, understand the bigger picture and draw out themes and conclusions.
• Proven ability to think strategically and provide solutions.
• Strong ‘joining-up’ skills ensuring that FRC information is pulled together, assessed and shared in a highly effective manner so that a ‘one regulator’ approach can be taken.
• Experience of assessing and challenging the sufficiency and appropriateness of firms’ actions with an emphasis on forward looking supervision and initiatives.
• Skilled at identifying risks/concerns and understanding when to escalate risks and making proportionate decisions to mitigate them.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to quickly establish credibility and work effectively at senior levels.
• Ability to deal with difficult situations in a robust and proportionate manner while maintaining professional working relationships in challenging and potentially confrontational environments.
• Strong report writing and oral communications skills, able to express issues in a clear, balanced and concise manner.

Please apply by following the link on our website here and uploading a copy of your CV and covering letter as a single document upload. In the covering letter, please set out, by reference to the person specification above how you meet the required skillset.

Rewards and benefits:

The FRC offers remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave, ability to buy extra leave. Generous employer pension contribution of 10%. Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work life services. The FRC offers staff the opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to work scheme. The FRC has a strong work/life balance ethos. The role is based in our central Birmingham office. The post holder should be able to work flexibly to support the team’s activities and also provide cover within the FRC as necessary. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement with its workforce, with an expectation that 40% of a person's working time will be located at one of our offices per week, with precise arrangements to be agreed between the employee and the line manager.