Ethics & Independence Manager (Corporate Independence) in Cowbridge

At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance.

Grant Thornton UK is part of a global network of independent audit, tax and advisory firms, made up of some 58,000 people in over 135 countries. We're a team of independent thinkers who put quality, inclusion and integrity first. Every day our teams help people in businesses and communities to do what is right and achieve their goals.

The Ethics & Independence team protects the firm and drives quality by ensuring compliance with independence requirements, supporting client-facing teams at every stage of the client journey as well as supporting our people regarding their personal independence. We support individuals in complying with their regulatory obligations regarding personal independence, including personal connections, fit and proper considerations and financial interests.

You will be a member of the Ethics & Independence team working alongside others in the Supporting the Practice (Ethics) – Corporate Independence workstream. Through your role you will gain experience of a broad range of areas covering all our corporate independence workstreams. You will report to Senior Managers and Directors in the team and play a key role in maintaining the firm's independence.

Your areas of focus will include:

• Responding to formal Ethics and Independence consultations covering a broad range of independence related queries
• Non-audit service approvals
• Fee consultations
• Other independence tasks and consultations where mandatory Ethics approval is required

An element of the role may also include monitoring responsibilities; this is where we retrospectively review tasks completed by client-facing teams to confirm compliance and identify areas for improvement. The role might also include working on ad-hoc projects from time to time.

This is a varied role with many opportunities for individuals to specialise and focus on areas of interest and expertise and build relationships as part of their continued development. The role can be flexed if required so that it supports your professional development and we are very happy to talk flexible working to support you and balance your work and life.

As a Corporate Independence Manager within the Ethics & Independence team, you will:

• Consistently execute work on time at the volume and quality levels expected, in line with the relevant policies and procedures
• Demonstrate a "can do" attitude, taking ownership of work from start to finish
• Use judgement to analyse independence matters, identify relevant risks and apply appropriate safeguards or escalation routes
• Support the development of more junior team members by sharing knowledge and providing guidance
• Be a great communicator, able to explain issues to others clearly and professionally
• Be an active listener, receptive to others' viewpoints
• Collaborate confidently to build relationships with others within the GT practice
• Be respectful and mindful of the confidentiality of our work
• Be excellent at time management and prioritisation
• Demonstrate curiosity and professional scepticism
• Identify opportunities for efficiency and/or innovation

Joining us for this role, the minimum criteria you'll need:

• Proven experience within Ethics and Independence in a professional services firm
• Knowledge and experience of the application of the UK Ethics and Independence requirements
• Strong judgement skills and the ability to interpret policies and apply them practically
• Strong analytical skills and a genuine eye for detail
• The ability to support and review the work of others
• Experience in managing a varied workload and communicating confidently with senior stakeholders
• Proficient in MS Office 365 applications

It would be great if you had some of the following skills and experience:

• Knowledge and understanding of auditing and financial reporting requirements
• An understanding of the different services offered by firms like Grant Thornton
• Awareness of risk management systems and control environments

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential.

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you're with outside of work matter, that's why we're happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles.