At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the ethics framework and ensure compliance with ethical standards in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Gravita, a tech-enabled accounting firm empowering ambitious businesses.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, hybrid model, and exceptional development support.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of accounting while promoting a strong ethical culture.
- Qualifications: Expertise in ethics and independence within professional services is essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
We’re Gravita: the accountants fuelling ambitious businesses. We’re a full service, tech-enabled firm, working with entrepreneurs and businesses to help them achieve their goals, and make an impact in the world. We’re growing fast and are bringing like-minded advisors together to form a full-service tech-enabled accounting partner for thousands of SMEs. Our team use their incredible expertise alongside intuitive technology to help businesses and entrepreneurs plan better and grow faster. Our mission is to become the UK’s leading tech-enabled accounting firm for SMEs. We have ambitious goals and our high-calibre team work hard to achieve them. We are one team with one agenda, working collaboratively in a respectful environment to deliver a great service to our clients. So if you join us, you’ll not only be working on exciting client challenges, you’ll also be helping us shape the future of accounting.
The Role
To lead and own the firm’s ethics and independence framework, ensuring full compliance with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Code of Ethics and Financial Reporting Council Ethical Standard, while embedding a strong ethical culture across the firm. The role has end-to-end accountability for ethics, including both personal and corporate independence, and acts as the firm’s senior subject matter expert and decision-maker on ethical matters. This is a Director-level leadership role with firm-wide remit.
- Head of Ethics: Owns design, implementation, and operation of the ethics framework
- Chief Legal & Risk Officer: Provides oversight, challenge, and escalation point
The role operates as a trusted adviser to partners and senior leadership, not solely a compliance function.
Key Responsibilities
- Ethics & Independence Framework Ownership
- Design and maintain a firm-wide ethics and independence framework aligned with professional and regulatory standards
- Translate principles-based regulation into clear, practical policies and guidance
- Ensure integration with wider risk, audit quality, and governance frameworks
- Personal & Corporate Independence
- Own both personal independence (partners and staff) and corporate/firm independence (entity-level relationships and services)
- Oversee and continuously improve:
- Financial interests monitoring
- Partner/staff independence declarations
- Firm independence assessments (including network considerations)
- Act as final decision-maker on complex independence matters
- Ethics Advisory & Decision-Making
- Act as the firm’s central authority on ethical matters
- Provide advice to partners and engagement teams on:
- Independence threats and safeguards
- Conflicts of interest
- Non-audit services
- Client acceptance and continuance
- Exercise judgement on high-risk or sensitive cases, escalating only where appropriate
- Conflicts & Ethical Risk Management
- Oversee conflicts identification, assessment, and resolution processes
- Approve high-risk engagements and manage ethical risk exposure
- Ensure robust documentation and defensibility of decisions
- Culture, Training & Behaviour
- Lead the development of a strong ethical culture across the firm
- Design and deliver training tailored to partners, managers, and staff
- Promote ethical decision-making frameworks rather than rule-based compliance
- Support and strengthen speak-up / whistleblowing mechanisms
- Monitoring, Assurance & Continuous Improvement
- Establish and lead an ethics monitoring and assurance programme
- Conduct thematic reviews (e.g. independence compliance, conflicts handling)
- Identify systemic risks and implement improvements
- Regulatory Engagement & Inspection Readiness
- Ensure compliance with applicable ethical and independence standards
- Act as lead contact for ethics-related aspects of regulatory inspections
- Support responses to findings and remediation actions
- Breaches, Investigations & Enforcement
- Oversee identification, investigation, and resolution of ethics breaches
- Determine appropriate remediation and disciplinary outcomes (with HR where appropriate)
- Ensure lessons learned are embedded into policy and training
- Governance & Reporting
- Provide regular, high-quality reporting to:
- Chief Legal & Risk Officer
- Appropriate governance Boards and Committees
- Develop and maintain ethics MI, including:
- Breaches and incidents
- Independence compliance metrics
- Query volumes and themes
Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience
- Deep expertise in ICAEW Code of Ethics
- Deep expertise in FRC Ethical Standard
- Significant experience in audit, risk, or compliance within a professional services firm
- Demonstrable experience handling complex independence and ethical judgement calls
- Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders, including partners
- Experience building or transforming frameworks
Leadership & Behavioural Expectations
- Operates with authority and independence of judgement
- Able to challenge senior stakeholders constructively
- Balances commercial awareness with ethical integrity
- Seen internally as a trusted, pragmatic adviser rather than a blocker
Your Career with Gravita
When you join Gravita, we’ll support you on your own growth journey. We want to be the place you learn, grow and unlock your true potential. We’ll work with you to build a progression plan to outline how you’ll grow at our company and everything we’ll do to help you get there. We’re also passionate about learning and development, to help you focus on your future.
The Nitty Gritty
Our standard working week is a 37.5-hour week on a hybrid basis. Core working hours are 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday. Flexible working and happy employees are at the top of our list here at Gravita and we have been working hard to support our teams through the fast-paced changes. Your development won’t be forgotten, our development support is extraordinary for a firm of our size. It's a busy, fast-paced environment here at Gravita.
Ethics Director in London employer: Gravita Business Services Ltd.
At Gravita, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that empowers our team to thrive. As an Ethics Director, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping our ethical framework while enjoying unparalleled growth opportunities and a commitment to your professional development. With flexible working arrangements and a focus on employee well-being, Gravita is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where you can make a meaningful impact in the world of accounting.
Contact Detail:
Gravita Business Services Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Ethics Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already at Gravita. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on what they're really looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding Gravita's mission and values. Show us how your ethics expertise aligns with our goals and how you can contribute to shaping the future of accounting.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common ethical dilemmas. We want to see your thought process and how you handle complex situations, so be ready to share examples from your past experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Ethics Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Ethics Director role. Highlight your expertise in ethical frameworks and compliance, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a director-level position, we want to see examples of how you've led teams or initiatives in the past. Share stories that demonstrate your ability to influence senior stakeholders and foster an ethical culture within an organisation.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key messages come through loud and clear. This will help us quickly see your fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This way, you can ensure all your details are captured correctly, and it helps us streamline the process. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gravita Business Services Ltd.
✨Know Your Ethics Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the ICAEW Code of Ethics and FRC Ethical Standard. Brush up on key principles and be ready to discuss how they apply to real-world scenarios. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the rules, but that you can also translate them into practical advice.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director-level candidate, it’s crucial to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or initiatives in the past, especially in ethical decision-making or compliance contexts. This will help convey your capability to influence and guide others.
✨Prepare for Complex Scenarios
Think about potential ethical dilemmas you might face in the role and how you would handle them. Be ready to discuss your thought process and decision-making criteria. This will highlight your ability to navigate complex situations and reinforce your role as a trusted adviser.
✨Emphasise Cultural Fit
Gravita values a collaborative and respectful environment, so be sure to express your commitment to fostering a strong ethical culture. Share experiences where you’ve contributed to a positive workplace culture or implemented training programmes that promote ethical behaviour. This will resonate well with their mission.
