Audit Senior Manager / Associate Director in Bury St Edmunds

Location: Bury St Edmunds

Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

We are seeking an experienced Audit Senior Manager or Associate Director to lead a substantial audit portfolio and play a key leadership role within our firm. This is a senior position for someone who combines strong technical audit expertise with commercial awareness, team leadership and the confidence to advise owner-managed businesses at a high level. You will work with a broad range of mainly family-owned and owner-managed businesses, acting as a trusted adviser while overseeing audit quality, team performance and client service delivery.

The Role

You will be responsible for a significant portfolio of audit clients and will operate at a senior level within the firm, working above client managers and supporting Directors and Partners in the delivery and growth of audit services. Alongside technical oversight, you will have responsibility for team structure, workflow, file quality and ensuring clients receive proactive, well-rounded advice across their affairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit Portfolio Management: Managing a portfolio of audit clients across a range of sectors, acting as the main point of contact for clients, building strong, long-term relationships, leading audit planning, risk assessment and completion, supervising audit assignments to ensure deadlines, budgets and quality standards are met, reviewing audit files and reporting key matters to Directors/Partners, attending client meetings to present and discuss audit outcomes.
• Client Advisory and Commercial Input: Advising clients on wider business matters alongside audit and compliance, supporting with corporation tax and personal tax matters affecting directors and owners, liaising with tax specialists where needed, providing a proactive and interactive level of service, identifying opportunities to add value, preparing or contributing to tender documents and proposals for new clients, working with clients typically in the £5m–£30m turnover range, with exposure to larger businesses.
• Team Leadership and Development: Organising the allocation of staff to ensure the right people are on the right assignments, overseeing the workflow and efficiency of the audit team, leading, mentoring and developing managers, seniors, assistants and trainees, ensuring team members receive appropriate training, experience and support, reviewing work, providing feedback and maintaining high technical standards.
• Quality, Compliance and Standards: Taking responsibility for the quality of audit files and the completeness of advice provided to clients, ensuring compliance with UK auditing standards and firm procedures, supporting audit quality control processes and regulatory requirements, contributing to improvements in audit methodology and internal processes.
• Firm Contribution: Working closely with Directors and Partners on client and operational matters, contributing to the development and growth of the audit service line, supporting a collaborative culture between audit, accounts and tax teams.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• ACA or ACCA qualified with significant post-qualification audit experience.
• Strong background in UK audit within practice.
• Experience managing an audit portfolio and leading teams.
• High technical and practical ability, with confidence in decision-making.
• Comfortable advising owner-managed businesses and their directors.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments.
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to client service.
• Experience contributing to tenders or new business development (desirable).
• RI status or working towards it (desirable for Director level).

What We Offer:

• A senior role with real responsibility and influence.
• A varied and interesting audit client base.
• Opportunity to shape and develop the audit function.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Direct exposure to Directors and strategic decision-making.

Benefits:

• The salary package will be competitive, depending upon the level of qualification and experience.
• You will have an opportunity to progress and develop where applicable.
• Flexible working hours.
• Hybrid working with fully hosted systems.
• Progression opportunities.
• Private healthcare.
• Employee Assistant Programme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric car salary sacrifice scheme.
• Holiday purchase.
• Varied and successful clients, client contact and interaction.
• Modern offices and working practices.
• Social events.
• Medical cash plan.
• Enhanced pension scheme.
• Group life assurance.
• Charity events and paid volunteering day.