Audit Manager in Chatham

As the Audit Manager, you will manage specific Audit clients and workflow, providing high quality client service experience whilst ensuring adherence to individual job budgets and maximum fee recovery.

About the role

• Ownership of client portfolio/contacts for ongoing management and development
• Partners and employees who are key stakeholders in audit work across the Service Line
• Day to day audit team management responsibility
• Being a people manager where appropriate
• Developing & building own network of intermediaries & prospects
• Government bodies and external organisations such as HMRC and ICAEW

Principal Accountabilities

• Ensure the planning, prioritising and allocation of all relevant client audit work ensuring effective team workflow
• Ensure establishment of scope and budget for each piece of client audit work under own control and ensure adequate briefing to team members
• Ensure full agreement from client for audit work to be undertaken and communicate likely fees prior to commencement to maximise fee recovery
• Ensure full implementation of all client audit work in line with agreed budget ensuring adherence to The KR Way standards of performance document, with completed audited accounts ready for R.I. review & sign off
• To proactively look for ways to maximise audit efficiency
• Develop working across the service line in a technical or sector role
• Monitor work progress and ensure appropriate levels of communication with all clients and internal stakeholders on progress for each key task or phase
• Ensure proactive management of instances where the ‘work performed’ exceeds the agreed client fee and ensure agreement of a mutually acceptable outcome
• Ensure preparation of bills for own client audit work done and ensure they are sent to the client in a timely manner
• Research and seeking to resolve issues for upward communication in more complex clients or higher risk aspects of audit work
• Run regular workflow meetings to prioritise work and to ensure deadlines are met, maximum work on track & to tackle any off track

Client, Internal and External Organisational Contact

• Manage, support, and develop a client portfolio, with increased technical or complex issues or sector specialisms, ensuring the maximising of client advocacy & fee levels from own portfolio
• Act as a key point of contact for other nominated clients to manage all their Audit & other service requirements
• Return phone calls and written correspondence to all of the above within required deadline and ensure promises are kept
• Attend/lead Audit review and close down meetings for own clients as required
• Proactively contact clients when items of interest or benefit to the client arise therefore adding value
• Ensure overall provision for high levels of client service is in place across own client base
• Provide appropriate access and support for other internal departments to own Audit clients so as to assist the cross selling of services into the Audit client base
• Ensure client hygiene factors are in place, AML, KYC reviews, engagement letters, etc

Leadership, People Management and Development

• Be aware of individual team member capability & aspiration to ‘enable’ best performance of a team of direct reports through coaching & mentoring of audit team members
• Set out the objectives for the audit team at the start of each audit
• Monitor individual and team performance versus original objectives as set at the start of each audit and have an awareness of service line KPIs
• Provide regular feedback to all audit team members on their performance on job specific standards, ensuring praise where due and highlighting of issues for team member learning
• Provide support to Senior managers and Directors for internal & external recruitment of new Audit service line team members at assistant manager level and below
• Oversee professional development of audit team members

Internal Financial Management & Business Planning

• Monitor performance of team and individuals’ KPIs in line with the Audit SL business plan
• Where service line performance is at or above target, ensure this is communicated to own team and the celebration of success is encouraged
• Where service line performance is below target, encourage and instigate remedial action and focus from self and team colleagues to rectify and improve short term performance

New Business Development

• Continue to build own network of intermediaries, seek to generate referrals from own client base and convert prospects into new clients
• Support the Audit team in delivering the required departmental incremental fee target via networking (internal & external), meeting attendance, business pitches, presenting at webinars & writing of articles for relevant sectors
• Develop suitably strong internal Kreston Reeves connections such that access and support are given by all other internal departments to their own client bases

What’s in it for me?

Kreston Reeves is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.

What we’re looking for

• ACA/ACCA qualified
• Audit experience in Academies desirable
• Knowledge of IFRS desirable
• Statutory audit experience gained in public practice
• Knowledge of ISA and UK GAAP essential
• Accounts compilation skills
• Excellent client service skills
• Strong communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Attention to detail and accuracy skills
• Strong analytical skills

What we can offer

• Financial wellbeing – competitive salary, contributory pension scheme, Life Assurance, Health Cash Plan, Income Protection Scheme and Perks at Work discounts and rewards.
• Leave – 25.5 days plus bank holidays, holiday buying
• Mental wellbeing – hybrid working (3 days in the office/2 from home) and flexible working policies, Employee Assistance Programme and counselling
• Physical wellbeing – Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance and an annual flu jab.
• Recognition – monthly nominations for financial awards based on culture and values
• Development – we offer continuous support and development with clear mapped progression routes across the business, as well as access to internal and external training courses
• Diversity, inclusion and belonging – we operate several family-friendly policies and take proactive steps to create an inclusive environment
• ESG – give as you earn, 1 extra day off each year to take up volunteering opportunities.
• Opportunities to support our commitment to charitable causes
• Travel – other optional benefits include: cycle to work scheme, interest-free season ticket loan (London only), interest-free car/motorbike loan

At Kreston Reeves, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace for all. We understand that everyone has unique needs, and we strive to accommodate them through reasonable adjustments. Whether it’s adapting work environments, providing assistive technologies, or modifying processes, we are dedicated to supporting our employees in realising their full potential. If you require any reasonable adjustments to participate in our recruitment process or thrive in your role, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing recruitment@krestonreeves.com. Please remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request. Your success is important to us, and we’re here to ensure a supportive and inclusive experience for all.

About Kreston Reeves

With 200 years of history, we are an award-winning professional services firm with offices in London, Kent and Sussex. We provide a full range of accountancy, business advisory and wealth services, tailored to our clients’ needs. We guide our clients, colleagues and communities to a brighter future. We help businesses, not for profit organisations, individuals and families with more than just accountancy, business and wealth advice. Our dedication to providing a personal service is what sets us apart – we get to know you, understand your goals, support and advise you on your journey to help you realise your ambitions. We’re proud to be B Corp™ certified, demonstrating our commitment to our environmental, social and governance programme which is central to our purpose and vision. We actively encourage all our colleagues to give back to their local communities whenever they can.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.