Deputy Director Audit Policy in Birmingham

The post holder will support the Director of Audit Policy in the development and direction of audit policy within the Audit and Assurance Policy (AAP) Team. The role includes responsibility for all aspects of policy relating to ethical frameworks for audit and assurance practitioners, developing AAP Team strategy, providing technical expertise to internal stakeholders, engaging with senior external stakeholders, developing UK audit and assurance policy, and working closely with the Head of Assurance Technology to ensure that the FRC remains on the cutting edge of audit and assurance related technology developments.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for all aspects of policy relating to ethical frameworks for audit and assurance practitioners.
• Developing of AAP Team strategy.
• Providing authoritative technical expertise to internal stakeholders, most notably to Supervision and Enforcement.
• Engaging with senior external stakeholders, including on ethical and technical matters.
• Development of UK audit and assurance policy.
• Working closely with the Head of Assurance Technology to ensure that the FRC remains on the cutting edge of audit and assurance related technology developments.
• Deputising for the Director of Audit Policy when required to represent the AAP Team internally within the FRC and to external stakeholders.
• Providing strategic leadership on projects to ensure that outputs are of high quality, coherent and aligned with the FRC's objectives.
• Playing a leadership role in the development of UK audit and assurance policy, with an aim of developing innovative approaches.
• Taking responsibility for all aspects of the ethical frameworks applicable to audit and assurance practitioners, including fee waiver applications.
• Keeping the strategic landscape for audit policy under review to ensure timely, proportionate responses to emerging risks and opportunities, including developments in international regulation and standard setting.
• Oversight of the projects undertaken by the AAP team, helping manage the team’s portfolio of projects, assuming some line‑management responsibilities, and providing technical advice for Project Directors.
• Collaborating closely with the AAP's Head of Technology Assurance to ensure technology is appropriately considered within the project portfolio.
• Representing the work of the AAP team within FRC governance structures, liaising with other FRC teams, and engaging national and international stakeholders such as audit firms, other UK financial regulators, professional bodies, and international standard setters.

Qualifications

• A CCAB qualification and experience working with and drafting technical audit‑related standards and guidance.
• Strong leadership aptitude, with the ability to articulate a clear vision of the AAP Team's strategy and to manage the realization of that strategy.
• Strategic vision including the relationship between effective and proportionate regulation to support growth in the UK economy.
• Excellent in‑depth knowledge of the FRC's suite of auditing, assurance and ethical standards.
• Excellent understanding of the regulatory framework for audit, both within the UK and internationally.
• Knowledge of contemporary developments in audit and assurance, including the role of technology, sustainability assurance and private equity in audit firms.
• Strong people skills, including proven line‑management experience and a commitment to supporting the development of self and others in the team.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage internal and external stakeholder relationships and to establish credibility and influence at senior levels.
• Confident and articulate communicator with the confidence to speak publicly and manage meetings with senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional report‑writing skills, able to express issues in a clear, balanced and concise manner.
• Enthusiastic and energetic, passionate about improving assurance to better meet the needs of all stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative solutions and combine technical rigour with proportional outcomes that support public interest considerations.
• Supporter of innovation.
• First‑class technical skills, able to provide legally sound, clear and constructive advice.
• Exceptional project‑management skills, including the ability to oversee a portfolio of projects being delivered by a team.
• Processes of engagement with assurance professionals and wider stakeholders that are appropriate and provide effective mechanisms for developing standards, guidance and communication best practice.
• Ability to manage the delivery of assurance technology and thought‑leadership projects to ensure sufficient input from FRC stakeholders and the wider community, high‑quality standard setting, guidance and other thought‑leadership publications, and lead meetings and roundtables with senior members of the assurance profession and a wide range of other stakeholders to build credibility.
• Leadership role in managing, developing staff, raising performance, and developing current and future AAPT staff.
• Ability to identify and develop standard‑setting, guidance and other projects and their scope, appropriately assessing risk and opportunities through research and consultation with stakeholders.
• Ability to provide support to broader FRC‑wide projects and deliverables.

Rewards and benefits

• Remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave and the option to purchase extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme with confidential counselling and work‑life services.
• Opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Strong work/life balance ethos.

Equal opportunities

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent supports this commitment. Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. The FRC is a Disability Confident Employer and welcomes applications under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme from disabled people as defined by the Equality Act 2010 that meet the minimum requirements for the role.

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 provide cover within the FRC as necessary. The FRC operates a hybrid working arrangement 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.