Head of Audit

RecruitBlock is partnering with a growing international Accounting and Audit firm specialised in the Digital Assets & Web3 space to appoint a Head of Audit Quality, Compliance, Professional Standards & MLRO. This is a critical governance and leadership role, designed to take day-to-day ownership of audit quality, regulatory compliance, professional standards, and AML governance, strengthening the firm’s control environment.

The role sits at the heart of the firm’s regulatory credibility, operating across ICAEW Practice Assurance, FRC standards, ISQM 1 & 2, and AML, and acting as a senior interface with both regulators and private equity owners.

Firm Context

The firm operates in a highly regulated UK audit environment, with increasing expectations around audit quality, governance, independence, and AML controls, particularly within a private equity ownership structure. This role exists to ensure the firm:

• Maintains consistently high audit quality
• Is inspection-ready at all times
• Has robust professional standards and AML governance
• Can scale responsibly under PE ownership

Role Overview

As Head of Audit Quality, Professional Standards & MLRO, you will assume end-to-end ownership of:

• Audit quality and ISQM 1 & 2
• Regulatory and practice assurance readiness
• Professional standards, independence, and ethics
• AML governance as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)

You will act as the firm’s internal authority and escalation point on audit quality, ethics, independence, and AML, while providing constructive challenge and support to partners and leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Audit Quality & ISQM 1 / ISQM 2 Leadership

• Own, maintain, and continuously enhance the firm’s ISQM 1 system of quality management and ISQM 2 EQCR framework
• Lead quality risk assessment, monitoring, remediation, and root cause analysis
• Design and oversee internal audit file reviews (hot and cold), EQCRs and annual audit quality monitoring plans
• Act as internal authority on ISA interpretation and application, complex audit judgements and consistency of audit execution.

Regulatory & Practice Assurance Oversight (ICAEW / FRC)

• Lead preparation for and management of ICAEW Practice Assurance visits, regulatory inspections and correspondence and remediation plans and follow-up actions
• Maintain firm-wide compliance with ICAEW Audit Regulations, FRC Ethical Standard, CPD, competence, and training requirements
• Act as senior escalation point for audit file quality concerns, independence or ethics issues and regulatory matters

Independence, Ethics & Conflicts (Including PE Ownership)

• Own and operate the firm’s independence and conflicts framework, PE-related conflict assessment and documentation and client acceptance and continuance governance
• Advise partners and leadership on permitted and prohibited services, safeguards, partner rotation, fee dependency and portfolio company conflicts and governance considerations

MLRO Responsibilities (AML Governance & Oversight)

• Act as the firm’s Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017
• Own and maintain firm-wide AML Risk Assessment, AML policies, procedures and controls, governance and reporting framework
• Provide senior oversight of client onboarding and acceptance, high-risk clients, jurisdictions, and services, ongoing monitoring and risk reassessment
• Act as decision-maker for internal SARs, external SAR submissions.
• Maintain appropriate engagement with FCA and law enforcement.
• Ensure the AML function is adequately resourced, inspection-ready and supported.
• Act as senior professional standards and AML representative within a PE-backed governance structure
• Lead audit quality and AML reporting to the Board, PE owners and investors
• Support PE due diligence and ongoing governance reporting
• Maintain audit quality and AML risk registers and regulatory dashboards and KPIs

Audit Methodology & Standards

• Own and enhance audit methodology, templates, and guidance

Partner Advisory, Challenge & Review

• Provide senior challenge and support on high-risk or complex audits, regulatory-sensitive or first-year engagements, group audits and complex structures
• Act as independent internal reviewer on high-profile engagements and regulatory-exposed work.

Candidate Profile

• Senior UK audit professional with 15+ years’ experience
• Extensive background in UK statutory audit, ICAEW-regulated environments, audit quality, compliance or professional standards
• Demonstrable experience of ICAEW Practice Assurance inspections, ISQM 1 & 2 implementation and operation, FRC Ethical Standard application and AML governance and firm-wide risk assessment
• Previous experience as Audit Partner, Senior Director, Head of Audit Quality / Professional Standards
• Experience as an MLRO or Deputy MLRO
• Ex-regulator or external monitoring reviewer

Qualifications

• Current or previous Responsible Individual (RI) status (desirable)
• AML / MLRO training and experience strongly preferred

Personal Attributes

• Senior credibility and professional gravitas
• Independent mindset with strong ethical judgement
• Calm and assured under regulatory and inspection pressure
• Comfortable operating at Board and PE-owner level

What is on offer

• Senior role within a leading digital asset and crypto focused professional services business.
• Competitive compensation.
• Leadership role within a high growth, industry disrupting business.