Audit Quality Review Associate Inspector (inc ISQM1) in Birmingham

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) mission is to serve the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. We are the UK Competent Authority for audit regulation. We also set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work, and monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and operate independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries. Further information about our role can be found at www.frc.org.uk.

Audit Quality Review (AQR) is made up of suitably qualified and skilled staff with previous audit experience, including sector and IT specialists. It undertakes inspections monitoring the quality of Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits, specifically those for UK listed entities. AQR can perform full scope inspections of the major Local Audits, National Audit Office, third-country audits and certain Crown Dependency audit firms. Staff also participate in the monitoring activity performed by the Audit Market Supervision (AMS) team, particularly in the areas of inspection of firms’ systems of quality management (under ISQM1).

As a member of the AQR team, successful candidates will participate in reviews of audits conducted by the large audit firms, demonstrating their technical experience and personal skills in dealing with senior partners and staff at those firms.

The Role: The role provides an insight into how the major firms operate and how they are responding to current issues in the profession and changes in regulatory requirements. Successful candidates will also have the satisfaction of being able to influence the practices and procedures of the major audit firms to enhance quality.

• Conduct audit file inspections, focusing on UK listed entities audited by firms which have a PIE Audit registration. File inspections work on smaller/lower risk entities will include analysis of audit workpapers, information gathering through informal and formal questioning of the audit team, discussion with the audit firm of potential issues identified, and conclude with final written reporting.
• The role will also involve participation in larger and higher risk audits by supporting other members of the AQR team in their inspections.
• Participate in other inspection activity working with other team members, such as follow up reviews and thematics – both at a whole firm and specific firm level.
• Assist with reviewing firms’ systems of quality management by reviewing firms’ risk assessments, responses, and monitoring activities across the ISQM components, with the assistance of other inspection team members.

The Person: An accountancy qualification coupled with membership of ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS or ICAI (or equivalent) are required as well as experience at least at Audit Manager/Assistant Manager level in the external audit profession, or experience of risk management, internal audit or in another regulatory field.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A demonstrable interest in an audit firm’s audit quality initiatives and systems of quality management (ISQM1).
• Post qualification experience in the audits of large entities or groups.
• Broad business knowledge and interests to facilitate working across multiple sectors.
• Ability to understand and assess significant volumes of information quickly and through this identify aspects of potential audit quality concern.
• Ability to build constructive and professional relationships with senior audit team and audit firm personnel.
• Ability to challenge the judgements made and quality of work performed by audit teams authoritatively, and to present and discuss issues arising on their merits in a calm and professional manner.
• Strong written and oral communication skills including report drafting, presenting AQR findings accurately, fairly and convincingly.
• Enthusiasm to work collaboratively with AQR and other FRC colleagues.
• Effective project and time management skills.
• Ability, with coaching and shadowing, to be able to challenge the quality of firmwide policies and procedures at the audit firms.