Wbg is where ambitious careers are built to last. We’re a growing firm where your name is known, your development is taken seriously, and the work you do from day one makes a real difference and is genuinely valued by clients and colleagues alike. Combining deep expertise with insight-led, technology- enabled solutions, we work together to help our clients achieve stronger outcomes.
Our culture is straightforward. We’re open in how we communicate, supportive in how we work together and ambitious in what we’re building. Grounded, consistent, and focused on doing things well. It’s a place where standards are high, but so is the level of support around you.
JOB SPECIFICATION
Department: External Audit
Job Title: Audit Senior
About our External Audit team
Wbg’s External Audit team plays a vital role in helping our clients meet their statutory obligations while delivering real value beyond compliance. We work across a broad and diverse client base, including corporate, charity, education, housing associations and SMEs/owner managed businesses.
JOB DESCRIPTION – External Audit Senior
Role Purpose
The Audit Senior supports the delivery of high-quality external audit and accounts assignments for a varied client base. Supporting organisations across a broad range of sectors, including corporate, charity, education, housing associations, and SMEs/owner-managed businesses. Our work goes beyond statutory compliance, focusing on delivering value, insight, and a high standard of client service.
The Audit Senior takes responsibility for leading audits from planning through to completion, working with clients of varying size and complexity and acting as a key point of contact for clients, building trusted relationships and ensuring work is delivered efficiently and to a high standard.
Key Responsibilities
External Audit Delivery
- Plan, manage and deliver external audit assignments from initial planning through to completion across a diverse client base and range of sectors.
- Act as the senior fieldwork team member on audit engagements, undertaking complex and technical audit work and exercising sound professional judgement.
- Review financial information, assess audit risks and evaluate internal controls to support audit conclusions.
- Prepare statutory accounts from trial balance, including proposed audit adjustments and ensuring appropriate financial statement disclosures.
- Prepare and review audit working papers, ensuring findings and conclusions are supported by sufficient appropriate evidence.
- Draft management letters setting out audit findings and clear recommendations for improvements to systems, controls and governance.
- Complete audit assignments to agreed budgets and deadlines, keeping managers and partners informed of progress and significant issues.
- Attend and contribute to client meetings, including Audit Committee and Board meetings where required.
- Undertake additional appropriate tasks as directed by Managers, Partners or wider External Audit leadership.
Quality, Workflow and Professional Standards
- Take ownership of audit quality, ensuring compliance with relevant auditing standards, regulatory requirements and firm methodologies.
- Review the work of junior team members to ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with required quality standards.
- Maintain clear, accurate and well-organised audit documentation and statutory accounts working papers.
- Identify and resolve technical issues, exercising professional judgement and escalating significant matters where appropriate.
- Plan and manage workloads effectively, ensuring assignments are completed within agreed timescales and budgets.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle client information in accordance with Wbg policies and procedures.
- Keep up to date with changes in auditing standards, financial reporting requirements and relevant professional guidance.
Client Service and Relationships
- Act as a key point of contact for clients throughout audit engagements, building and maintaining strong professional relationships.
- Liaise confidently with clients across private, public and charitable sectors, developing an understanding of their organisations, objectives and activities.
- Communicate audit findings, queries and recommendations clearly and professionally.
- Manage client expectations and respond to queries promptly, supporting the delivery of a consistent, responsive and high-quality service.
- Contribute to client meetings and discussions, providing professional insight and constructive recommendations.
- Identify opportunities to add value for clients and strengthen ongoing relationships.
Team Leadership and Development
- Deliver on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring to support technical development and professional progression.
- Assist with the onboarding, integration and development of graduate trainees.
- Allocate and monitor work effectively, supporting the delivery of assignments within agreed deadlines.
- Share technical knowledge and good practice, promoting a collaborative, supportive and accountable team environment.
Business Development and Professional Development
- Support Managers and Partners with proposals, tenders, sales activity and wider business development initiatives where appropriate.
- Identify opportunities to enhance client service and contribute to the development and growth of the External Audit service.
- Maintain and develop technical knowledge relevant to external audit, financial reporting and professional qualifications.
- Participate in training and continuing professional development to maintain high professional standards.
- Travel to client offices as required, including occasional overnight stays, which are expected to be limited.
Skills and Experience
- Part-qualified ACCA or ICAS student.
- Good working knowledge of UK auditing and accounting standards, including International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and relevant Financial Reporting Standards (FRSs).
- Experience in leading audit fieldwork, reviewing audit work and supervising junior team members.
- Experience in statutory accounts preparation and involvement in medium to large audit engagements.
- Strong communication, client relationship management and organisational skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Charity, further education or public sector audit experience desirable.
- Full driving licence beneficial.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and progression towards full professional qualification.
