Audit Manager

Location: Liverpool
Salary: Circa £60,000, depending on experience
Job Type: Permanent, full-time
Sector: UK Accountancy Practice
Client Portfolio: SMEs, owner-managed businesses, Not-for-Profit organisations and professional practices

 

The Opportunity

An established and growing Accountancy Practice is seeking an experienced Audit Manager to join its team in Liverpool.

This is a senior, client-facing opportunity for an ACA or ACCA-qualified Audit professional who combines strong technical knowledge with confident leadership, commercial awareness and a genuine interest in developing client relationships.

You will oversee a varied portfolio of audit engagements across SMEs, owner-managed businesses, Not-for-Profit organisations and professional practices. You will manage assignments from initial planning through to completion, act as a key client contact and directly manage a team of approximately three to four colleagues.

The position also offers a clear route towards Responsible Individual status. You will work closely with the existing management team, initially understudying senior colleagues with the longer-term objective of taking a leading role in the development and delivery of the firm’s Audit service.

 

Key Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing a portfolio of Audit clients across SMEs, owner-managed businesses, Not-for-Profit organisations and professional practices
• Planning, managing and completing Audit assignments
• Acting as the principal contact for clients throughout each engagement
• Managing several audits and reporting deadlines concurrently
• Reviewing audit files, working papers and financial statements
• Ensuring engagements comply with relevant UK Auditing and Accounting Standards
• Identifying and resolving technical Audit and financial-reporting issues
• Managing Audit budgets, deadlines, workflow and assignment performance
• Directly managing approximately three to four team members
• Allocating work and monitoring progress across the Audit team
• Reviewing team members’ work and providing constructive technical feedback
• Supporting the training, development and performance of junior colleagues
• Contributing to the firm’s Audit Quality Control processes
• Working closely with the existing management team
• Developing the experience and technical standing required to progress towards RI status
• Maintaining strong and trusted client relationships
• Identifying opportunities to provide additional services to existing clients
• Participating in pitches, tenders and wider business-development activities
• Supporting due-diligence and other non-Audit assignments
• Helping clients and colleagues resolve complex accounting issues

The precise balance of Audit, advisory and non-Audit project work will reflect client demand and the successful candidate’s experience. 

 

About You

To be considered, you should have:

• ACA or ACCA qualification
• Current or recent experience operating at Audit Manager level within a UK Accountancy Practice
• Strong knowledge of UK Auditing and Accounting Standards
• A general-practice background
• Experience managing several Audit engagements and deadlines simultaneously
• The ability to manage assignments from planning through to completion
• Strong audit-file and financial-statement review capability
• Experience managing, reviewing and developing junior colleagues
• A consistent commitment to Audit quality
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail
• Confident client-management and communication skills
• The ability to explain technical matters clearly and commercially
• A proactive and commercially aware approach
• An interest in business development and strengthening client relationships
• The ambition to progress towards RI status and a future leadership position

Experience conducting SRA Accounts Rules Reviews would be advantageous but is not essential.

 

Leadership and Team Development

This is not solely an Audit delivery position.

You will directly manage a small team and play an important role in maintaining technical standards, developing colleagues and ensuring assignments progress efficiently.

Your leadership responsibilities will include:

• Planning team workloads
• Allocating work according to experience and capacity
• Reviewing Audit files and resolving technical queries
• Providing clear and constructive feedback
• Supporting professional-development objectives
• Improving consistency and quality across assignments
• Helping colleagues develop stronger client-facing capability
• Contributing to a collaborative and accountable team environment

The firm is seeking someone who can combine technical credibility with an approachable and supportive management style.

 

Progression Towards RI Status

A key attraction of this opportunity is the planned route towards Responsible Individual status.

You will work alongside and understudy the existing management team, building the experience required to assume greater responsibility for the firm’s Audit offering.

The longer-term opportunity includes:

• Increased responsibility for Audit quality and delivery
• Greater involvement in strategic planning
• Leadership of key client relationships
• Development of the Audit team
• Contribution to recruitment and succession planning
• Expansion of the firm’s Audit portfolio
• Progression towards leading the Audit service

The successful candidate should therefore be interested in building a long-term career with the practice rather than viewing the appointment solely as a conventional portfolio-management role. 

 

Business Development and Advisory Work

You will be encouraged to contribute commercially to the continued growth of the firm.

This may involve:

• Participating in pitches and tenders
• Building relationships with prospective clients and professional contacts
• Identifying additional requirements within existing client relationships
• Supporting the preparation of fee proposals
• Contributing to networking and profile-raising activity
• Helping develop the visibility of the Audit team
• Identifying cross-referral opportunities
• Supporting due-diligence assignments
• Assisting with technical accounting and problem-solving projects

An existing professional network would be beneficial but is not essential. The firm is equally interested in someone who can demonstrate the confidence and motivation to develop these skills.

 

Salary and Opportunity

The firm is offering:

• A salary of approximately £60,000, depending on experience
• A clear route towards RI status
• A varied portfolio of established Audit clients
• Exposure to SMEs, owner-managed businesses, Not-for-Profit organisations and professional practices
• Responsibility for managing and developing a small team
• Direct access to the existing management team
• Involvement in Audit quality and service development
• Exposure to pitches, tenders and business-development activity
• Opportunities to work on due diligence and technical accounting projects
• The potential to take a leading role in the future of the firm’s Audit service
• A supportive environment in which to develop technically and commercially

The complete benefits package and working arrangements will be discussed during the recruitment process.

 

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position may particularly appeal if you are looking to:

• Progress from Audit Manager towards RI status
• Take greater ownership of an Audit portfolio
• Lead and develop a team
• Work with a varied client base rather than a narrow sector specialism
• Build stronger commercial and business-development experience
• Contribute to Audit quality and strategic service development
• Gain exposure to due diligence and technical accounting projects
• Develop towards a longer-term Audit leadership position

 

Equal Opportunities

Applications are welcomed from Audit professionals of all backgrounds. Every application will be assessed according to the skills, experience and suitability demonstrated for the position.

Reasonable adjustments can be provided throughout the recruitment process.

 

Apply in Confidence

To discuss this Audit Manager opportunity confidentially, contact:

David Hawthorne-Finch
Managing Director
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: d.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com
Telephone: 0333 996 2882

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

All applications and enquiries will be treated confidentially. No CV or identifying information will be shared with the hiring practice without informed written consent for this specific opportunity.