Assurance Pursuit Centre of Excellence Leader

Ernst & Young Advisory Services Sdn Bhd; Council of the City of Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services firm is seeking an Assurance Centre of Excellence Leader to drive strategy and lead a team. With over 15 years of experience required, this role focuses on developing pursuit strategies and engaging with clients. Offering flexible work arrangements and a comprehensive benefits package, this position is available in Sydney or Melbourne.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 15+ years’ experience in pursuits or similar.
• Experience managing direct reports and allocating work.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Assurance COE and manage dedicated assurance resources.
• Develop and execute assurance growth strategy.
• Lead pursuits and account management activities.

Skills

Experience in pursuits or similar

Managing direct reports

Exceptional communication skills

Ability to manage competing priorities

Strategic thinking

Job description

Location: Sydney

Other locations: Anywhere in Country

Date: 7 Sept 2025

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The Opportunity

As our Assurance Centre of Excellence (COE) Leader you’ll lead the Assurance COE. The successful candidate will have 15+ years’ experience in pursuits or similar in building relationships and winning work. Managing a small team, you will work to deploy the firm’s dedicated assurance resources to maximise impact, coverage and win rate. You will have highly developed interpersonal skills and be able to manage a complex stakeholder environment and work under pressure. As a keen communicator you will relish the challenge of developing value propositions for service offerings, campaigns and pursuits. While able to operate at a strategic level you will be happy to work in the trenches with teams on pursuits.

Reporting to the Oceania Pursuits and Commercial Excellence Leader, the Assurance COE Leader will work with Assurance Service Line and Markets Leadership to help develop and execute the Assurance Growth Strategy. This includes managing the pipeline of must win and retain pursuits across Assurance (audit and advisory services). As well as developing long-term engagement plans with Assurance Partners and Client and Industries resources to drive engagement, discipline and ultimately better outcomes for the firm.

This is a hybrid position based in Naarm – Melbourne or Warrang – Sydney. Our roles can potentially be adjusted to work flexibly with reduced hours.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Works with Assurance Markets and Service Line Leadership to define pursuit pipeline including Invest to Win, Retains and Geo Priorities
• Oversees and contributes to qualification and MORE process and Account Excellence activities
• Manages resourcing using COE resources and liaises with Oceania Pursuits and Commercial Excellence Leader on any additional resourcing requirements
• Connects with wider Clients and Industries teams and Global Assurance Markets to find ways to work better together to increase win probability across Audit and Assurance Advisory including CEs on Invest to Wins and Key Retains, BMC on Key Buyer Programs, Pursuit and Account Based Marketing Teams, EY wavespace, and CX team to leverage client feedback

Pursuits

• Leads Pursuits in capacity as Pursuit Leader including working with engagement teams on stakeholder engagement strategies, contact plans, value proposition development, proposal development and presentation coaching
• Leads Retains account management activities including overseeing CX activities and connects accounts to new solutions and key buyer programs
• Other responsibilities and tasks as required to achieve the agreed performance outcomes.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• 15+ years’ experience in pursuits or similar in building relationships and winning work
• Experience managing direct reports and allocating work
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage workload of self and team
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Resilience and ‘can do’ attitude to dealing with stressful situations
• Ability to work across multiple activities and deadlines and successfully navigate complex competing priorities
• Strategic thinker who can gather and synthesise different points of view

What We Offer You

• Career development: At EY, your career is yours to shape! We’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences
• Flexible work arrangements: Our flexible work policies empower you to balance your professional and personal life, fostering a culture of trust and autonomy.
• A comprehensive benefits package: From a yearly wellness incentive, to access to additional 8 weeks of flex leave per year, and family-friendly policies, including 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave
• Salary: We offer a competitive salary which is open to negotiation pending on skills and experience.

EY acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which EY offices are located around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging.

Diversity, equity, and inclusiveness are core to who we are, how we work and how we live our values. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and are committed to providing an equitable and barrier free recruitment experience for all.