Quality Assurance Manager (Public Practice)

Cpa Australia Ltd; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Office flexibility

Annual incentive

Health & wellbeing

Learning & development

Job summary

CPA Australia’s Professional Standards team is seeking an Engagement Manager to lead Best Practice assessments for CPA Australia members and firms, ensuring engagements meet professional standards and regulatory requirements. Reporting to the Best Practice Team Manager, you will manage assessments from planning through to completion.

You will build trusted relationships with members, review firm quality systems, assess compliance risks, and provide practical recommendations for continuous

Qualifications

• CPA, CA ANZ or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• 5+ years' experience in audit, quality assurance, compliance, professional standards or public practice.
• Strong understanding of the professional and ethical standards and regulations relevant to public practice, as well as auditing and assurance standards.
• Experience reviewing evidence, identifying risks and preparing professional findings and recommendations.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships and difficult conversations.
• Proficiency with audit, assessment or workflow management systems, such as CaseWare.
• Excellent written communication, organisational and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage Best Practice assessments from planning through to completion, ensuring quality outcomes and adherence to program requirements.
• Review evidence and assess compliance with professional, ethical and regulatory standards.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based findings, recommendations and support plans for members.
• Act as the primary point of contact for members, managing stakeholder relationships and complex conversations professionally.
• Coordinate and review work completed by External Assessors.
• Identify risks, trends and opportunities for continuous improvement across member firms and the Best Practice Program.
• Contribute to quality assurance, reporting, training and member education initiatives.

Skills

Audit & QA experience

Stakeholder management

Professional standards knowledge

Written communication

Education

CPA, CA ANZ or equivalent professional accounting qualification

Tools

CaseWare

Job description

• Assess compliance, manage stakeholder relationships and drive quality outcomes.
• Fixed-Term Contract until 31 March 2028
• Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane | Hybrid working (minimum 2 days in the office)

About the Role

Join CPA Australia’s Professional Standards team and play a key role in supporting quality, compliance and best practice across the accounting profession. Reporting to the Best Practice Team Manager, you will manage and deliver assessments for CPA Australia members and firms participating in the Best Practice Program, ensuring engagements are completed in accordance with professional standards, regulatory requirements and program methodology. The successful candidate will join CPA Australia under the internal position title of Engagement Manager.

As the primary contact for members throughout the assessment process, you will build trusted relationships, review firm systems and quality management practices, assess compliance risks, and provide practical recommendations that support continuous improvement. This role combines professional judgement, stakeholder engagement and quality assurance, making it ideal for an experienced auditor or public practice professional seeking a broader and more consultative career opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage Best Practice assessments from planning through to completion, ensuring quality outcomes and adherence to program requirements.
• Review evidence and assess compliance with professional, ethical and regulatory standards.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based findings, recommendations and support plans for members.
• Act as the primary point of contact for members, managing stakeholder relationships and complex conversations professionally.
• Coordinate and review work completed by External Assessors.
• Identify risks, trends and opportunities for continuous improvement across member firms and the Best Practice Program.
• Contribute to quality assurance, reporting, training and member education initiatives.

About You

You are an experienced audit, quality assurance or public practice professional with strong technical knowledge and the confidence to apply sound professional judgement in complex situations. You enjoy building relationships, can navigate challenging conversations with professionalism and empathy, and have a genuine interest in supporting high standards across the profession. Organised, analytical and customer-focused, you are comfortable managing multiple engagements while delivering a positive experience for stakeholders.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• CPA, CA ANZ or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
• 5+ years' experience in audit, quality assurance, compliance, professional standards or public practice.
• Strong understanding of the professional and ethical standards and regulations relevant to public practice, as well as auditing and assurance standards.
• Experience reviewing evidence, identifying risks and preparing professional findings and recommendations.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships and difficult conversations.
• Proficiency with audit, assessment or workflow management systems, such as CaseWare.
• Excellent written communication, organisational and time management skills.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week in the office.
• Choice of Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane office location.
• Opportunity to influence quality and professional standards across more than 7,500 CPA Australia public practice members.
• Apply your audit expertise in a role focused on stakeholder engagement, continuous improvement and professional impact.

Why we love working here:

• We are a Values led organisation, we Create opportunity, Pursue excellence, Achieve together
• Monthly Health and Wellbeing sessions, weekly learning labs, generous reward and recognition program.
• The people, you'll work with like-minded and talented colleagues who aspire to be the best
• Our members, they are at the heart of everything that we do.
• Hybrid working, spend at least three days a week in the office
• Busy, fast paced, and we are passionate about what we do
• Paid parental, volunteer, study leave and the ability purchase additional leave
• Annual incentive scheme
• Learning & Professional Development opportunities
• We are global, so global mindsets are encouraged

About Us:

CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 175,000 members in over 100 countries and regions. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes.

We are values-based organisation underpinned by the CPA Australia Way, which is our commitment to each other and a way of working. It is the foundation of our success, experienced and lived by our people, and felt by members.