Audit Assistant Manager - Preston

Ambition Europe Limited; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working with core hours 10am–2pm

33 days holiday

Competitive salary

Employee recognition awards

Succession planning

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Ambition Europe Limited in Preston is seeking an experienced audit professional to own a client portfolio, delivering high-quality audit and compliance services while building strong relationships with clients and internal teams.

You will work within a forward-thinking firm that values development, collaboration, and genuine career progression, with agile working options and a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Up-to-date auditing standards and financial reporting knowledge.
• People capable of building client relationships and working across teams.
• Familiarity with ICAEW/ACCA qualification structures and ethics.
• Ability to review projections against historic accounts.
• Strong time management and deadline adherence.
• Detail-oriented with analytical approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of clients and prepare audit assignments for partners and directors.
• Coordinate compliance service delivery and schedule work around client needs.
• Plan audit assignments, set fee budgets and deadlines.
• Ensure deadlines are met and assist tax colleagues with planning.
• Staff appropriately, maintain continuity where possible.
• Identify opportunities to offer additional services.
• Prepare file notes and distribute to service teams.
• Maintain client records in the practice management system.
• Communicate with clients and internal teams regularly.
• Flag key matters for partner discussion ahead of client engagements.

Skills

Auditing standards

Financial reporting

ICAEW/ACCA familiarity

Financial projections

Time management

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Proactive mindset

Education

ICAEW/ACCA qualification structures

Tools

Practice management system

Job description

Are you an experienced audit professional ready to take real ownership of a client portfolio and play a meaningful role in shaping the direction of a growing practice team?Based in Preston, this is a fantastic opportunity to join a well-regarded, forward-thinking accountancy firm where professional development, people, and quality of work are genuinely valued. You will manage a varied and engaging portfolio of clients, delivering high-quality audit and compliance services, whilst building strong, lasting relationships and contributing to a collaborative, ambitious team.This role offers genuine career progression within a firm that invests meaningfully in its people.

What You'll Be Doing

• Managing a portfolio of clients and preparing audit assignments for partner and director review, including accounts, tax, and briefing notes
• Coordinating compliance service delivery, ensuring client information is gathered efficiently and work is timetabled around client needs
• Planning audit assignments following partner and director briefing, agreeing fee budgets and completion deadlines in advance
• Ensuring compliance deadlines are met and liaising with tax colleagues to support effective planning
• Taking responsibility for appropriate resourcing of assignments, maintaining staff continuity where possible
• Identifying opportunities to introduce clients to additional relevant services
• Flagging key matters for partner and director discussion ahead of client engagement
• Collating and summarising raw data into clear, review-ready formats, including draft projections and reports
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date client records on the firm's practice management system
• Preparing file notes following client meetings and distributing these to the relevant service team members
• Maintaining regular communication with both clients and the internal client service team
• Reporting any client concerns or dissatisfaction promptly through the firm's established process
• Championing and communicating the firm's values in day-to-day work

What We're Looking For

• Up-to-date technical knowledge of auditing standards and financial reporting frameworks
• Technically competent, compliant, and risk-aware in your professional approach
• Familiarity with ICAEW and/or ACCA qualification structures, including work experience and ethics requirements
• Ability to produce and critically review financial projections against historic accounts
• Strong time management skills with a consistent track record of meeting deadlines
• Detail-oriented, with a methodical and analytical approach
• Confident in building effective working relationships across internal teams and with external clients
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with a genuine drive to improve processes and deliver value

Nice to Have

• Experience in supporting, coaching, or mentoring junior team members
• Knowledge of practice-wide KPIs and departmental performance objectives
• Exposure to a broad range of client-facing services within a multi-disciplinary practice setting

Why Join

• Agile working with core hours of 10am to 2pm and two home working days per week, giving you genuine flexibility
• 33 days' holiday (including bank holidays), with the option to buy or sell up to five additional days per year
• Competitive salary, negotiable based on your experience and expertise
• Employee recognition awards, including an Outstanding Performance Award bonus and other recognition initiatives
• Structured succession planning programme and a supportive management structure designed to help you realise your potential
• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24-hour confidential support, unlimited counselling sessions, and virtual GP services for you and your family

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you know someone who would be great at this role, why not take advantage of our referral scheme? We offer £200 in shopping vouchers for every referred candidate who we place in a role. Terms & Conditions Apply.