Audit Quality Manager

Sayer Vincent; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading audit firm in Greater London seeks an exceptional Audit Quality Manager. In this high-impact role, you'll be the central authority on audit quality, influencing standards and methodologies. Ideal candidates will be ACA qualified with significant audit experience and strong technical grounding in UK GAAP. You will drive continuous improvement, monitoring, and training initiatives across audit teams, ensuring compliance and promoting a quality-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience delivering statutory audits (5+ years).
• Proven ability to research technical matters and apply them practically.
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and presenting recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Design, operate, and improve the firm's System of Quality Management (ISQM 1).
• Conduct root cause analysis on quality issues and implement actionable improvements.
• Lead evidence-based proposals to enhance audit quality and methodology.

Skills

Communication skills

Technical grounding in UK auditing standards

Professional judgement

Prioritisation and multitasking

Education

ACA qualified (or equivalent professional accountancy qualification)

Tools

Audit software packages

Job description

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About the role

Audit quality shapes our reputation, enables our growth, and underpins the trust our clients place in us. We're looking for an exceptional Audit Quality Manager to own this agenda and drive it forward.

This is a high-impact, high-visibility role where you'll be the firm's central authority on audit quality. You'll shape how we deliver audits, influence our culture of professional excellence, and ensure we're positioned to meet both current standards and future challenges.

Unlike larger firms where you'd be one of many in a department, here you'll be the lead specialist working directly with partners and senior leadership.

You'll have genuine ability to make change happen, not simply report on it. Your expertise will directly influence firm-wide standards, methodologies and culture.

What you’ll own

System of Quality Management Leadership

• Design, operate and continuously improve the firm's System of Quality Management (ISQM 1)
• Prepare annual SOQM evaluations and ICAEW Audit Compliance reporting for partner approval
• Keep the Audit Quality Management Manual current and effective
• Ensure practical compliance with auditing, quality and ethical standards

Monitoring & Risk Insight

• Plan and deliver audit quality monitoring including Engagement Quality Reviews, cold file reviews and thematic reviews
• Identify emerging risks, trends and regulatory developments through horizon scanning
• Conduct root cause analysis on quality issues and translate findings into actionable improvements
• Produce quarterly SOQM reporting and KPI analysis for partners and committees

Driving Continuous Improvement

• Lead evidence-based proposals to enhance audit quality and methodology
• Present clear recommendations to the Audit Quality & Compliance Committee
• Deliver approved actions including process updates, practical guidance and team training
• Collaborate with technical working groups to implement priority initiatives

Technical Advisory

• Act as the go-to technical adviser for audit teams on complex or high-risk matters
• Translate technical updates and regulatory changes into clear, practical guidance
• Support teams with professional judgement, promoting a culture of quality and constructive challenge
• Prepare client-ready communications on technical developments when needed

Training & Capability Building

• Coordinate audit quality training priorities with Learning & Development
• Shape a forward-looking programme of technical updates and development
• Share best practice and learnings from internal and external reviews
• Build audit capability and consistency across teams

Governance & Leadership

• Chair the Audit Quality & Compliance Committee
• Lead or sponsor technical working groups delivering specific quality initiatives
• Build credible relationships with partners and senior stakeholders
• Champion audit quality across the firm

About you

Essential

• ACA qualified (or equivalent professional accountancy qualification)
• Significant post-qualification experience delivering statutory audits (5+ years)
• Strong technical grounding in UK auditing standards and UK GAAP (including FRS 102)
• Proven ability to research technical matters and apply them pragmatically
• Excellent communication skills - you can translate complexity into clarity for teams and clients
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and presenting recommendations to partners
• Strong prioritisation and multitasking abilities to manage varied workstreams independently
• Professional judgement and constructive challenge - you're comfortable questioning approaches respectfully

Highly desirable

• Experience with ISQM 1 and Systems of Quality Management
• Knowledge of the Charities SORP and charity audit experience
• Familiarity with varied accounting or audit software packages
• Experience with compliance reporting to regulated bodies (e.g. ICAEW)
• Ability to prepare and deliver engaging training content

Personal attributes we value

• Credible and collaborative - you build trust and work effectively across levels
• High integrity and ethical judgement - non-negotiable in this role
• Self-motivated and autonomous - you take ownership and drive things forward
• Curious and improvement-focused - you actively seek better ways of working
• Solutions-oriented with constructive challenge - you identify issues and propose fixes

What makes this role different

This isn't a large department role where you'd be implementing someone else's strategy. You'll be the audit quality lead, working as a trusted support to firm leadership with genuine influence over how we deliver audits.

You'll be responsible for identifying improvements and making them happen. Your recommendations will be heard at the highest level, and you'll see the direct impact of your work on firm-wide practice.

The role is primarily non-chargeable, allowing you to focus on quality and improvement. There may be approximately 2 days per month of chargeable work (such as EQRs or complex technical support) on a flexible, seasonal basis, keeping you connected to live audit work while maintaining your strategic focus.

You'll work collaboratively but independently, connecting across Audit, Learning & Development and other service lines, but with the space to think strategically.

Why this role matters

In larger firms, audit quality roles can feel removed from practice. Here, you'll directly shape how audits are delivered, strengthen our culture of professional excellence, and build systems that genuinely work for our teams and clients.

You'll influence not just compliance, but the quality of professional judgement across the firm. You'll help talented auditors become even better at what they do, and you'll play a central role in ensuring we remain trusted, future-ready, and positioned for sustainable growth.

If you're an experienced auditor with strong technical skills who wants to step into a strategic, influential role where your expertise truly matters, we'd love to hear from you.