Commercial Audit Manager - Public Interest

Grant Thornton (UK); Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton UK LLP in Birmingham seeks a Manager for Public Interest (PI) Audit to lead high‑level external assurance engagements. You will own audit strategy, direct the engagement team, manage budgets and client expectations while ensuring ISAs (UK), UK GAAP and IFRS compliance across a PI portfolio.

The role offers autonomy, flexible working options, and opportunities to contribute to the Midlands PI practice, with a focus on quality and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified as a chartered accountant (ACA, ACCA, CA, ICAS, ICAEW or international equivalent).
• Experience planning, leading and delivering major external audit engagements in a managerial capacity.
• Knowledge of ISAs (UK), UK GAAP and IFRS, with PI-specific regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee audit strategy for PI engagements, ensuring ISA/PI compliance.
• Manage client expectations on timetable, deliverables and fees.
• Lead engagement team and coach staff (Assistant Managers and Associates).
• Own engagement budget and lead fee discussions with clients.
• Plan and deliver the full audit cycle from planning through fieldwork to completion.
• Maintain independence and ethics across portfolio.

Skills

Audit quality

Client management

People leadership

Budget management

Project delivery

Risk & ethics

Education

Chartered accountant

Job description

Alternatively, Grant Thornton At Grant Thornton we do things differently - looking to the future, driving ambitious growth and pioneering positive change in our industry. Providing audit, tax and advisory services, we empower clients through strategic insight, curiosity, and genuine partnership. And we empower our people with real opportunity, an inclusive culture and work life balance. A true alternative. With over 5,000 people in the UK, and a presence in 150 global markets, we're on an ambitious journey, from great to exceptional, and we need the best people to help us achieve our potential. And with that comes the opportunity to help redefine what our industry looks like, and what you want from your career.

Job Description: Manager, Public Interest (PI) Audit Grant Thornton UK LLP | Audit | Birmingham Within our Audit practice, we're very keen to support and hire those who have had career breaks or time away from Audit, who would like to return to a busy, flexible auditing role. Our vacancies for qualified Auditors are all open to supporting the up-skilling and re-integration of returners to our business.

Key Responsibilities

• Audit quality and technical delivery Owns the design and oversight of audit strategy for each engagement, including risk assessment and materiality, ensuring full compliance with ISAs (UK), the firm's methodology and PI-specific regulatory requirements. Takes personal responsibility for the quality of the audit file, exercising sound judgement on complex and contentious areas and escalating to the Engagement Leader only where genuinely needed. Leads on enhanced auditor reporting requirements applicable to PIs, including key audit matters and going concern disclosures, and maintains independence and ethical compliance across the portfolio.
• Client and stakeholder management Acts as the day-to-day point of contact for the client, leading client meetings and presenting audit findings to Audit Committees where appropriate. Manages client expectations proactively on timetable, deliverables and fees, so surprises are the exception rather than the norm.
• People leadership Leads the engagement team day to day, coaching Assistant Managers and Associates in real time and through formal appraisals. Acts as people manager and career coach for a number of public interest associates, and contributes to the wider talent and inclusion agenda in the Birmingham office.
• Financial and commercial management Owns the engagement budget, taking corrective action before overruns occur and leading fee discussions with clients where scope changes arise. Identifies opportunities to grow the PI portfolio and the wider Audit practice in the Midlands.
• Project management and delivery Plans and project manages the full audit cycle, from planning through fieldwork to completion, coordinating specialist input as needed. Produces or reviews all client deliverables, including the Audit Plan and Audit Findings Report, to a high technical standard.
• Risk, ethics and professional standards Adheres to the firm's risk management policies and acts with integrity and in line with the firm's values in all client and internal dealings. Maintains professional competence through mandatory training, applied consistently across engagements.

Skills and Attributes for Success

• High-Profile Contact: The day-to-day face of the firm for the client, building trust through technical credibility and leading client meetings, including presenting to Audit Committees where appropriate.
• Leadership Skills: Experience leading an engagement team, coaching Assistant Managers and Associates, and taking full accountability for audit quality and delivery on Public Interest engagements.
• Technical Expertise: Sound technical judgement across ISAs (UK), UK GAAP and IFRS, with the confidence to apply this to complex and contentious audit areas.

Qualifications and Experience

Fully qualified as a chartered accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CA, ICAS, ICAEW or international equivalent). Experience planning, leading and delivering major external audit and assurance engagements in a managerial capacity. Proven technical expertise in ISAs (UK), UK GAAP and IFRS, with knowledge of PI-specific regulatory requirements.

Knowing you're right for us

We're interested in professionals with a genuine creative vision and the confidence to make it happen. You can expect plenty of autonomy in this role, so we look for people who will take initiative and seek out opportunities to improve our current relationships and processes. If you're serious about auditing and ready to take on some of our clients' most complex issues, this role is for you.

Knowing we're right for you

Embracing uniqueness, the culture at Grant Thornton thrives on the contributions of all our people, we never settle for what is easy, we look beyond to deliver the right thing, for everyone. Building an inclusive culture, where we value difference and respect our colleagues, helps our people to perform at the best of their ability and realise their potential. Our open and accessible culture means you'll interact with leaders who are interested in you and everything you bring to our firm. The things that set you apart, we value them. That's why we give you the freedom to bring your whole self to work and pursue your passions inside and outside of work.

Beyond the job

Life is more than work. The things you do, and the people you're with outside of work matter, that's why we're happy to look at flexible working options for all our roles, and we'll always do our best to keep your work and life in balance.

The impact you can make here will go far beyond your day job. From secondments, to fundraising for local charities, or investing in entrepreneurs in the developing world, you'll be giving back to society. It's that drive to do the right thing that runs through our every move, grounded in our firm's values, purposefully driven, actively curious and candid but kind. We're looking for people who want to contribute, spark fresh ideas and go beyond expectations. People who want to be able to proudly do what's right, for the firm, our clients, our people and themselves. It's how it should be.

Everyone has an immediate right to request a flexible arrangement through our flexible working policy.