Quality Manager - EY

EY; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Manager, System of Quality Management - Internal Controls Testing, Risk Management, CBS, Belfast

The opportunity
This is an exciting and varied role within the Firm's Risk Management internal controls function. The firm is investing heavily in setting up risk management processes in the Belfast area and has identified controls testing as an addition to this capability. Ideal for individuals looking to further progress their career or step into a Big 4 firm. You will be responsible for the management and oversight of design and operational effectiveness risk-based controls testing across various service lines. This is a vital and high-profile role, ensuring the firm meets its external regulatory obligations and demonstrates a robust approach and system of quality management (ISQM1). Due to the breadth of the role, you will learn a remarkable amount about the firm and its network, interact with senior business stakeholders, and be given the opportunity to input into ongoing process improvements supporting EY in creating business value. The skills applied and developed as part of this role allow successful candidates to access longer-term career progression and pursue opportunities within the wider business should they wish.

We understand the importance of professional development and are committed to empowering our employees with the resources they need to succeed. If you do not already hold a relevant professional qualification, we will provide study support for you to complete your Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification!

Your key responsibilities
This role has a primary focus on leading the design and operational effectiveness testing over EY UK Member Firm and EY UKI Region controls in the System of Quality Management. The successful candidate will play a key role in reviewing, analysing, and documenting design adequacy assessments and performing operational effectiveness testing procedures over them.

As a Testing Manager, you are also responsible for managing a team of up to three junior staff members, communicating progress against the phased plan, and articulating any challenges to the plan's successful delivery. You will also be encouraged to identify opportunities for improving efficiency and proposing value-adding process improvements. The scope of the role is not merely to test controls but also to critically evaluate improved ways of operating controls and how quality risks are mitigated through the control environment. This includes delivery of key messages and sensitive conclusions to Senior Management of the business. As part of the varied role, we would expect you to contribute more widely to the ISQM team agenda and help EY in its optimal adherence to ISQM.

Experience and attributes
As an Internal Controls Testing Manager, you will be working on critical elements at the core of EY's ISQM1 work and will gain exposure to stakeholders across all areas of the business, including senior firm leadership. You will be supported by leaders who have a strong belief in professional skills development, and you will build broader experiences in a fast-paced and dynamic organization.

We are looking for an individual experienced in leading and executing design and operational effectiveness controls testing procedures, with strong analytical and communication skills who demonstrates a desire to learn and add value through doing.

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• Ability to show logic, diligence, and detail in the way you approach work.
• Experience managing teams to deliver control testing plans to set deadlines, including testing of complex controls and assuming the role of detailed reviewer.
• Experience designing new controls and delivering operational effectiveness non-application controls testing, including reporting final conclusions to senior management.
• Experience in performing testing controls for a defined purpose (examples being external audit, internal audit, ISQM, SoX, etc.).
• Ability to process information provided from various sources to assess the level of risk mitigation and appropriateness/sufficiency of the information to conclude testing procedures.
• Ability to link and understand interrelationships between quality objectives, risks, and control responses across different SQM components and articulate interdependencies and the impact of these on testing procedures and related conclusions (if any).
• Ability to have insights into Control coverage, rationalisation, and improvement. Should be able to assist in the improvement of our Control environment on agendas of completeness and operational efficiency.
• Ability to manage, coordinate, and participate in regular interactions with stakeholders from all areas of EY and to deliver conclusions both verbally and through written action-oriented reporting.
• Ability to prioritise and coordinate multiple tasks and testing team deliverables efficiently and effectively.
• Excellent and proven organisation, communication, and influencing skills to contribute to the delivery mindset of the team. Your ideas will be listened to and taken on board no matter what level you are.
• Ability to lead, coach, and guide junior team members.
• Experience extracting, analysing, and providing summary data to inform management and key stakeholder decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills and strong ability to present results/output using core Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Proven track record of resolving design issues independently of senior management oversight and assisting in any corrective activity to fully document control descriptions, criteria, and attributes.
• Ability to critically review a control and assess the level of mitigation it provides to a given quality risk(s) and where applicable propose updates to the overall system of quality management. Note the role is focused on non-application control responses.
• Be able to demonstrate through current experiences of workload prioritisation and delivery of high-quality work to senior business management.
• Prior experience and understanding of ISQM1 requirements or working in an ISQM1 role is desirable but not essential as training will be given.
• A professional accounting, internal auditing, or similar qualification in risk or controls would be preferable.

What we look for:

• A team player who actively owns and delivers their scope and proactively looks for opportunities to contribute and develop.
• Someone who is committed to working in a fast-paced environment and delivering against deadlines.
• An individual with an inquisitive and problem-solving mindset.