Audit Director

Grant Thornton Ireland; Makati; On-site; PHP 9,124,000 - 11,557,000; Full time

Job summary

Grant Thornton Ireland seeks an accomplished leader to head the Global Compliance & Services (GCS) Audit Capability, guiding strategy, governance, and offshore automation to deliver high-quality audits across multi-jurisdictional portfolios.

The role requires 12–15+ years in Big 4 audit, a CPA/ACA/ACCA, and a proven track record scaling global audit delivery while fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with global audit standards expertise.
• 12–15+ years of Big 4 or leading professional services audit experience.
• Strong knowledge of international auditing standards and financial reporting.
• Proven leadership building large-scale audit delivery and global capabilities.
• Experience managing multi-location teams and complex portfolios.
• Experience driving operational transformation in audit function.

Responsibilities

• Lead and scale the GCS Audit Capability in line with the member firm’s strategic objectives and growth plans.
• Lead the execution and ongoing evolution of the GCS operating model with governance and quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in audit execution through process optimisation and automation.
• Oversee end-to-end audit execution across the GCS lifecycle from planning to completion.
• Ensure offshore teams are embedded within engagement teams and collaborate with client delivery.
• Monitor performance metrics including quality, timelines, utilisation and budget.
• Hold primary responsibility for audit quality within the GCS Audit Unit.
• Promote a quality-first culture and regulatory compliance across the function.
• Oversee reviews and address findings from quality reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

CPA/ACA/ACCA or equivalent

Job description

• Lead and scale the GCS Audit Capability in line with the member firm’s strategic objectives and growth plans
• Lead the execution and ongoing evolution of the GCS operating model, ensuring seamless integration with engagement teams and adherence to established governance and quality standards
• Drive continuous improvement in audit execution through process optimisation, standardisation and the use of technology
• Lead the end-to-end execution of audit work across the GCS, supporting the full audit lifecycle from planning through to completion
• Ensure offshore teams are fully embedded within engagement teams, fostering collaboration and contributing seamlessly to client delivery
• Monitor performance across key metrics, including quality, timelines, utilisation and budget
• Hold primary responsibility for audit quality within the GCS Audit Unit
• Drive a “quality-first” culture, ensuring compliance with global audit methodology and regulatory standards
• Oversee review processes and address findings arising from internal and external quality reviews
• Act as the escalation point for quality, performance and technical issues across the GCS audit function
• Partner with Risk & Quality teams to continuously strengthen audit quality outcomes
• Operational Leadership & Workforce Management
• Provide leadership across all audit teams, ensuring efficient and effective operations
• Build and manage a scalable, high-performing offshore audit workforce aligned to growth plans
• Oversee resource planning, utilisation and optimisation to maximise productivity
• Embed structured performance management, appraisal and promotion frameworks aligned with global practices
• Drive operational efficiencies through process standardisation, improvement and automation
• Stakeholder Engagement and Transition
• Lead the transition of audit work into GCS, ensuring continuity of audit execution and minimal disruption to engagements
• Manage transition “hyper-care” to stabilise execution and resolve early-stage challenges
• Act as the senior escalation point and primary GCS audit contact for partners and engagement teams across the global network on any challenges and engagement risks
• Build strong relationships with audit leadership to ensure alignment on: Expectations, operating model and quality standards
• Scope of work, engagement planning and resourcing decisions
• Ensure clear, transparent communication across all stakeholders
• Contribute to the evolution of the global audit capability strategy, including centralization and digital enablement
• Contribute to firm-wide initiatives relating to global audit execution, transformation and efficiency
• Drive innovation through: Data analytics and digital audit tools
• Process standardization and automation
• Identify opportunities to enhance value delivered to engagement teams and clients
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative and inclusive culture aligned with Grant Thornton values
• Drive talent development through structured learning, mentoring and career pathways
• Promote a “one team” global mindset across onshore and offshore teams
• Support the development of clear career progression frameworks for GCS audit professionals
• Establish and oversee an Audit Quality Coaching model to drive consistent quality standards and ensure ongoing improvement in: Workpaper quality and documentation
• Risk identification and audit approach
• Communication with onshore engagement teams

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Audit Capability Leadership
• Lead and scale the GCS Audit Capability in line with the member firm’s strategic objectives and growth plans
• Lead the execution and ongoing evolution of the GCS operating model, ensuring seamless integration with engagement teams and adherence to established governance and quality standards
• Drive continuous improvement in audit execution through process optimisation, standardisation and the use of technology
• Lead the end-to-end execution of audit work across the GCS, supporting the full audit lifecycle from planning through to completion
• Ensure offshore teams are fully embedded within engagement teams, fostering collaboration and contributing seamlessly to client delivery
• Monitor performance across key metrics, including quality, timelines, utilisation and budget
• Audit Quality, Risk Management & Compliance
• Hold primary responsibility for audit quality within the GCS Audit Unit
• Drive a “quality-first” culture, ensuring compliance with global audit methodology and regulatory standards
• Oversee review processes and address findings arising from internal and external quality reviews
• Act as the escalation point for quality, performance and technical issues across the GCS audit function
• Partner with Risk & Quality teams to continuously strengthen audit quality outcomes
• Operational Leadership & Workforce Management
• Provide leadership across all audit teams, ensuring efficient and effective operations
• Build and manage a scalable, high-performing offshore audit workforce aligned to growth plans
• Oversee resource planning, utilisation and optimisation to maximise productivity
• Embed structured performance management, appraisal and promotion frameworks aligned with global practices
• Drive operational efficiencies through process standardisation, improvement and automation
• Stakeholder Engagement and Transition
• Lead the transition of audit work into GCS, ensuring continuity of audit execution and minimal disruption to engagements
• Manage transition “hyper-care” to stabilise execution and resolve early-stage challenges
• Act as the senior escalation point and primary GCS audit contact for partners and engagement teams across the global network on any challenges and engagement risks
• Build strong relationships with audit leadership to ensure alignment on: Expectations, operating model and quality standards
• Scope of work, engagement planning and resourcing decisions
• Ensure clear, transparent communication across all stakeholders
• Strategy & Innovation
• Contribute to the evolution of the global audit capability strategy, including centralization and digital enablement
• Contribute to firm-wide initiatives relating to global audit execution, transformation and efficiency
• Drive innovation through: Data analytics and digital audit tools
• Process standardization and automation
• Identify opportunities to enhance value delivered to engagement teams and clients
• People Leadership & Culture
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative and inclusive culture aligned with Grant Thornton values
• Drive talent development through structured learning, mentoring and career pathways
• Promote a “one team” global mindset across onshore and offshore teams
• Support the development of clear career progression frameworks for GCS audit professionals
• Establish and oversee an Audit Quality Coaching model to drive consistent quality standards and ensure ongoing improvement in: Workpaper quality and documentation
• Risk identification and audit approach
• Communication with onshore engagement teams

Success Profile

• Strong focus on audit quality, regulatory compliance and professional standards
• Commercial awareness balanced with professional and ethical obligations
• Ability to operate in a complex, multi-jurisdictional and culturally diverse environment
• Proven leadership in building, scaling and developing high-performing teams and capabilities
• Strong employee engagement, retention, and talent development, fostering a high-performing and inclusive culture
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with a track record of fostering trusted relationships and high levels of stakeholder satisfaction

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Technical Expertise

• Qualified accountant (CPA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent)
• Significant (12–15+ years) audit experience, ideally within a Big 4 or leading professional services firm
• Strong knowledge of international auditing standards and financial reporting and regulatory standards

Leadership Experience

• Proven experience leading large-scale audit delivery or shared service/global capability centres
• Strong track record in managing multi-location teams and complex audit portfolios
• Experience driving operational transformation and scaling capability and execution models

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Experience working within global, matrixed organisations