Assistant Manager (Risk and Compliance) – London

An exciting opportunity is available within the Risk and Compliance Department and we are seeking a qualified assistant manager to join the team to work specifically on risk, ethics and compliance aspects.

The role

• The Risk and Compliance Department’s responsibilities cover the entire firm and include advice, consultations, communications, policy development, quality and compliance monitoring, maintaining the intranet, risk management and ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements (principally audit, Practice Assurance (PA) and Designated Professional Body (DPB) – investment business). The department works closely alongside the Technical and Financial Crime Compliance teams.
• Due to growth in the department’s work, an opportunity is available for an assistant manager to join the team to work specifically on risk, ethics and compliance aspects, alongside an experienced director and senior manager.
• This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their career in a key support role in practice outside of direct client work.
• Overall, we can offer a varied and challenging workload, a clear chance to contribute and the potential for progression for the right candidate. We require a qualified accountant with compliance and communications basics who, with support and their initiative, will take ownership of their own tasks once their skills are proven.
• The successful applicant will be expected to undertake the following activities within the Assistant Manager – Risk and Compliance role:
• Helping with responses to queries and consultations arising, including undertaking research.
• Updating compliance and ethics registers (such as risks, specialist clients and ethical consultations).
• Maintenance and review of the risk, ethics and compliance intranet pages.
• Reviewing answers on independence / fit and proper declarations made annually and by new starters, following up where necessary and providing a draft conclusion for review on issues arising.
• Assisting the director with notifications to the ICAEW and the preparation of the ICAEW Annual Return
• Supporting the senior manager with compliance tasks, especially the annual DPB, PA and Licensed Practice (ATOL work) compliance reviews and follow-up action.
• Preparation of internal communications – principally news alerts and ‘bitesize’ presentations.
• Support for projects, such as the review of the firm’s suite of engagement letters.
• Ad hoc review tasks, such as sections of an audit file where an issue has arisen.

Knowledge base – essential

• An understanding of risk and compliance and ethical requirements generally.
• An awareness of how those requirements are key to the operation of professional firms, including those regulated by the ICAEW.

Knowledge base – desirable

• Accounting frameworks – UK and IFRS.
• Auditing Standards and related guidance.
• Familiarity with accounts and audit software (CCH preferably).
• The ICAEW’s Audit Regulations.
• The FRC’s Ethical Standard.
• The ICAEW DPB Handbook.

Skills, education and experience – essential

• ACA/ACCA qualified with a good exam record. Recent external audit experience is preferred.
• The ability to deal with a wide range of tasks, learning effectively then taking ownership of and developing these, once established.
• A high standard of written and oral skills for explaining issues clearly and succinctly and justifying possible solutions.
• Interacting confidently with senior personnel including Partners across the whole firm, as well as supporting more junior members of staff
• Analytical – the ability to understand an issue and assess its potential implications.
• Accuracy – ensuring outputs are technically correct, paying attention to detail.
• Up-to-date IT skills, in particular Excel, Word and Powerpoint.

Skills and experience – desirable

• Recent regulatory / compliance experience in a firm of Chartered Accountants.
• Research – use of initiative in finding solutions.
• Maintaining intranet pages.
• Training and presenting.
• Project management skills.

The team

There are 3 members in the Risk and Compliance department – a director, a senior manager and an accounting software specialist. The Technical Department is also led by a director, supported by senior managers and a manager.

The office

Ideally London based – though other locations will be considered for the right candidate – with the option to work from home 60% of the time (subject to operational needs).

You

• The successful candidate will be an assured, enthusiastic self-starter with the background and desire to develop a role central to a Risk and Compliance department that fully meets the needs of a mid-tier firm.
• They will have excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks at once and prioritise their workload.
• They should have a definite interest in researching risk, ethics and compliance matters and seeking to resolve problems, as well as identify aspects which might not have been envisaged initially.
• In addition, they should possess interpersonal skills and professionalism to establish credibility at all levels, be commercially minded and have a clear perception of the requirements of both the firm and its clients.
• The position requires a high level of commitment and therefore candidates should display a positive approach to work and have the drive and ability to get things done.
• Part time candidates would be considered based upon a minimum of 3 days per week.