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.

At Grant Thornton we believe we’re best positioned to make a meaningful impact on the economy. Our ideas and insight empower our clients to make big decisions about the future and unlock sustainable growth. We are currently looking for an exceptional Director to join our Quality Audit team to drive our relentless focus on quality and integrity, to help businesses, communities and our people to flourish.

A look into the role

Our commitment to audit excellence remains constant. Audit quality isn’t left to chance; As a member of the Quality Audit team, you will be part of developing and maintaining a high priority service within our business, with a real opportunity to add value and shape the way our firm embeds quality within our culture and creates a high-quality service for our clients.

• To successfully deliver this role, team members will need to demonstrate an ability to lead and deliver quality audits, an ability to constructively challenge and integrity.
• On a day-to-day basis, you will be working closely with our audit partners, teams and engagement quality review partners to perform “hot reviews” of audits. This will involve applying excellent technical and practical skills, while developing strong relationships quickly, where you can deliver challenging messages in a positive and confident way. This will involve resolving challenging situations.
• You will challenge the execution of audit procedures and documentation of audit work performed, whilst supporting and coaching partners and teams to implement identified improvements in audit quality.
• You will identify issues and matters where firm-wide action may be required, as well as other ad hoc projects related to improving audit quality.
• As the team grows it will also have the potential to deliver training alongside the audit standards team, providing support for the firm during FRC inspections and lend support to the legal team.

Knowing you’re right for us

Joining us as a Director within our Quality Audit Team you will have the following;

The minimum criteria

• You’ll hold a professional accountancy qualification (ACA, CA or ACCA)
• Experience in listed audits, audit quality control and/or audit inspection
• In depth knowledge of IFRS and/or UK GAAP
• Excellent insight and analytical skills so that you can evaluate a significant amount of information, understand the bigger picture and identify what is important to ensure that high quality standards are achieved
• Strong digital and IT capability, including use of MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint, and comfort leveraging AI‑enabled tools and platforms to drive efficiency and insight.
• Highly motivated and passionate about audit quality with a desire to seek new ways to drive improvement
• A willingness to work flexibly both as part of a close-knit team and as a self-directed individual

Skills to set you apart

Here are a few more skills we are looking for. Don’t worry if you don’t tick every box. It’s important for us to support you in your role and help you to develop along the way

• Excellent practical and technical auditing experience, particularly on more complex audits
• Experience of performing audit quality reviews (pre-or post-audit opinion)
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to quickly establish credibility, and influence at the most senior levels within the firm
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the confidence and ability to challenge the judgements made by senior partners and engagement team
• An ability and desire to work with a client base across a broad range of sectors
• Ability to think innovatively and creatively to identify ways to improve audit quality
• Teamwork/collaboration - Working closely alongside others with different skillsets and experience to develop the best solutions to complex questions

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.