Audit Technical Director

The Kreston Global team is based in the UK. The location of this position is flexible, but the applicant must be able to travel to London on a regular basis. A willingness travel internationally is essential.

You will report into the Cheif Executive, with dotted line to the Chairman of the Kreston Quality Grouo. You will have once direct report: the Quality and Professional Standards Administrator. 

Purpose of role

A senior full-time role which is central to Kreston’s commitment to ensuring members meet and maintain stringent quality management standards and the highest ethical standards in the provision of international assignments; enhancing the technical standards of audit services; sharing good practice between member firms, providing guidance on technical issues, and raising its external profile.

The successful candidate will proactively work with member firms throughout the network to ensure that the Kreston name is associated with quality and that member firms deliver high quality, and consistent services in the international marketplace.

All roles at Kreston are being aligned to Kreston’s Purpose, which is to connect ambitious and enlightened people from the entrepreneurial business community, harnessing diverse financial expertise and cultural awareness, to promote positive impact around the world.

Competences

The role requires strong commercial and technical acumen, but also excellent communication and international interpersonal skills.

The company

Kreston Global is a network of over 170 independent firms providing the core services of audit, tax, and accounting. It is a friendly and collegiate network of community minded firms which work together to help their clients expand and operate across the world. The Network is coordinated and facilitated by a small but dynamic central team, where this role is based.

Responsibilities

• Developing the strategy for the Kreston Global quality review programme reflecting the risks and priorities of both the network and the wider stakeholder community
• Arranging/conducting quality reviews of both existing and new members in line with the agreed strategy
• Agreeing action plans prepared by member firms in response to reviews and monitoring implementation
• Upholding a culture that places quality and ethical behaviour at the heart of the services provided by Kreston member firms
• Designing, coordinating and evaluating the annual quality confirmation from members and providing the annual compliance confirmation to the Forum of Firms

Job Description

• Advising the Chief Executive on developments in the profession and the potential impact on the network
• Advising the Kreston Quality Group (oversight group) and the Kreston Global Audit Group (commercial group)
• Initiating guidance and support to members on global technical and quality issues
• Supporting the development and delivery of training initiatives and programmes
• Leveraging technical expertise of members and supporting the sharing of best practice
• Representing Kreston Globally externally on relevant bodies, such as Forum of Firms
• Supporting the development of the audit service line to target international assignments and improve global consistency, including devising technical documentation and guidance for members and working with software suppliers
• Continued management and implementation of the Kreston Global independence policies, including global independence checking
• Developing strategies for Kreston’s public policy, initiating and coordinating responses to relevant consultations

Critical competencies

• Technical expertise - an essential part of the role that needs to be based not just on the 'rule book’ but an ability to think through practical issues and applications and to develop global positions
• Persuading and influencing - ability to communicate across all levels of seniority and across a range of cultures to achieve an appropriate outcome
• Credibility - to be recognised internally and externally as a leader in the profession and get the Kreston position across
• Networking - with key players in member firms and externally, within the profession and with other stakeholders
• Planning and organising - the role requires considerable organisation skills both of own workload and others around the world
• Communication - both internal and external, in writing and in presentations. Technical material is, by its nature, difficult to express and it is essential to be able to express external opinions and offer members practical guidance that is clear and also technically correct
• Risk awareness - the ability to proactively identify the extent to which a particular set of circumstances may pose a risk to the network and develop and implement potential strategies to manage the risk, if appropriate, as well as the ability to say 'no’ when necessary

Required knowledge, skills and experience

• ACA, ACCA or equivalent qualification
• Strong working knowledge of International Standards on Auditing, ISQM, IFRS and the IESBA Code of Ethics
• Experience of leading quality reviews, ideally in an international environment
• Experience of managing risk, both identifying potential issues and developing appropriate responses
• Existing relationships with key stakeholders within the Technical Standards/Regulatory business environment
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Experience of managing and developing support team
• Ability to work unsupervised and take a proactive approach to the role
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required, including presentation skills
• Ability to design and deliver Conference presentations including technical training
• Proficient with MS PowerPoint, Excel and Word
• Additional languages other than English are an advantage

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below. 

Unfortunately we are unable to provide any form of visa sponsorship, so candidates must be a UK/Irish citizen or already possess a current UK Working Visa.