Forensic Accountant

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is responsible for promoting transparency and integrity in business. We are the UK Competent Authority for audit and set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work. We monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and operate independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries. Further information about the role of the FRC can be found at www.frc.org.uk.

The Role:
The role involves assisting in the investigation of breaches of regulations and potential misconduct on the part of accountants, accountancy firms or actuaries. 
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
On smaller cases

• Working with limited supervision on individual investigations into misconduct/ breaches of relevant requirements by fellow professional accountants, audit firms or actuaries.
• Determining the avenues of enquiry; using expertise to identify sources of evidence and requesting provision of documentation and information.
• Undertaking significant or complex areas of an investigation.
• Identifying and working with internal experts to clarify relevant accounting, audit, actuarial or professional standards.
• Using forensic skills to determine the approach to the review and analysis of all material obtained including experience in the use of electronic search platforms.
• Preparing and conducting disciplinary interviews with subject partners and external lawyers.
• Preparation of an objective report of investigation findings to form the basis of instructions to the expert and external counsel and of further action on the case.
• Agreeing and meeting deadlines for investigation work and working with the case lawyer to meet deadlines for the case.

On larger cases -

• Assisting more senior forensic accountants in the conduct of investigations including undertaking personally specific areas of the investigation and contributing to overall work product.
• Where appropriate, supervising the work of more junior team members.

Working with senior forensic accountants in the coaching and development of more junior forensic accountants.
Contributing to divisional and office-wide initiatives to meet the organisation’s strategic objectives
 
The Person:
The role requires specialist skill and expertise. Individuals holding this position are expected to be capable of operating with minimal supervision on smaller cases and take sole responsibility on those cases for the accuracy and quality of the work product.
The ideal candidate will have the following attributes:

• Qualified accountant with significant depth and breadth of experience
• Skilled in conducting complex financial investigations involving high volumes of material.
• Skilled in investigating complex financial data.
• Proven ability to identify and focus on key issues.
• Proven ability in being able to recognise valuable lines of enquiry
• Skilled in planning and conducting technical interviews of senior individuals.
• Significant skill (written and oral) in communicating the results of investigation to a non-accounting audience.
• Solid understanding of the requirements of a regulatory disciplinary process.
• Understanding of audit.
• Experience of staff supervision and development.
• Ability to remain calm and act in a professional manner at all times.
• Determination and self-motivation to pursue complex and difficult cases.

The role is based in our Central London Office. The post holder should be able to work flexibly to support the team’s activities.

Rewards and benefits

• The FRC offers competitive remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave plus ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10%.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme including confidential counselling and work life services.
• Values in Practice Scheme, rewarding performance against our values and behaviours.
• The FRC offers staff the opportunity to save at least 25% on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to work scheme.
• The FRC has a strong work/life balance ethos.

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity is important in the work that we do and we are strongly committed to being an inclusive employer. Our values of being fair and independent supports this commitment. We're a signatory to the Government's Disability Confident scheme, which means that we guarantee an interview to any disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role.

Equal opportunities monitoring is an important means of demonstrating and implementing our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form will assist the FRC to identify any barriers that prevent access to employment and career development for certain groups of people, and to develop solutions, such as action plans, new policies and practices. The form is completed on a voluntary basis and we strongly encourage all job applicants to complete it.

Complete the Diversity Form here

Please apply by emailing a copy of your CV and covering letter to the FRC Recruitment team at recruitment@frc.org.uk. In the covering letter, please set out, by reference to the person specification above, how you meet the required skillset

• confirm that you have the right to work in the UK
• tell us where you heard about this job

Please note that we can only accept applicants who have the right to work in the UK.