Forensic Accountant
- Recruiter
- Financial Reporting Council UK
- Location
- London (Central), London (Greater) (GB)
- Salary
- £85,648 + Benefits
- Posted
- 07 Oct 2020
- Closes
- 07 Nov 2020
- Ref
- FAL4S
- Job role
- Forensic accountant
- Contract type
- Permanent
- Experience level
- Qualified accountant, Manager
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC)’s mission is to serve the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. We are] [is] the UK Competent Authority for audit. We also set the UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes as well as UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work, and monitor and take action to promote the quality of corporate reporting and operate independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries. Further information about our role can be found at www.frc.org.uk.
The FRC’s Enforcement Division is the independent disciplinary body for the accountancy and actuarial professions in the UK. It undertakes complex professional disciplinary investigations and prosecutions in cases involving accountants, accountancy firms and actuaries which raise important issues affecting the public interest in the UK.
We are seeking a Forensic Accountant to join our small team of experienced case lawyers and forensic accountants led by the Executive Counsel.
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:
- Conducting forensic investigations into potential misconduct or breaches of relevant requirements on the part of individual accountants, actuaries or accountancy firms.
- Managing investigations on behalf of Executive Counsel.
- Working without supervision as the most senior financial investigator on individual investigations into misconduct/ breaches of relevant requirements by fellow professional accountants, audit firms or actuaries.
- Supporting Senior Forensic Accountants on the largest and most complex investigations.
- Determining the avenues of enquiry; using expertise to identify sources of evidence and requesting provision of documentation and information.
- Allocation of case team resources; and the quality of work product from more junior members of the case team.
- Undertaking personally significant or complex areas of an investigation.
- Identifying and working with internal experts to clarify relevant accounting, audit, actuarial or professional standards, and ensuring the case team has a thorough understanding of technical issues.
- Using expert 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.
- Working with Head of Forensic Investigations in the coaching and development of more junior forensic accountants.
The Person:
The role requires a very high degree of specialist skill and expertise. Individuals holding this position are expected to operate with minimal supervision on medium sized complex 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, likely to have been acquired over 6-12 yrs. in forensic work, and expertise in forensic investigation.
- Expertise in managing complex financial investigations involving high volumes of material.
- Significant expertise in investigating complex financial data.
- 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 and skill in staff supervision and development.
- High degree of skill in being able to assimilate large volumes of complex material.
- Proven ability to identify and focus on key issues.
- Proven ability in being able to recognise valuable lines of enquiry.
- Skilled in being able to plan and manage complex cases.
- Skilled in being able to obtain information through interview.
- Expert in being able to marshal unfamiliar complex concepts and convey in an easily understandable written format.
- Ability to remain calm and act in a professional manner at all times.
- Determination and self-motivation to pursue complex and difficult cases.
WHEN APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE PLEASE STATE 'LEVEL 4 FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT' IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
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.