Senior Forensic Accountant

The Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) 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. Further information about our role can be found at www.frc.org.uk

As the UK Competent Authority for audit, the FRC’s Enforcement Division conducts investigations and takes enforcement action into breaches of audit standards under the Audit Enforcement Procedure.  As the independent disciplinary body for the accountancy and actuarial professions in the UK, the Division also undertakes professional disciplinary investigations and prosecutions in cases involving accountants, accountancy firms and actuaries which raise important issues affecting the public interest in the UK.

Many of the investigations are large, complex and high-profile and our cases regularly require liaison with other investigators including the Serious Fraud Office, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Insolvency Service and the Pensions Regulator.  Examples of recent case outcomes for audit cases can be found at here and for accountant and actuary cases here.

More information on the work of the Division can be found in our Annual Enforcement Review 2020

This is an exciting time to join the FRC, as it transforms to the new Accounting, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA). 

The Role:

To act as a Senior Forensic Accountant in our team of experienced case lawyers and forensic accountants led by Executive Counsel. The role will involve the investigation of potential misconduct on the part of accountants or actuaries and alleged breaches by a statutory auditor or statutory audit firm of a relevant requirement of the Audit Regulations. The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Planning investigations into complex accounting, auditing or actuarial matters
• Identifying sources of evidence
• Working with internal experts to identify relevant accounting, audit, actuarial or professional standards, and ensuring a thorough understanding of technical issues
• Managing and conducting the review of material obtained in the course of the investigation including use of electronic search platforms
• Preparation and conduct of formal investigatory interviews of senior accounting, audit and actuarial professionals
• Preparation of objective reports of investigation findings
• Supervision and development of junior professional staff

The Person:

The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with significant forensic accounting experience, who understands the requirements of working in a multi-disciplinary team in a contentious legal environment.  Candidates will be expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Excellent ability to identify key issues
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to explain complicated technical concepts to non-finance professionals
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Highly organised, and able to plan and lead on more than one significant investigation at a time
• Ability and confidence to work autonomously
• Experienced in development of junior staff
• Enthusiastic and flexible, with a good team player ethic
• Experience of audit would be an advantage

The role will be based in our Central London office with virtual working from home during periods of restricted access to the office.  

As part of our commitment to diversity, the FRC welcomes applicants who wish to work flexibly and will consider those who wish to work part time.

Rewards and benefits

• The FRC offers competitive remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave plus ability to buy extra leave
• 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.

The closing date for applications is 15 November 2020