Case Examiner and Head of Case Examination and Enquiries

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 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.

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 (AEP).  As the independent disciplinary body for the accountancy and actuarial professions in the UK, the Division also undertakes professional disciplinary investigations and enforcement action 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 (SFO), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Insolvency Service (INSS) and the Pensions Regulator (tPR).  Examples of recent case outcomes for audit cases can be found 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 Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA).
 
The Role:
The Case Examiner is a named decision maker under the AEP* in relation to cases of potential breaches of relevant requirements in audit matters and is responsible for determining whether matters are progressed, considered for constructive engagement, or referred to the Conduct Committee for the opening of an investigation. In cases of potential misconduct by others within the remit of the FRC, currently accountants and actuaries under the Accountancy and Actuarial Schemes (the Schemes), and potentially directors, the Case Examiner leads the Case Examination & Enquiries Team which both carries out enquiries and determines whether matters should be progressed and referred to the Conduct Committee for the opening of an investigation.  Cases range from urgent highly complex and high-profile matters of major public interest to dealing with smaller ad hoc complaints.
 
 *    The AEP provides that “The Case Examiner shall not be a practising auditor or an individual who has, during the previous three years, carried out statutory audits; held voting rights in an audit firm; been a member of the administrative, management or supervisory body of an audit firm; been a partner, employee of, or otherwise contracted by, an audit firm.”
 
The role includes:

• Liaising with the FRC’s Audit Firm Supervisors (AFS) to determine whether an audit matter is appropriate for an active enquiry by the AFS; closure with no action; resolution through Constructive Engagement conducted by the AFS; or merits investigation and should be referred to the Conduct Committee
• Conducting enquiries concerning others within the FRC’s remit as the decision maker for determining whether a matter should be closed with no action or merits investigation and should be referred to the Conduct Committee
• Overseeing the analysis of complaints in respect of accountants or actuaries (and potentially directors) being handled by the Case Examination & Enquiries (CEE) team 
• Providing high quality reports and analysis to the Conduct Committee in relation to individual cases meriting investigation, and progress and outcomes on individual enquiries
• Leading, growing and managing the CEE team, including recruiting, retaining, and developing staff with suitable accounting, audit, and corporate experience 
• Regular and effective liaison with professional bodies and other relevant regulators and law enforcement agencies, in particular the SFO, FCA, INSS and tPR
• Scoping and developing policies and procedures for the CEE team to accommodate the planned changes to the remit of the FRC/ARGA.

The Person:
The successful candidate will be someone with substantial experience as a qualified accountant, lawyer or in a relevant technical environment, with a strong understanding of the regulatory framework and of the responsibilities of accountants in business, auditors, and directors.  Candidates will be expected to demonstrate the competencies set out below:

• Excellent forensic and analytical skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including experience of drafting complex, formal reporting materials of the highest quality;
• A strong intellect and good judgement, with the confidence to exercise robust, fair and independent decision-making;
• Experience in driving forward a portfolio of complex enquiries with minimal supervision;
• Understanding of regulatory policy making with the ability quickly to acquire knowledge and understanding of the AEP and the Schemes
• Experience in providing constructive support and challenge to senior professionals as well as skilled in team management, supervision, and development, to achieve results; and
• Experience of change management and the ability to adapt and manage a team in the face of a changing regulatory and procedural landscape.

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

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.

Note to agencies:

FRC has a commitment to building relationships directly with candidates and only engages with agencies who are on our preferred supplier list to support us in sourcing quality candidates. We do not accept speculative CV’s from agencies that are not on our preferred supplier list. Any speculative or unsolicited CVs which are submitted without FRC instruction will be deleted and will not considered as an introduction.