Director - Head of Independence Support - UK Audit

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Job description

Grade: Director (A)
Job Title: Head of Independence Support
Team: Audit Independence Centre of Excellence
Locations: Nationwide
Capability: Audit
Service Line: Audit Central
Contract Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

An amazing opportunity to lead the way in redefining independence support as a Director within our Audit Independence Centre of Excellence.

The UK regulatory landscape is complex and evolving, in this interesting and challenging environment, we are looking to recruit a Director, in a permanent role, to lead a brand-new team of specialists. The team will be responsible for providing critical independence support to UK audit teams, including assessing non-audit services for permissibility, ensuring the firm is independent to take on new audit wins and maintaining the completeness and accuracy of key data systems.

The team will be expected to provide high quality advice and support to engagement teams. In your role you will be responsible for leading the team, setting the strategy and defining the vision to take this process forward.

Description of the Role

Role Responsibilities
• Setting the strategic direction for first line independence support within Audit and the UK, liaising nationally and globally (where appropriate), to create a harmonised approach to the management of independence matters.
• Developing the operating model and annual business plans to present to appropriate governance bodies.
• Recruiting appropriately skilled individuals for the new team and developing guidance, communications and training to upskill and accredit new joiners.
• Developing the escalation process and model to ensure appropriate oversight and support.
• Identify and monitor key performance metrics to present to the firm's Head of Independence monthly and other governance bodies on a quarterly basis.
• Taking the lead for various project elements relating to KPMG's processes
• Responding to Regulators feedback and/or enhancing processes and overall compliance; by using experience gained in the field, providing practical solutions, driving projects forward and maintaining momentum.
• Act as a subject matter expert in this field.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant control environments.

Role Dimensions

Technical core competencies required for the role

Our Global Audit & Assurance Technical core competencies provide clarity and consistency of expectations to ensure the minimum audit technical requirements are being met by level to drive Audit Quality, which is fundamental to achieving our ambition to become the most trusted and trustworthy firm.

The relevant competencies for this role are:
• Professional scepticism and issue identification: Applies professional scepticism, objectivity and independence to identify and support resolution of potential project issues.
• Quality: Possess an eye for detail as well as an ability to work under pressure whilst demonstrating an unwavering focus on quality.
• Trust: Ability to handle sensitive, confidential information appropriately.

People & Culture
• Embrace and embed our culture ambition of high challenge, high support which is grounded in Our Values.
• Participate actively across Central Audit and with all stakeholders, including delivering any specific roles or projects that are assigned.
• Operate with a curious and sceptical mindset ensuring that this is embedded in your everyday work.
• Actively lead and embed a coaching culture to get the best out of others in an environment where everyone in the team feels empowered to speak up or challenge where appropriate.
• Be accountable, professional and act in the public interest, working for the benefit of shareholders of audited entities and wider society.
• Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams within Audit and across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose and fun.

The Person

Experience and Knowledge Requirements
• Knowledge and practical application of the FRC Revised Ethical Standard and other independence rules, such as IESBA and SEC (E)
• Previous experience with project implementation would be beneficial (D)
• Experience working in an Audit capacity with detailed independence knowledge (D)
• Scalable leadership level experience in a similar matrixed environment (E)

E - Essential, D - Desirable

Behavioural Attributes and Skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate complex matters in a clear and compelling manner.
• Highly effective stakeholder management and relationship building skills; credible and confident with stakeholders at all levels.
• A strategic & Innovative mindset
• Effective problem solver; makes pragmatic and logical decisions, drawing on technical expertise and available to provide high quality, creative solutions.
• Self-driven and resilient; able to thrive in a high-pressure and dynamic environment.
• Strong organisational and time management skills; able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills; able to question effectively, listen and apply judgement to complex problems and to deliver difficult messages.
• Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community, purpose and fun

Qualifications
• Chartered Accountancy qualification or equivalent is desirable but not essential for this role (D)

E - Essential, D - Desirable

KPMG Overview

KPMG in the UK is part of a global network of firms that offers Audit, Legal, Tax and Advisory services. Through the talent of over 16,000 colleagues, we bring our creativity, insight and experience to solve our clients' and communities' biggest problems. We've been doing this for more than 150 years.

We aim to be universally recognised as a place for great people to do their best work. A firm known for our collaborative and inclusive culture, using technology to empower and equip our people to deliver outstanding work with real flexibility - through inspiring workspaces, innovative ways to collaborate and hybrid ways of working.

With offices across the UK, we work with everyone from small start-ups and individuals to major multinationals, in virtually every industry imaginable. Our work is often complex, yet our mission is simple: To support the UK in a connected world. It guides everything we do, underpinned by our values: Courage, Integrity, Excellence, Together and For Better.

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