Audit Manager

Who we are

Here at MHA, we take the time to create great relationships with our clients to become not just their trusted advisers, but valued partners that face the future together.

As a Top 14 firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers, we work in partnership with clients ranging from entrepreneurs and individuals to multi-national corporations. We work together to navigate an ever-changing business world and proactively identify the opportunities that tomorrow presents.

Leveraging our national network of offices, we offer a comprehensive range of financial and business strategy services to clients across the UK, enabling them to achieve profitable growth and build sustainable long-term success.

As a member of Baker Tilly International, we have a global reach that allows us to offer our insight and expertise wherever our clients need us to be. We believe this makes us a national and international partner of choice for entrepreneurs and multi-national enterprises across the world.

Our agile and responsive approach means we are always on hand to have the right conversations about with clients at the right time, allowing us to identify their goals and business needs both now, and in the future.

Purpose of the role

To manage a portfolio of clients, to meet the needs of the clients and to maximise the fee income of the portfolio, by delivering MHA services. To effectively manage resources and the workflow.

Main responsibilities

Portfolio Management

• Plan, control and review client work to ensure that the jobs are completed as efficiently and effectively as possible by allocating the resources available.
• Hold pre-audit meetings with clients where appropriate, to establish the events that have had an impact on the business and any areas needing particular attention.
• Prepare a time budget for each assignment. Ensure where possible that this is set at a level to enable the office to make money on the job taking into account the level of the fees and other non audit work to be included within that fee.
• Ensure a detailed audit or accounts planning memorandum is completed by the senior, with the information they will need to approach the audit work in the most efficient manner. This will include details of any potential anomalies or any difficulties that have been encountered during previous audits.
• Brief audit or accounts staff on the client and the nature of its business ensuring that the most cost effective approach to the job is clearly communicated. Carry out debrief and provide feedback at end of assignments.
• Review all work received as soon as possible, ensuring that any issues arising are referred back to the audit staff for completion before any outstanding issues are drawn to the attention of the Partner.
• Ensure that files are complete and that audit or accounts work is sufficient to enable the Partner to form an opinion on the accounts, bearing in mind the balance between cost and benefit.
• Monitor work in progress on all jobs within the portfolio, communicating any potential problems and write offs to the Partner’s attention on a timely basis.
• Ensure all hours worked on any client are recorded correctly, enabling a true reflection of the profitability of the job to be shown.
• Prepare fee schedules and bill for Partner review and approval, explaining any extra charges also identifying and explaining any write offs or profits.
• Draft all management letters, finalising of accounts, letters of engagement etc.
• Attend client meetings (where appropriate).

Team Management

• Ensure, as far as possible, that trainees are allocated a variety of jobs in order to provide a broad range of training and maximise their experience.
• Complete 6 monthly appraisals and sign off training records for all allocated members of staff ensuring that these are completed to enable staff to be developed and in turn enhance their effectiveness.
• Complete staff review forms after the end of each job identifying any areas needing further development and giving feedback to ensure improved future performance.
• Deal with day to day staff issues which may include holidays, courses, conflicts, quality of work, motivation, monitoring chargeable and non-chargeable hours.
• Specific office responsibilities e.g. technical contact, specific technical area expert, office accounts, client bank accounts, IT contact, marketing committee, client care committee, maintenance of the office work planner.

Business development, advisory and ad hoc work

• Identify opportunities for additional services that MHA can provide to clients.
• Identify and target new clients through networking, marketing and client referrals.
• Ad-hoc project work which may include compliance or value added services.
• Be proactive in involving other experts i.e. Corporate Finance, Tax, Financial Services where relevant.
• Promote and use marketing materials and other such resources.
• Be involved in tenders and presentations on audits and accounts.
• Coach team members in spotting opportunities and to consider the bigger picture.

Decision making parameters

• Deciding which staff and at what level should be allocated to an assignment.
• Setting the budget for individual job.
• Recommending to the Partner the fee to quote a client for a job.
• Once the job has been completed deciding what to bill above the original quote and what to write off.
• Decisions on the treatment of technical issues.
• Referring any contentious issues to the Partner.
• Whether to remain on site if the client is not ready.

Qualifications and skills

• Fully qualified ACA/ACCA with a minimum of 3 years post qualified experience in external audit, accounts and general practice.
• Demonstrable experience of corporate tax issues and company secretarial work.
• Up to date in CPE and recent developments in accounting standards.
• Experience working with OMBs covering a range of industries.
• Competent user of MS Excel & Word. Experience of Sage, CaseWare and tax software preferred.
• Demonstrable ability to motivate, delegate effectively, develop the team and be a strong leader.
• Client focus and able to think commercially – able to seek out opportunities within the portfolio.
• Communication – oral and written, ability to deal with variety of people in different environments.
• Organisational skills – the ability to successfully manage conflicting priorities.
• Able to understand complex business issues and offer practical solutions.
• Manages change in a positive way.
• Project a positive image of MHA.

What we can offer you

• Genuine work life balance.
• Accredited Investor in People.
• New and improved programme for Succession planning and supportive management structure to help you realise your potential.
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays, plus the opportunity to buy up to 5 days.
• Competitive salary.
• Managers bonus scheme available.
• Amazing employee referral scheme, paying up to £4000 for a successful referral.
• Paid CSR time.
• Car lease scheme.
• And more!

Our application form takes just a few minutes to complete and includes some diversity questions. MHA is a committed member of Access Accountancy and as such, we track our diversity stats and actively work to improve on these, year on year, looking at new ways to promote our roles to the widest audience. Any data collected is fully anonymised before sharing with any external parties, as per our Data Protection Policy and is not visible to hiring managers, or used in any way during the selection process.