Independence and Quality Manager

Grant Thornton Australia is one of the world's leading independently-owned and managed accounting, advisory and consulting firms.

Our culture is underpinned by a commitment to our clients, people and communities, and our promise to ‘Reach for Remarkable’ by providing proven expertise, principled execution, and personalised experience.

In Australia, we’re proud to support the careers of over 1,500 remarkable people. With six offices nationally and partner firms in more than 145 markets, wherever you want to go, we can take you there.

About this role This role will be based in either our Melbourne or Sydney office in Australia and we are open to discussing relocation and VISA assistance with the right candidate.

Joining the National Quality and Excellence Department this Independence and Quality Manager will focus on applying the independence requirements of the professional standards in an internal facing role by supporting and advising the various businesses within the firm.

Audit firm independence is an area that draws attention from the regulators, the media, and the public, and plays a vital role in protecting Grant Thornton and its reputation.

The role of Independence is to ensure there is an effective independence quality control framework in place to assist partners and staff with the application of independence policy, maintain operational and compliance systems, provide training, and encourage and support consultation.

We are looking forward to welcoming a passionate and innovative individual to the Independence and Quality team to use their technical knowledge to consult on a wide range of areas to help us achieve the highest standards in quality and risk management.

Key responsibilities The role is an excellent opportunity to support a fast-paced business through internal consultations and monitoring compliance with external regulatory and Grant Thornton internal independence requirements.

Reporting to the Head of Independence & Quality the key responsibilities include:

• Use technical knowledge to advise on a range of regulatory independence requirements in relation to non-audit services to audit clients, personal independence, and firm business relationships to enable Grant Thornton partners and staff, meet auditor independence compliance obligations set out in the IESBA Code of Ethics/APES 110, SEC regulations and the Corporations Act.
• Develop an understanding of the range of services that the firm provides to meet the requirements of the firm’s systems to manage and monitor internal compliance including client and engagement acceptance and conflict checking processes.
• Update independence policies, supporting tools, guidance documents and processes to ensure we continue to comply with Grant Thornton global and local policy requirements as well as implement best practices and innovative solutions to keep pace with the firm’s evolving business needs.
• Develop, deliver, and raise awareness of risk management and independence training within the Firm, while also managing and participating in quality and independence monitoring programs and other process improvement initiatives.
• Assist with the preparation for, and coordination of, practice inspections by external regulators and Grant Thornton’s global quality review programs.
• Develop and maintain strong and trustful relationships with the business stakeholders, Service Line Quality & Excellence teams, and other Grant Thornton member firm Independence & Conflict teams.
• Exhibit strong attention to detail, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle multiple tasks under pressure.

Skills & experience Are you currently working in a client facing role within a professional services firm and looking to move into a role with a focus on the firm meeting its Professional Quality Standards then this could be the opportunity for you.

This is a fantastic opportunity to continue your career working in our Quality and Excellence Team. You’ll be agile, responsive and bring innovative ideas to the table. Your passion for understanding the regulatory environment will see you go beyond addressing technical issues to developing actionable recommendations. This role will suit someone with the following skills, experience, and attributes:

• Previous experience working in an independence quality team or audit from Big 4 or mid-tier professional services firm.
• Technical knowledge of independence rules and regulations, including APES 110, IESBA, Corporations Act 2001, EU PIE rules, and SEC regulations.
• Understanding of Independence technology platforms used to manage the review of proposed non-assurance services to audit clients and the onboarding of new clients.
• Strong troubleshooting and organisational skills with an ability to manage projects and processes, applying expertise to make appropriate decisions that impact the Firm.
• Sound research and analytical skills, excellent verbal and written business communication, self-driven personality, and relevant tertiary qualifications (Degree in Accounting, CA, or CPA).

If you’re interested in this role but don’t feel that you match every single one of our requirements, we would still love to hear from you and explore the unique skillset and attributes that you can bring to the team.

Reach your remarkable At Grant Thornton we do things differently because we understand that when you strive for better and care about what you do remarkable things are possible. We’re a dynamic and authentic mix of backgrounds, perspectives and ways of thinking. We’re driven by our shared purpose – we care for our people, clients and communities and support them to thrive.

With us, you’ll be exposed to challenging and rewarding opportunities – building your confidence and capabilities at every step. You’ll be supported, motivated and inspired by a team of passionate and caring collaborators and leaders. You’ll be empowered to build a career path that’s tailored to you and encouraged to make a meaningful difference. And we’ll make sure the excellence you deliver and the impact you make is always seen, felt and celebrated.

Remarkable perks that put you first:

• 9-day fortnight with no salary reduction
• Salary packaging | Salary continuance insurance
• Funded professional membership
• Promotion opportunity | structured learning and development at all career levels
• And many more!

Need some help applying or participating in the recruitment process?

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible for anyone who wishes to apply, and we warmly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, those in the LGBTQI+ community and individuals who identify as having a disability or are neurodivergent. Click here for more information about how we support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Grant Thornton.

Should you have questions or require any adaptations or additional support for your individual circumstances so you may perform at your best during the application or recruitment process please contact Betty, from our Talent Acquisition team, on gttalentscouts@au.gt.com.

As we provide fair consideration and evaluation to a high volume of applications, we endeavour to provide feedback on your application at the earliest opportunity.

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