Assistant - FIRST (First-line Independence Readiness Services Team)

Job Title: Assistant - FIRST (First-line Independence Readiness Services Team)

Base Location: UK Wide with occasional travel to London (approximately every two months)

The KPMG Audit function is a cornerstone of our business. We do work that matters to our local business and communities – supporting investment and economic growth across the Uk. Working on complex audit engagements, which could include big retailers, UK banks, Insurance Houses and multinational organisations, our team strives to provide best-in-class Audit solutions to audited entities who trust us to get it right first time.

KPMG is one of the world's largest and most respected consultancy businesses, we've supported the UK through times of war and peace, prosperity and recession, political and regulatory upheaval. We've proudly stood beside the institutions and businesses which make the UK what it is.

Why Join KPMG 

This is an amazing opportunity to be part of a new team, defining the vision for first-line independence support within the UK and protecting the reputation of the firm.

In the UK, the relationships we have with our audited entities are subject to significant and complex independence restrictions. It is critical for the firm to navigate these restrictions accurately and efficiently to continue to build trust with our audited entities and clients. This is an area that goes right to the heart of KPMG’s quality agenda.

In this interesting and challenging environment, we are looking to recruit an Assistant, in a permanent role, to work with a team of specialists who will be responsible for providing first-line independence support to UK audit teams, including non-audit service permissibility assessments, clearance reviews for audit targets and Sentinel tree accuracy. The team will be expected to provide high-quality advice and support to engagement teams. 

Description of the role:

In your role, you will be responsible for being the first point of contact with client teams, liaising with the team and SLPs (Sentinel Lead Partners) on the progress of requests and monitoring actions, tracking outcomes and assisting with team reporting.

What will you be doing? 

• Triaging of queries relating to the Sentinel permissibility process including managing a SharePoint List.
• Escalation of queries in line with the required matrix.
• Monitoring key performance metrics to present to key stakeholders monthly. 
• Involved in the design and development of the manual and automated process surrounding this service.
• Support end to end project coordination, including maintaining accurate project trackers, managing BAU follow ups to ensure timely progression of actions, and facilitating effective team communication and workflow alignment
• Monitoring compliance with all relevant ISQM1 (International Standard on Quality Management 1) controls. 

What will you need to do it?

• Ability to handle sensitive/confidential information appropriately. 
• Working well within a team, demonstrating strong communication skills. 
• Strong organisational and time management skills; able to work effectively in an environment with conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Be inclusive and embrace the opportunity to work with other teams across the firm in an integrated way. Have a sense of community and purpose.
  

Skills we’d love to see/Amazing Extras:

• An understanding of risk management/compliance systems (for example Sentinel) and process would be an asset. 
• Knowledge of the FRC Revised Ethical Standard and independence rules of other regulators (such as IESBA (International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants) and SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) (Securities and Exchange Commission)) would be beneficial. 
• Previous experience with project management including designing and maintaining project trackers would also be beneficial. 
• Demonstrates a technological mindset, with previous hands on experience using SharePoint, Power BI, and Power Apps/Power Automate.
• Possess an eye for detail as well as an ability to work under pressure whilst demonstrating an unwavering focus on quality. 

Qualifications:

There are no specific qualifications required for this role. A background in audit, risk management, regulatory compliance, or legal would be beneficial.  

To discuss this or wider Audit roles with our recruitment team, all you need to do is apply, create a profile, upload your CV and begin to make your mark with KPMG.

Our Locations: 

Audit at KPMG covers the entire UK. 

With 16 sites across the UK, we can potentially facilitate office work, working from home, flexible hours, and part-time options. If you have a need for flexibility, please register and discuss this with our team.

Find out more:

Within Audit we have a range of divisions and specialisms.  Click the links to find out more below:

• Audit at KPMG: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/audit/
• About our firm: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/people-culture/about-our-firm/
• KPMG Culture.  Being Inclusive: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/people-culture/being-inclusive/
• KPMG Workability and Disability confidence: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/need-support-let-us-know/

For any additional support in applying, please click the links to find out more:

• Applying to KPMG: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/
• Tips for interview: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/application-advice/
• KPMG values: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/our-values/
• KPMG Competencies: www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/experienced-professional/applying-to-kpmg/kpmg-competencies/
• KPMG Locations and FAQ: www.kpmg.com/uk/en/about/offices.html