Audit Quality Inspector; inc ISQM

Audit Quality Inspector (inc ISQM1)

Financial Reporting Council – Join to apply for the Audit Quality Inspector (inc ISQM1) role.

Mission:
The FRC serves the public interest by setting high standards of corporate governance, reporting and audit and holding to account those responsible for delivering them. It sets UK Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes, UK standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work, monitors and promotes the quality of corporate reporting and operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries. Further information is available at

Closing Date – 15 January 2026

Salary – £92,071.60 (Non‑negotiable)

Audit Quality Review (AQR) is a team of suitably qualified and skilled staff with previous audit experience, including sector and IT specialists. It undertakes inspections monitoring the quality of Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits, primarily for UK listed entities, performing full‑scope inspections of major local audits, national audit office audits, third‑country audits and certain Crown Dependency audit firms. Staff also participate in the monitoring activity performed by the Audit Market Supervision (AMS) team, particularly in the areas of inspection of firms’ systems of quality management under ISQM
1.

As a member of the AQR team, successful candidates will:

• Conduct audit file inspections of larger UK listed entities, involving analysis of audit work papers, information gathering through informal and formal questioning of the audit team, discussion with the audit firm of potential issues identified, and conclude with final written reporting.
• Participate in other inspection activities such as follow‑up reviews and thematics – both at whole‑firm and specific firm levels.
• Review firms’ systems of quality management by reviewing risk assessments, responses, and monitoring activities across the ISQM components, independently or with assistance of other inspection team members.

An accountancy qualification coupled with membership of ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS or ICAI (or equivalent) is required, along with significant experience at least at Audit Senior Manager or above in the external audit profession, or experience of risk management, internal audit or other regulatory field.

• Significant post‑qualification experience in audits of listed and other public interest entities.
• Ideally some experience in testing or systems of quality management in a professional services firm or within an audit firm’s central quality team or audit regulation.
• Strong technical auditing and accounting skills.
• A demonstrable interest in an audit firm’s audit quality initiatives.
• Broad business knowledge and interests to facilitate working across multiple sectors.
• Ability to understand and assess significant volumes of information quickly and identify potential audit quality concerns.
• Ability to build constructive and professional relationships with senior audit team and audit firm personnel.
• Ability to challenge judgements made and quality of work performed by audit teams authoritatively, and to present and discuss issues arising on their merits calmly and professionally.
• Strong written and oral communication skills including report drafting and presenting AQR findings accurately, fairly and convincingly.
• Enthusiasm to work collaboratively with AQR and other FRC colleagues.
• Effective project and time management skills.
• General understanding of the audit regulatory environment in the UK.
• Ability, with coaching, to challenge the quality of firm‑wide policies and procedures at audit firms.

Please apply by following the link on our website  and uploading a single document that includes your CV and covering letter. In the covering letter, reference the person specification above to demonstrate how you meet the required skillset and indicate where you heard about this job.

• Remuneration packages, including 30 days annual leave, ability to buy extra leave.
• Generous employer pension contribution of 10 %.
• Staff Employee Assistance Programme with confidential counselling and work‑life services.
• Opportunity to save at least 25 % on the purchase of a new bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
• Strong work/life balance ethos.

The FRC believes that equality of opportunity and diversity are important in the work we do and is a committed inclusive employer. Our values of fairness and independence support this commitment. Equality monitoring demonstrates and implements our commitment to promoting equality of opportunity and diversity. Completing our diversity form helps identify barriers to employment for certain groups and develop solutions such as action plans, new policies and practices.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Accounting / Auditing – Industry: Accounting