Assistant Manager

Overview of Firm

PKF Littlejohn is one of the leading challenger firms in the UK with offices in London, Leeds and Manchester. We are also an active member of PKF Global, an international network of legally independent accounting firms that gives us an on the ground presence in 150 countries around the world with access to more than 20,000 people across 440 offices globally.

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The Not for Profit (NFP) team has an impressive pool of knowledge and experience to share and from which to learn. The team is led by partners with extensive experience in the sector; not only of auditing and advising large, high profile NFP entities but some have also seen things from the client’s side where they have run and assisted in the governance of global international charities.

NFP organisations are distinguished by the fact that they exist for a social purpose, rather than by what they do day to day. This means the NFP world encompasses everything from radical campaigning organisations to big businesses with a public benefit remit. This is an exciting time for anyone with an interest in the sector to be joining our NFP team and in return for your enthusiasm to develop and learn we can offer you the opportunity to build a rewarding career.

Our team is one of the largest providers of EC grant assurance work, through which we work with some of the largest scientific research organisations, internationally recognised charities and humanitarian organisations. You will be a member of the Audit co-ordination management group (ACMG), who are collectively responsible for co-ordinating audits for our EC clients. The contracts include Horizon Europe and humanitarian aid projects, which have highly technical eligibility requirements.

This will include providing the training, technical tools, guidance and practical assistance to ensure all audit teams produce high quality audit reports within the required timetable. A key feature of the role will be undertaking detailed quality reviews of audit reports prepared by audit teams.

The role will also provide some opportunity for involvement in these EC grant assurance assignments, which can include global travel opportunities.

• Supervise and supporting our audit and admin teams to ensure that audits are on budget and on schedule;
• Be a key point of contact with our EC clients to discuss technical and quality issues; and
• Attend monthly meetings with our clients to discuss in detail the assignments in progress.

• Ensure the audit work has been conducted in accordance with professional standards and in compliance with our own procedures;
• Ensure the audit work has met the terms of reference of the specific contract, that the methodology has been followed and that the audit has been conducted in accordance with the detailed audit plan;
• Ensure the audit findings and opinion are supported by sufficient, relevant and reliable audit evidence and that any recommendations made are well founded; and
• Ensure the assignment report is of a consistently high standard; has a clear and concise narrative; is cross-referenced to the evidence; and is arithmetically accurate.

• Be part of the team drafting and updating technical tools such as report templates, working papers and checklists;
• Provide technical support to the audit teams, liaising with other members of the ACMG and our EC clients where necessary;
• Identify training needs, both general ad individual specific, based on your quality reviews; and
• Assist in preparing and delivering training to the audit teams.

• A passion for the Not for Profit sector and in developing wider knowledge of the issues affecting our clients.
• Accountancy training - audit based.
• ACCA or ACA, or equivalent, qualified.
• Proven skills in external audit.
• Proven skills in audit planning, fieldwork and file completion.
• Proven skills in supervising and managing staff.
• Enthusiasm to assist with departmental responsibilities beyond the audits, for example business development activities or training of juniors.