Audit Senior - Public Sector LON

In Audit, you will join a growing team of over 650 relationship driven, curious, problem solvers who add value to their clients on a daily basis. Our Audit Teams provide audit assurance services which are vital to our clients’ business control and credibility. Our expertise range from servicing private, entrepreneurial companies through to UK listed companies, financial services and some of the largest FT Global organizations in the world. By joining a unique integrated structure you will benefit from working in collaborative teams and be given responsibility for delivering robust and independent audit services in a supportive environment. In a rapidly changing business world, we also care about our industry and have long pressed for a debate on audit competition. We believe that companies and their shareholders alike deserve the benefits that increased competition can bring and are committed to playing an active role in shaping its future. Our specialist public services team provides distinctive audit and advisory services across six sectors – local government, central government, health and social care, education, housing and charities. The Public Services team work with: • Any public entity or entity concerned with providing governmental services. • Any government body (local or central), NHS entity, not for profit entity education institution (other than for-profit), charity, housing associations, political company, chamber of commerce RESPONSIBILITIES Planning • Contributing to team planning meetings and taking responsibility for completion of planning files, including documentation and evaluation of material systems. • Performing preliminary analytical review and highlight risk areas for further audit investigation. • In light of the above, you will contribute to the work programme for the assignment tailored to the risks associated with the client. • Drafting the budget and assigning audit areas to team members (where applicable) so as to manage the audit risks and develop the team members. • Assisting with the preparation and delivery of the Audit Strategy Memorandum to the client. • Preparing or supervising the preparation of draft statutory financial statements based on information provided by the client. • Organising, preparing agendas for and, where appropriate, chair team meeting and communicate the strategy to team members. • Ensuring all review points are noted and cleared. Controlling the Assignment • Supervising and directing staff; allocating work to team members based on skill and knowledge, ensuring development objectives are met. • Completing complex areas of the assignment. • Providing on the job training to assistants. • Reviewing work and providing informal feedback throughout the fieldwork stage. Ensuring issues are highlighted and resolved before manager review. • Acting as a point of contact for both manager and client, ensuring both are kept fully informed of any issues arising and the progress of the audit. • Reviewing actual to budgeted time and informing managers of any issues immediately. • Building strong working relationships with clients, ensuring any problems or requests are dealt with promptly. • Communicating with all other departments (e.g. tax, outsourcing etc.) and passing on all relevant information. • Being aware of developments concerning client affairs and any opportunities to provided additional services. Completion • Completing financial statement testing, including completion of disclosure checklist and closedown of audit files. • Ensuring standards and procedures are maintained by the whole team; completing/presenting audit file with cleared review points. • Collate and validate all errors, uncertainties and exceptions. • Drafting the audit opinion summary for review and drafting management letters and any other reporting documents, including group reporting and audit committee papers where required. • Providing constructive feedback for the completion of staff appraisals on the assistants and seniors and 360 degree feedback on managers and partners THE PERSON • Qualified accountant – CIPFA, ACA, ACCA, CA or equivalent (essential) • Holds external audit experience, delivering audit services to the Public Sector (essential) • Demonstrates and applies advanced technical, commercial and Public Sector industry knowledge to the role, identifying issues and solutions • Pro-actively identifies client need and keeps them informed of project status as appropriate • Develops and maintains relationships with internal and external contacts at all levels. • Begins to develop a network of client contacts • Takes ownership of projects, effectively delegates to others within the team and takes responsibility for quality control • Acts as a role model for the team and values others expertise • Provides assistance, shares experiences, provides meaningful feedback and proactively supports the development of others • Willingness to be involved in delivering feedback to the wider team, including presenting group training sessions • Commitment to self-development • Participates in meetings, providing information and ideas with clarity and persuasiveness DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT MAZARS At Mazars diversity and inclusion are central to our values. We recognise that being a diverse and inclusive organisation makes us stronger as a business. We seek to attract and recruit people who reflect the diverse nature of our clients and communities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, faith or belief, social background, age and disability. Mazars selects candidates based on skills, qualifications and experience. We are open to having conversations about flexible working. Our client-facing professionals can often be required to travel regularly or may be based at client sites, but our approach to agile working can help achieve a lifestyle balance without compromising on client service. We welcome applications from those returning to employment after a break from their careers. WE OPEN DOORS Mazars is an international, integrated and independent firm, specialising in audit, accountancy, advisory and tax services. Being part of the Mazars team means being part of something big Operating in 89 countries around the world, the opportunities to build and develop your career are infinite. Whether that’s gaining exposure to different types of clients, learning