Quality Assurance Manager

About Chartered Accountants Ireland

Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accountancy body, representing over 39,000 members in over 100 countries and educating 6,600 students. Its members provide leadership across both the public and private sector, bringing experience, trusted expertise, and strict standards to all aspects of their work. As the largest professional body on the island of Ireland, Chartered Accountants Ireland engages with several stakeholders including governments, policy makers, regulators, and business groups on key issues affecting the profession and the wider economy. Chartered Accountants Ireland supports members at every stage of their career from education to qualification to continuing professional development. 

Department Overview

The Professional Standards Department (PSD) of Chartered Accountants Ireland, along with the relevant compliance and disciplinary committees is responsible for the delivery of the Institute’s regulation and disciplinary obligations which derive both from statute in Ireland and the UK and its own Bye-Laws & Regulations.  In this regard, the Institute is subject to oversight by a range of State agencies in both jurisdictions, including the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA) and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).

The core functions performed by PSD relate to registration/authorisation of members and firms, firm monitoring, CPD review, and enforcement (investigation and complaints).

The Role

The Institute is seeking applications from suitably experienced individuals to assume the role of Quality Assurance Manager.  The successful candidate will be responsible for the functions and operation of the regulatory committees namely, the Quality Assurance Committee, the Quality Assurance Review Committee and the Quality Assurance Appeal Committee.

Key responsibilities

The specific functions of this role will include:

Acting as Secretary to the Quality Assurance Committee, including:

·       Preparing the Committee agendas;

·       Presenting the agenda cases to the Committee;

·       Ensuring the implementation of Committee decisions; and

·       Providing expert advice and support to the Committee.

Managing the conduct of the Quality Assurance Review and Appeal Committee functions, which may include:

·       Preparing the case papers;

·       Presenting cases to the Quality Assurance Review Committee/Quality Assurance Appeal Committee;

·       Liaising with Professional Standards’ legal advisers; and

·       Ensuring the implementation of Committee decisions.

Additional responsibilities

·       Maintenance of regulatory committee processes and procedures to comply with regulatory requirements.

·       Dealing with enquiries and queries from members and firms relating to the regulatory committee processes.

·       Reviewing compliance reviews submitted by firms.

·       Facilitating external oversight inspections in relation to regulatory committee processes.

·       People management responsibilities for a small team including talent development, performance management and employee relations.

·       Approval of individual and firm applications relating to public practice and the provision of regulated services (including statutory audit and investment business).

·       The Institute is currently in the implementation stage of its next strategy.  While the core functions of this role will remain, flexibility around its positioning and detailed responsibilities will be required.

·       Policies: implement Chartered Accountants Ireland policies, standards and initiatives locally including but not exclusively in relation to Performance management, relevant codes of conduct, Data protection, IT policies, etc.

·       Health, Safety and Welfare:  the manager is responsible to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their team and ensure that team members adhere to relevant policies in this area.

Required competencies

·       The successful candidate will be a qualified professional with membership of a recognised accountancy body, legal professional body, or other relevant supervisory body with a minimum of five years post qualification experience.

·       Experience working in practice, including experience in statutory audit at a managerial level, or in a regulatory, legal or compliance role would be an advantage.

·       The successful candidate will have excellent organisational, writing, and presentation skills, with close attention to detail. 

Personal profile:

·       Highly motivated with the consistent ability to meet or exceed goals by working in a collaborative manner with their team and peers.

·       An interest in digital tools and ongoing development improvements to enhance member/firm experience would be desirable.

·       Ability to quickly build rapport and develop effective working relationships with others.

·       Ability to multi-task, delegate and adapt to changing contexts and priorities of PSD.

·       Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to identify relevant data to use in planning and decision making.

·       Ability to understand, adapt to and interact with diverse people, teams, perspectives and cultures.

·       Proficient in using email, Internet, and other Microsoft Office applications with the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies.

Flexible work arrangements

The Institute is seeking and encourages applications from experienced candidates who may be looking for flexible work arrangements. If such arrangements are being sought please bring these to the attention of your interviewer.

The Institute will use the information which you have provided in this form to respond to your request or process your application and will hold and protect it in accordance with the Institute's privacy statement, which explains your rights in relation to your personal data.  By submitting this application acknowledge you have read our privacy statement.

Chartered Accountants Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.