Independence Audit Leader

Job Title: Senior Leader

About the Role:

We are seeking a Senior Leader to join our team, responsible for leading personal independence audits and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage periodic audits of personal independence compliance for professionals across the organization.
• Define audit objectives, timelines, and scope based on risk assessments and regulatory priorities.
• Identify representative samples of professionals for audit, ensuring coverage across service lines and geographies.
• Examine financial disclosures, brokerage statements, and independence affirmations to validate compliance.
• Support and enhance protocols for escalating unresolved independence concerns or potential violations.
• Prepare detailed audit reports summarizing findings, observations, and recommendations for remediation.
• Monitor and follow up on corrective actions to ensure timely resolution of identified issues.

• Oversee the independence review process for onboarding new assurance clients to ensure completeness and accuracy of independence documentation.
• Evaluate submitted materials to confirm the completeness and accuracy of client records, such as affiliates.
• Supplement the submitted materials with independent research to validate the completeness and accuracy of the client records.
• Provide guidance to engagement teams on complex or nuanced independence considerations.
• Maintain consistency in review procedures and contribute to the development of best practices.

• Support and enhance the conflicts check process, particularly in the context of M&A due diligence and target firm evaluations.
• Conduct thorough reviews of existing client relationships, services, and affiliations to identify potential conflicts.
• Evaluate independence risks associated with proposed transactions or new engagements.
• Maintain detailed records of conflict assessments and resolutions, ensuring transparency and auditability.
• Support other independence-related conflict check procedures as a component of client acceptance.

• Assist engagement teams and professional employees in evaluating and documenting the rationale and conclusions reached on a variety of independence matters.
• Consistently leverage a consultancy mindset when researching independence matters, leveraging problem-solving expertise, and developing effective solutions for independence matters.

• Drive process initiatives, including proposing suggestions and solutions for improvements to processes; establishing and implementing project plans with goals and measures.
• Evaluate and assist with the implementation of technology solutions.
• Train and develop staff on matters pertaining to independence requirements.
• Participate in and/or leading special projects.
• Develop and deliver firm-wide training programs on independence requirements to ensure that professionals across the organization understand and adhere to applicable independence standards.
• Monitor regulatory updates and current events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting required; MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• Active CPA license preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in public accounting, preferably with substantive exposure to a variety of independence considerations in professional practice.
• Prior people management experience, including leading and mentoring teams.
• Solid understanding of the professional services industry.
• Proven ability to manage independence matters in complex organizational structures; prior APS experience preferred.
• Demonstrates extensive knowledge and proven success performing functions that involve the application of independence rules established by the AICPA, SEC, PCAOB, and other regulators.
• Significant level of independent judgment and discretion in identifying independence risks and applying the relevant independence rules and regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with internal stakeholders (partners, client-facing professionals) and external stakeholders (regulatory bodies, other stakeholders), ensuring transparency and clarity on independence issues.
• Skilled in assessing potential risks to independence and developing appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in responding to regulatory changes and business needs, ensuring that our organization stays ahead in managing independence risks.
• Strong research, analytical, project management, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate and resolve conflicts regarding independence.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and navigate a dynamic, fast-paced environment.