Independence Manager - JHB at Ernst & Young Global Limited (EY)

Responsibilities

Technical Role responsibilities

• Provide ad-hoc support to teams on informal queries relating to independence matters including Section 90 in South Africa and other local independence rules.
• Provide support to the consultation process as a Subject Matter Resource (SMR). An SMR works with client serving teams and our professional to ensure the consultations they submit to an Approver are complete in fact pattern, appropriately researched, well documented and have a conclusion that you as SMR would concur with.
• Assisting partners and managers with the application of complex risk management policies and procedures to resolve / manage arising risk matters through applying an understanding of our global and local policies.
• Responsible for supporting the Country Independence Leader and Regional Independence leader on all arising and urgent technical matters.
• Develop expertise in certain independence technical matters (personal independence, business relationships, and assessing independence for our different services to clients)).
• Manage independence technical projects from inception to completion through appropriate project management of self and other technical resources (if required).
• Assist with the development of technical material including:
• Communications to the business as reminders or as educational / informative pieces.
• Training material for in person and teams or pre-recorded WBL based training;
• Enablers, forms and template, guidance, and communications;
• Policy updates.
• Assist partners in responding to internal and external quality inspection findings and follow approval protocol for external inspection response submission.
• Assist partners and client serving teams with root cause analysis process following external and internal inspection findings. (This process is run by Assurance Professional Practice for which independence provides technical input)
• Present in-person and Teams based training as required.
• Train and coach peers, assistant managers in Independence and in Service Line Quality roles on technical matters through day to day interactions and reviews of work products. Similarly assist with developing of offshore support personnel dedicated to independence.
• Build strong internal relationships within service lines and across support teams
• Enhance EY’s brand positioning through strong external relationships across a network of external relationships through involvement on SAICA and IRBA committees as appropriate.

People Responsibilities

• Be recognized as a respected and supportive mentor, coach and counsellor, building career value for individuals
• Build and develop an inclusive culture and high-performing diverse teams
• Conduct performance reviews and contribute to performance feedback for all levels of staff
• Contribute to people initiatives including recruiting, retaining and training Assurance professionals
• Contribute to the maintenance of an educational program to continually develop personal skills
• Understand, follow and communicate workplace policies and procedures to all levels of staff
• Develop personal profile and awareness of EY offerings in the marketplace
• Build strong and long term relationships with key partners and ADs
• Act as an ambassador of EY in the market, with regulators and with clients

Qualifications and Experience

• CA(SA) is advantageous but not required
• Thorough knowledge of the IESBA code is highly advantageous but not required – demonstrated ability to analyse rules and apply them is however a required skillset.
• Experience of providing support to professionals on technical matters in a coaching and proactive manner
• Ability to critically review a fact pattern, make enquiries, research and apply to the code to determine reasonable outcomes. (Roles which evidence this skillset will be required)
• Understanding of Quality & Risk Management procedures
• Compliance with regulatory requirements
• 2 – 3 years post articles experience in an auditing or similar professional environment.
• Advantageous to have been in a part time or full time independence technical role in an audit firm.