Audit Manager - Manchester / Hybrid - £65,000 - #2154601

Audit Manager - Hybrid/ Manchester - £65,000

The Opportunity

Join a growing, award-winning professional services business with an ambitious mid-market client base and a genuinely collaborative culture. With expertise spanning Audit, Accounting, Tax and Advisory, the organisation combines technical excellence with a commercial, relationship-led approach.

As the business continues to grow, this is an opportunity for an experienced Audit Manager to play a visible role in delivering high-quality work, developing people and building strong client relationships within a forward-thinking environment.

What are you going to be doing?

Reporting to the Audit Senior Manager and Responsible Individual (RI), the Audit Manager is responsible for the effective leadership, delivery, and management of a portfolio of audit clients. The role requires not only strong technical competence, but also leadership maturity, professional judgement, collaboration, and the ability to provide stability and clarity to teams and clients during periods of change or pressure.

The Audit Manager is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, professionalism, and accountability, acting as a role model for the firm’s values, behaviours, and leadership standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Portfolio and Technical Delivery
• Manage a portfolio of audit clients with fees of up to £500k per annum, ensuring all assignments are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required technical and quality standards.
• Ensure audit files are prepared in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and are of an appropriate standard for Senior Manager and RI review.
• Take full responsibility for the operational management of audit engagements, including planning, execution, review, and completion.
• Manage budgets and fee targets on individual assignments, identifying and addressing issues proactively.
• Monitor WIP, billing and recoverability to support effective cash collection and portfolio performance

Client Relationship Management

Act as the primary point of contact for audit clients within the office, building and maintaining strong professional relationships.

Manage client stakeholders effectively, ensuring clients are kept informed of progress, issues, and deliverables throughout the audit process.

Proactively identify opportunities to add value to clients and to cross-sell other firm services where appropriate.

Leadership, Behaviour and Professional Conduct

• Act as a visible and reliable leader within the audit team, providing stability, clarity, and professionalism at all times.
• Maintain appropriate professional conduct and judgement, particularly during periods of challenge, feedback, or organisational change.
• Respond constructively to feedback, demonstrating resilience, self-awareness, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Support and align with firm leadership decisions, raising concerns through appropriate channels.
• Actively promote a culture of trust and respect.
• Team Leadership and Collaboration
• Lead audit teams in a collaborative manner, ensuring colleagues at all levels are appropriately involved, informed, and empowered.
• Delegate work effectively, providing clarity of responsibility and ownership, and avoiding unnecessary centralisation of control.
• Work constructively with peers at manager level, sharing responsibility and supporting collective team performance.
• Develop, retain, and motivate junior members of staff, acting as a role model for expected behaviours and standards.
• Hold regular development and feedback meetings with direct reports to support progression and performance.

Accountability and Presence

Maintain a consistent and reliable presence to support team delivery, client service, and staff development.

Ensure that any team absence is planned, communicated appropriately, and managed in a way that does not compromise team or client outcomes.

Take ownership of team and client issues rather than disengaging during periods of pressure or challenge.

Communication and Escalation

Proactively update the Audit Senior Manager and RI on the status of the audit portfolio, emerging risks, and key issues.

Exercise sound judgement regarding escalation, ensuring issues are raised promptly and through agreed channels.

Communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues and clients at all levels, maintaining consistency of messaging.

Compliance and Quality

Ensure appropriate onboarding and offboarding of clients within the portfolio, in line with ISQM 1, AML, and firm policies.

Review work completed by junior team members and resolve issues prior to Senior Manager or RI review.

Assist the Audit Senior Manager with departmental training and CPD initiatives to support high-quality audit delivery.

Business Development and Firm Contribution

Support the Senior Manager and partners in business development activities, including tender preparation and client pitches.

Attend interviews as required to assist in the recruitment and attraction of talent to the audit department.

Promote the firm’s services and values internally and externally.

Experience

Proven experience of working in a professional practice environment at Audit Manager level.

Demonstrable experience of managing an audit portfolio and maintaining strong client relationships.

Strong technical knowledge of auditing standards and regulatory requirements.

Technical skills

Strong technical knowledge of auditing standards and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

ACA / ACCA qualified (or equivalent) with a minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience and at least 7 years’ experience in audit.