ISQM1 Testing Manager

at  BDO

IDEAS | PEOPLE | TRUST

We’re BDO. An accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today’s changing world.
We work with the companies that are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high‑growth businesses that fuel the economy – and directly advise the owners and management teams leading them.

OVERVIEW

BDO continues to work on the enhancement of its system of quality management (SOQM) to support its desire to improve and sustain audit quality and drive a consistent quality standard across all areas of assurance work.
The SOQM is part of compliance with the International Standard of Quality Management (UK) 1 (ISQM1) which was implemented as at 15 December 2022 and was evaluated for the first time during 2023. ISQM1 requires audit firms, including BDO LLP, to design and implement a system of quality management to ensure that the Firm and our personnel fulfil responsibilities in accordance with professional standards and other requirements and that reports issued are appropriate in the circumstances. ISQM1 also requires ongoing monitoring and an annual evaluation of the system of quality management under a reasonable assurance framework.
The BDO ISQM1 team is responsible for supporting the SOQM in collaboration with the business owners in the firm, this includes undertaking risk assessments, control design and testing and evaluating inputs from across the firm to conclude on the annual evaluation of the SOQM.
BDO is looking for an experienced and proactive Testing Manager to join our ISQM team. This role is crucial in ensuring the quality and integrity of our system of quality management processes and controls. You will be responsible for a range of activities including supporting process and control design, collaborating with business stakeholders to review quality risks, perform and conclude on the effectiveness of process walkthroughs and complete operational effectiveness testing.
The Testing Manager will work closely with their dedicated ISQM Business Process Lead responsible for the achievement of the allocated Quality Objectives within their respective component area. The successful candidate will manage stakeholder relations in a collaborative manner whilst also providing subject matter expertise during testing.

REQUIREMENTS

• Proven experience in process and control testing within ISQM or a related field such as Internal Audit or SOX.
• Strong understanding of quality management principles and standards, including updates to standards and how they impact the system of quality management.
• Ability to demonstrate problem-solving skills as part of your current or previous role.
• Delivery focused with an ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. This includes being able to report on delays or blockers to the achievement of targets and the ability to develop plans to address issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Both with internal team members and the wider business stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Experience building relationships with stakeholders and collaborating to achieve the assigned objectives.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ever-changing, rapid-growth environment with multiple projects and tasks.
• Confidence to articulate complex issues clearly and credibly to a range of stakeholders including leadership.
• Strong networking skills and the ability to build relationships across the firm, developing strong rapport with key stakeholders to gain the confidence of Partners and other senior staff.
• Experience of working in a large professional services firm and an understanding of the regulatory environment is desirable.
• Prior experience leading and delivering continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality processes and controls including the ability to manage complex projects and meet deadlines.
• Prior experience working in an Audit, Ethics Team or knowledge of the Ethical Standards and wider aspects of the Relevant Ethical Requirements ISQM Component would be advantageous.
• Professional qualification in a relevant field (e.g., ACA, ACCA) is preferred.

• Schedule, plan and execute walkthrough testing of ISQM processes and controls.
• Conclude on process and control effectiveness and detail findings and actions to address any ineffective controls identified.
• Identify and report on areas of non-compliance and the associated impact to risks and the overall achievement of the quality objectives.
• Develop, agree and implement corrective action plans with business stakeholders.
• Manage and support a small team of share service resource.
• Prepare detailed reports on testing outcomes and present findings to the control owners, process owners and objective owners as required (this may include members of the firm’s leadership team).
• Provide subject matter expertise to enhance current processes and controls as part of the ongoing maturing of the quality framework.