Career opportunities: Spotlight on senior audit manager role

From time to time we share details on our teams and the individual roles they have available. We try to ask the typical questions that candidates might have, so they can get a better understanding of the opportunities available. 

A newly created role of Senior Audit Manager has arisen on Roseanna O’Hanlon, Audit Partner’s team and we got the chance to ask her about it. 

Tell us a little about the portfolio? 
The portfolio that I work on is large. We have clients that are small owner-managed businesses, not-for-profits, large multinationals, professional services, hospitality, regulated entities and many more. We carry out a range of different work, including statutory audits, internal audits, financial consulting assignments, outsourcing, management accounting and other ad hoc assignments from time to time. I don’t audit any PIEs or do much financial services work. As you can imagine, it takes a good team to manage all of this, and I am lucky to have a great team made up of trainees, qualified accountants and managers. The team work hard but enjoy the diversity of both the type of engagements we do and the sectors that we deal with. They find that this variety keeps their work interesting – no one could ever be bored with repetition, that is for sure. 

As you can imagine, it takes a good team to manage all of this, and I am lucky to have a great team made up of trainees, qualified accountants and managers. 

You mentioned hard work, is that a code word for working long hours? 
Yes and no. None of us want to work long hours, but there are always going to be occasions where something needs to be done in a hurry. Perhaps a delay may have arisen during a particular assignment for some reason, or a client might have an urgent request. However, I do try to plan ahead as best as possible, and I plan my time and the team’s time so that last-minute hiccups don’t happen too often. So the answer is that my aim is to not have to work long hours and we can all log off on time. 

What is your future plan for the portfolio and the team? 
Like all partners, I am ambitious, and I have an ambitious team. The future plan is to continue to grow the portfolio which will ultimately mean growth and career development for team members. This is why the new role of Senior Audit Manager has arisen. The new role will sit nicely with the team and the current managers. 

What will the new role look like? 
The new role will be filled by someone who has significant practice experience. They will be technically strong, be able to manage a large portfolio to a high standard, be experienced in leading an audit team while also having some experience in business development. It’s a big role and would suit an ambitious person looking to develop their career in practice.

What is the team like that the person will work with?
They will work directly with me. I am hands-on, which by the way is not code for micro-management, and I like to keep involved with the team and the clients. We have always had a hands-on approach at Crowe, and it has always been something that I think helps our team members to develop. I also appreciated the direct partner interactions that I had when I was training with Crowe, and as a partner now I like seeing the team’s knowledge and experience grow. 

We have always had a hands-on approach at Crowe, and it has always been something that I think helps our team members to develop. 

The team itself is a strong team. We don’t have any vacancies right now apart from the new Senior Manager role, so the person who joins us will come into a team that is supported and performing well. I know candidates often ask what they are coming into and in my mind this candidate is coming into a strong high-performing team that will continue to grow and expand both on the client and team sides. 

What does the perfect candidate look like?
Experienced, technical, ambitious, forward-looking. 

How will you know you have found the perfect candidate?
When the team is running smoothly with deadlines being met, assignments continue to be completed like clockwork, all while the team continues to grow and develop. 

What lies ahead for this candidate once they have settled in?
On a successful team there is always room for the next stage in the candidate’s career. We have a clearly defined career path for all staff, which goes right up to partner level for those who want it. I trained with the firm myself and I was always ambitious. I moved up through the ranks and became a partner, as a number of other partners in the firm have done. The firm itself also has ambitious growth plans and for someone who is ambitious and works hard, they will progress alongside the firm. 

The firm itself also has ambitious growth plans and for someone who is ambitious and works hard, they will progress alongside the firm. 

How does someone apply, and are there any hints or tips for applying? 
If anyone who is interested can send their CV to [email protected], we can take it from there. We ask that CVs only go to one location so that we can review all applications easily. 

The next step will be an interview, followed by a PPA (Personality Profile Assessment) and a second interview. At the second interview stage I would like to ask candidates to prepare a business plan for the team in the first 6, 12, 18 months so that I can see how the person views the future for the team and the portfolio. 

The interviews will be with myself, HR and another partner. I would also introduce other managers on the team at the later stages of the process. I am looking for someone who will fit into the team and work with us for the longer term and want the fit to be one that is best for them, myself and the team. 

Find out more about the great opportunities at Crowe, visit the careers page of our website.