Audit Manager

Audit Manager

UK Audit Firm | Hybrid from Johannesburg

At GCO Partners, we connect exceptional professionals from Africa with meaningful global opportunities, without requiring them to relocate. Our professionals work as embedded members of international teams, delivering high-quality work, building strong careers, and contributing to firms that value excellence, trust, and collaboration. GCO's messaging to talent emphasizes global opportunity, people-first support, and career progression without migration, including hybrid roles based in South Africa.

We are looking for an Audit Manager to join a growing UK audit team. In this role, you will lead a portfolio of statutory audit engagements from planning through to completion, manage and develop audit teams, and act as a trusted point of contact for clients and senior stakeholders.

This is an opportunity for an experienced audit professional who enjoys leading people, driving quality, and delivering strong outcomes in a hybrid, digitally enabled working environment.

The Opportunity

As an Audit Manager, you will take ownership of a portfolio of audit clients, ensuring engagements are delivered to a high technical standard, within budget and timelines, and in line with UK regulatory and firm requirements.

You will play a key role in balancing delivery excellence with people leadership by reviewing work, supporting the development of junior team members, and helping to build a collaborative, high-performing culture across borders.

What You'll Be Doing

• Manage a portfolio of statutory audit engagements from planning through to completion
• Lead audit engagements in line with ISA (UK), firm methodology, and relevant regulatory requirements
• Oversee audit teams across engagements, setting direction, monitoring progress, and ensuring high-quality delivery throughout the audit lifecycle
• Review audit files, workpapers, and deliverables to ensure technical accuracy, appropriate documentation, and sound professional judgement
• Identify and assess key audit risks, material issues, and areas requiring challenge or escalation
• Escalate significant technical, judgement, and risk matters to the Partner or Responsible Individual where appropriate
• Act as a key point of contact for clients, maintaining strong working relationships and ensuring clear, professional communication throughout the engagement
• Manage engagement budgets, timelines, and resource allocation to support efficient delivery and commercial discipline
• Oversee completion processes, including clearance of review points, finalisation of audit files, and support for timely reporting
• Coach, mentor, and develop junior team members through structured review, feedback, and day-to-day leadership
• Work closely with senior leadership and specialist teams to support audit quality, resolve issues, and deliver a seamless client experience
• Use digital audit tools and hybrid collaboration practices to lead effective audits in a modern working environment
• Contribute to continuous improvement in audit quality, team capability, and ways of working

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a qualified accountant with strong recent external audit experience in a professional practice environment, and the confidence to lead engagements, support people, and build credibility with clients.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• ACA, ACCA, CA(SA), or equivalent professional qualification
• At least 2 to 3 years at Audit Manager level
• Strong recent experience in external audit within an accountancy or audit practice
• Proven experience managing audits from planning through to completion
• Strong technical knowledge of ISA (UK), audit methodology, and financial reporting frameworks including UK GAAP and IFRS
• Experience reviewing work, managing audit quality, and applying professional scepticism and sound judgement
• Confidence managing teams, delegating effectively, and developing junior colleagues
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with clients, senior stakeholders, and distributed teams
• Good organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• A proactive, ownership-led approach and commitment to high standards of client service
• Confidence using Excel, Word, and modern audit or workflow tools in a hybrid environment

Why Join GCO Partners

• Global work, no relocation: Build your career with an international audit firm while working in a hybrid model from Johannesburg
• Meaningful leadership exposure: Lead important client engagements and contribute to high-quality audit delivery across borders
• People-first support: Join a team that values your growth, wellbeing, and long-term success
• Career progression without compromise: Access international experience and leadership responsibility while staying rooted locally
• Embedded global teamwork: Work as a trusted part of the client team, with the support and community of GCO behind you

At GCO Partners, we do more than place talent. We build careers, communities, and opportunities for exceptional professionals to do impactful work on a global stage. If you are an experienced Audit Manager looking for a role where you can lead, grow, and contribute meaningfully, we would love to hear from you. GCO's talent messaging specifically emphasizes meaningful work, people-first support, visible and valued talent, and hybrid flexibility rooted in local careers with global impact.