Manager - Compliance and Audit Quality Monitoring at Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)

Job Summary:

• Reporting to the Director – Regulation, Licensing and Compliance, the candidate will be responsible for the overall leadership, supervision, and coordination of the Audit Quality Monitoring and Assurance (AQA), and compliance and investigations functions. These include overseeing the planning and execution of audit quality reviews, ensuring compliance with international standards and relevant laws and regulations, and driving its strategic planning and implementation agenda.
• This role is critical in ensuring that audit practitioners and firms maintain the highest standards of quality, ethics, and compliance in line with the requirements of the Institute and international best practices.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities (Duties)

• Lead the development and implementation of the Audit Quality Assurance (AQA) framework, tools, and methodologies in line with ISAs, ISQMs, and the IESBA Code of Ethics (including Independence Standards).
• Supervise and provide technical guidance to the audit review team in conducting firms’ and practitioners audit quality reviews and follow-up actions.
• Oversee and monitor compliance by members and firms with audit standards, professional codes, and regulatory requirements including adherence to licensing obligations.
• Prepare reports with insights, risks, trends, and strategic recommendations to the
• Registration and Quality Assurance Committee.
• Facilitate capacity building, workshops, and awareness campaigns on audit quality and ethics for members and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the investigations and enforcement teams to address violations and remedial actions.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the department’s strategic and operational plans in alignment with the Institute’s strategic objectives and also track performance against targets and provide periodic reports and dashboards to senior leadership.
• Continuously review and recommend improvements to departmental policies and processes to align with emerging trends and best practices.
• Ensure continuous improvement and automation of the compliance function forenhanced efficiency.

Person Specifications:

• Be a citizen of Kenya.
• Meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution.
• Possess a Bachelor of Commerce degree or any other business-related degree from a recognized University, a Post-Graduate qualification will be an added advantage.
• Professional qualifications: CPA or equivalent qualifications and a member of ICPAK in good standing.
• Minimum relevant work experience of at least six (years in internal and/or external audit work in a reputable organization. Audit experience with the big andmedium-tier audit firms is a distinct advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in Audit Quality Reviews, Investigations and Compliance
• Checks is a must.
• Certification in Forensics and Investigations such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) is a distinct advantage.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• The following key attributes will be required:
• Knowledge
• Should be knowledgeable on all the subsets of the Accountancy profession including
• pertinent emerging issues within the profession and other related areas.
• Must possess an excellent knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards,
• International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs), Sustainability Reporting
• Standards, International Auditing Standards (IASs) and other professional standards
• Knowledge and demonstratable experience in AQA and Compliance Checks and
• Investigations is a must.

Skills and Abilities

• Good communication and negotiation skills with the ability to present and convey complex ideas clearly.
• Be a self-driven team player.
• Be of high moral character, integrity. and impartiality.
• Proven high degree of professional competence.
• Be a results-oriented leader.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to effectively multitask and handle multiple concurrent assignments.