Institutional Donor Grant Audit Associate – Graduate – January 2027 – London

The role

This role is for graduates who want to work for a huge variety of international clients; who want to see and understand more about the world and our role in it; and who want to learn invaluable skills and gain a qualification doing it.

The graduate trainee programme will provide you with an opportunity to learn everything about our sector and our clients, get on-site experience within your first few months in the job, and achieve the internationally recognised ACA qualification. You’ll start as an assistant, working with a senior on expense verifications, internal control reviews, and financial audits. We’ll teach you how to plan assignments, assess risks and manage logistical challenges. You will soon lead teams yourself and work with our team of PKF auditors all over the world, and write detailed, comprehensive reports.

The travel can take you anywhere in the world, for 1-2 weeks at a time. This is slightly more limited in your first year due to training and exams, but in the final two years of your qualification you can expect to be on the road 40-60% of the time. The people who join our team tend to have a love of travel and exploring new places; they are independent, resilient and adaptable.

Responsibilities

• To develop a knowledge of accounting and auditing techniques and pass the professional examinations first time
• Undertake audit work as allocated by the assignment leader/manager
• Be prepared to travel as needed to client sites in locations all over the globe, security and risk assessments permitting
• Keep the assignment leader informed about progress at daily meetings when on site
• Take on board feedback from assignment leaders and managers
• Ensure attendance at briefing meetings and understand the assignment plan
• Complete the work assigned efficiently and to a high quality
• Adopt high professional standards with a business-like approach to work
• Develop an understanding and application of current accounting and auditing standards a necessary
• Develop an understanding of applicable grant framework and concepts, such as eligibility criteria and what constitutes a finding
• Be aware of Institute, Financial Reporting Council and internal ethical guidelines
• Advise clients on technical matters and craft reasonable appropriate recommendations for systems improvements
• Accept responsibility for all work performed
• Engage with a wide range of institutional donors and their beneficiaries
• Contribute to the growth and success of the division

Person Specification

• Minimum of a 2.2 degree, attained or expected.
• Minimum of 112 UCAS points (2017 tariff), from three A Levels A-C (excluding general studies), or equivalent.
• Minimum of GCSEs Grade 6 in Maths and English Language.
• A keen interest in and empathy with the Not for Profit sector; an understanding of geopolitics and international aid.
• Proficiency (B2 level minimum) in either French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic in addition to English is essential; further languages are considered a bonus.

Personal Attributes

• Commercially aware;
• Geopolitically aware;
• An interest in travel and learning about other cultures;
• Team player;
• Good communication skills;
• Report writing skills;
• Flexibility;
• Strong organisational skills;
• Systematic;
• Enthusiastic;
• Able to work on own initiative;
• Good attention to detail;
• Able to prioritise workload;
• Works to deadlines;
• Able to provide solutions;
• Committed;
• Takes ownership of tasks assigned;
• Persuasive;
• Diplomatic;
• Resilient;