Ethics Assistant Manager

Succeed by shaping what matters

We’re BDO, one of the UK’s largest accountancy and business advisory organisations, helping ambitious businesses, their owners and management teams navigate a changing world.

With circa 8,500 people across the UK and Ireland, backed by a global network spanning 169 countries, there’s lots of knowledge, experience and different thinking to draw on here. But what matters is what you bring to it; your ideas, perspectives - the things you care about getting right.

So, here’s where you come in:

The team you’ll join

Our Quality and Risk Management Team (QRM) helps people across BDO manage quality and risk effectively. We’re a multidisciplinary team covering Advisory and Compliance, Chief Information Security Office, Commercial Contracts and Procurement, Economic Crime, Legal and Quality Monitoring and Improvement.

You’ll work with colleagues, partners and leadership teams across BDO, bringing different perspectives together to tackle important challenges. You’ll have the trust to contribute your expertise and the opportunity to see the difference your work makes across the organisation.

The role you’ll have

Working in the Ethics Team within the firm’s Quality & Risk Management Department, the candidate will provide support on ethical and independence matters to the firm’s partners and staff members ensuring that the firm operates within a sound ethical environment, is up-to-date and protected in the areas of audit independence and on other ethical matters.  The candidate will report to a Senior Manager and will work closely with several different teams across the firm. The Ethics Team are largely based in the firm’s London Office.

The role would suit an individual who has previously worked in a role applying ethical standards or a similar regulatory framework, or a qualified accountant who has worked in audit. Previous knowledge of UK and/or Global independence regulations, specifically on personal independence, would be beneficial.   The candidate should enjoy carrying out detailed analysis of laws and regulations with an ability to then apply the relevant information in varied practical and complex situations.  The role involves significant interaction with the firm’s partners and senior manager group and therefore the successful candidate will also have the ability to explain the issues identified to a wide range of individuals, including those at a senior level, within a professional environment.

- Responding to ethical and independence queries and consultations from partners and members of staff from across the firm where they relate to personal independence. This involves regular contact with senior members of the firm and resolving their queries accurately, seeking further guidance where necessary.

- Supporting the Ethics Partner, Ethics Deputy Partner and Ethics Senior Manager in the design and implementation of systems and controls, ISQM1 requirements, and in delivering the overall ethics function’s strategy.

- Assisting more junior members of the team in co-ordinating projects and in responding to queries.

- Providing team oversight and guidance and management reporting / escalation.

- Maintaining and updating the firm’s ethical and independence guidance and policies.

- Developing learning materials on ethical matters and carrying out training.

- Enhancing the firm’s ways of working, bringing ideas and solutions to the Ethics Team using automation or AI.

- Writing articles and other materials on ethical matters for internal and external communications.

- Delivering training sessions internally across all streams.

You’ll be someone with

- Relevant experience in a similar position applying ethical standards or a similar regulatory framework. Or qualified accountant with experience of audit.

- An awareness of the ICAEW Code of Ethics and the Financial Reporting Council’s Ethical Standard for auditors would be beneficial.

- Understanding of risk management principles and how to apply these in practice.

- Strong communication skills – both written and oral – with the ability to communicate confidently and professionally with people at all levels.

- Works effectively within a team, seeks and provides coaching where appropriate and communicates progress effectively.

- A self-starter with strong project management skills and ability to work well under pressure.

- Strong analytical, consultative, decision making and organisational skills.

- Good interpersonal skills with ability to create productive relationships across the firm and network and to influence other senior professionals.

- A conscientious and thorough approach with strong attention to detail. Takes pride in delivering accurate and high-quality work.

- Takes personal responsibility and accountability for own work and can deliver a range of projects and tasks through to completion.

- An ability to develop further knowledge of the rules, policies and procedures.

- Highly motivated with a desire to seek new ways / approaches to improve the firm’s service to internal clients.

- High level of professional standards including integrity and professional behaviour.

You’ll have people around you to learn from, ask questions and share thoughts with, alongside learning programmes to enhance your skillset and digital platforms to ease your work. All of this helps you succeed in achieving those big (and personal) dreams.

How you’ll succeed

You’ll have plenty of ways to develop at BDO; you might build deeper expertise in what you already do, take on something new or simply get better at the things that matter to you.

How and where you work matters too. Our agile working framework is designed around our Better Together approach: bringing more in-person time with clients and teams, creating more opportunities to share ideas, build confidence and develop day-to-day.

Whatever success looks like to you, you won’t be shaping it alone. You’ll have people around you who want you to do well, and plenty of opportunities to make it all count.

That’s how we’ll all continue to succeed by shaping what matters.

Apply now.

At BDO, we want everyone to feel included, valued and able to succeed. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to improving access to opportunities – work we've been recognised for as Company of the Year at the 2026 British Diversity Awards. Because we know different experiences and perspectives make us stronger.