Senior Manager – Financial Services Audit

At PwC, audit and assurance professionals provide independent and objective evaluations of financial statements, internal controls, and other verifiable information to enhance credibility for a wide range of stakeholders. The role focuses on assessing compliance with regulations, governance, risk management, and related controls. Within financial statement audits, the objective is to obtain reasonable assurance that statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, culminating in an auditor’s report expressing an opinion.

The Senior Manager position offers senior leadership across a portfolio of complex financial services audit engagements. Working closely with engagement partners and directors, this role ensures audit quality, addresses significant accounting and auditing challenges, manages senior client relationships, and leads multidisciplinary teams. The role also supports portfolio management, talent development, market initiatives, and contributes to the growth of PwC Pakistan’s Financial Services Assurance practice.

Key Responsibilities

Lead a diverse portfolio of complex audits and assurance engagements across banks, digital and microfinance banks, development finance institutions, insurance and takaful companies, asset managers, mutual funds, non-banking finance companies, and capital-market entities. Set engagement direction alongside partners and directors, challenge audit strategies, and ensure appropriate responses to significant, elevated, and emerging risks. Oversee critical judgments and complex matters such as expected credit losses, impairment, fair values, insurance contract liabilities, actuarial assumptions, consolidation, going concern, regulatory capital and solvency, and emerging financial products.

Review essential audit documentation, financial statements, audit reports, regulatory returns, management letters, and communications to audit committees and boards. Lead consultations with specialists in technical accounting, methodology, risk and quality, independence, legal, actuarial, valuation, tax, and technology to ensure timely and well-documented conclusions. Maintain senior-level relationships with chief financial officers, finance leadership, audit committees, boards, and other key stakeholders, providing clear insights while preserving auditor independence.

Anticipate and manage risks related to engagement quality, acceptance and continuance, independence, delivery, reputation, and commercial aspects; escalate issues promptly to engagement leadership. Oversee portfolio economics including resource deployment, scheduling, budgets, recoveries, billing, and collection, driving efficient delivery without compromising quality. Direct and develop managers and engagement teams through coaching, performance feedback, succession planning, technical guidance, and on-the-job learning.

Support regulatory and group-auditor interactions, quality reviews, and inspections by preparing robust documentation and remediation actions in a timely manner. Contribute to proposals, client account planning, thought leadership, market initiatives, and development of audit and assurance opportunities within independence boundaries. Champion audit quality, professional scepticism, ethical conduct, collaboration, innovation, and consistent application of PwC policies and values.

Required Qualifications

Qualified Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan. Minimum of five years post-qualification experience, predominantly in external audit and assurance. Proven experience leading complex financial services audits and managing multiple engagements or a significant client portfolio. Advanced knowledge of IFRS Accounting Standards and International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), particularly IFRS 9; strong IFRS 17 knowledge is preferred for insurance-related portfolios.

Strong understanding of Pakistan’s financial services regulatory environment, including requirements of ICAP, SBP, SECP, AOB, and applicable corporate and governance frameworks. Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues, make balanced judgments, influence senior stakeholders, and communicate effectively with boards and audit committees. Strong leadership skills with commercial awareness, negotiation, project management, and resource management capabilities.

Experience leading and developing high-performing teams and collaborating across assurance, tax, advisory, and specialist functions. Digital mindset with practical experience using audit platforms, data analytics, and technology-enabled procedures. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare concise, high-quality reports and presentations.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

Broad sector exposure across banking, insurance, asset management, non-banking finance, or capital markets is highly desirable. Familiarity with emerging technologies such as AI platforms, data visualization, and digital tooling is advantageous. Strong interpersonal skills including client management, coaching, active listening, and creativity are valued.

This role presents an opportunity to lead within a dynamic assurance practice, contributing to high-quality audits and the professional growth of teams while engaging with key industry stakeholders.