Senior Manager – Financial Services Audit

A.F. Ferguson & Co, part of PwC, is committed to being the employer of choice for professional staff by fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where individuals are valued for their unique strengths. Our audit and assurance teams play a critical role in providing independent and objective assessments of financial statements and internal controls, enhancing the credibility of financial information for a wide range of stakeholders. The Senior Manager position offers an opportunity to lead complex financial services audit engagements, working closely with partners and directors to ensure audit quality, manage client relationships, and develop multidisciplinary teams. This role also contributes to portfolio management, talent development, and the growth of PwC Pakistan’s Financial Services Assurance practice.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead a 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.
- Collaborate with partners and directors to set engagement direction, challenge audit strategies, and address significant, elevated, and emerging risks.
- Oversee critical judgments and complex accounting matters including expected credit losses, impairment, fair values, insurance contract liabilities, actuarial assumptions, consolidation, going concern, regulatory capital, solvency, and emerging financial products.
- Review key 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 CFOs, finance leadership, audit committees, boards, and other stakeholders, providing clear insights while upholding auditor independence.
- Manage engagement quality, acceptance and continuance, independence, delivery, reputation, and commercial risks, escalating issues promptly to leadership.
- Oversee portfolio economics including resource deployment, scheduling, budgets, recoveries, billing, and collections, driving efficient delivery without compromising quality.
- Coach and develop managers and engagement teams through 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 implementing remediation actions.
- Contribute to proposals, client account planning, thought leadership, market initiatives, and the 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, primarily in external audit and assurance.
- Proven experience leading complex financial services audits and managing multiple engagements or a significant client portfolio.
- Broad sector exposure across banking, insurance, asset management, non-banking finance, or capital markets is strongly preferred.

Required Knowledge and Skills

- Advanced knowledge of IFRS Accounting Standards and International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), particularly IFRS 9; strong IFRS 17 knowledge is preferred for insurance-focused portfolios.
- In-depth understanding of Pakistan’s financial services regulatory environment, including requirements from ICAP, SBP, SECP, AOB, and applicable corporate governance frameworks.
- 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.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams and collaborate 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.

This role offers a dynamic environment to lead impactful audits within a respected global network, contributing to professional growth and the advancement of PwC’s Financial Services Assurance practice in Pakistan.