APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS APPOINTMENT BRIEF SEPTEMBER 2018 - Saxton Bampfylde
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APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS APPOINTMENT BRIEF SEPTEMBER 2018
AN INTRODUCTION
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. It offers
business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who
seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: “The global body for
opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. ACCA
professional
believes that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of
development and works to develop capacity in the profession and to accountants”
encourage the adoption of consistent global standards. ACCA’s
qualification and offerings are carefully aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors. ACCA works to open up the
profession to people of all backgrounds and to remove artificial barriers to entry, ensuring that its qualifications and
their delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and organisations around the world. Through this,
and its work in capacity building and on donor-funded projects, ACCA aims to develop the accountancy profession
the world needs.
ACCA supports 200,000 members and 486,000 students in 180 countries, helping them to develop successful
careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. It works through a network of 101 offices
and centres and 7,200Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee development.
ACCA works in the public interest, assuring that its members are appropriately regulated for the work they carry out
and, promoting principles-based approaches to regulation. It actively seeks to enhance the public value of
accounting in society through international research and taking a progressive stance on global issues to ensure
accountancy as a profession continues to grow in reputation and influence.
ACCA is currently introducing major innovations to its flagship qualification to ensure its members and future
members continue to be the most valued, up to date and sought-after accountancy professionals globally.THE ROLE
Directorate
Strategy & Development
Reports to
Executive Director – Strategy and Development
CONTEXT
The role of Director of Professional Insights is a strategic level global appointment.
ACCA has an ambitious vision to be #1 in developing the accountancy profession the world needs. The
strategy to 2020 is currently being updated to 2025 to reflect drivers of change including digital, globalisation,
new partnership approaches, changes in education and demographic shifts.
The role is critical to the delivery of the organisation’s strategy which requires the Professional Insights team
to increase its support of the vision to be number one in the development of the accountancy profession the
world needs. In particular, Professional Insights will support the agenda which demonstrates to policy makers,
employers and the public, the value that ACCA and professional accountants bring to society by creating
successful businesses and sustainable economies. To deliver against these needs the Director of Professional
Insights will lead a high performing, collaborative team, working together with teams across the ACCA.
PURPOSE OF POST
• The Director of Professional Insights will be the organisation’s lead external representative on a range
of policy and technical accounting matters, especially (at a high level) on financial reporting, auditing
and assurance. The post holder will be the organisation’s lead person for public comment on key
overall issues relating to a range of technical and policy areas, enhancing relations with other
technical and policy experts in government, regulators, professional bodies and employers and
developing new significant senior relationships alongside the Professional Insights leadership team.
• The post holder will work in close collaboration with Directors and teams across Strategy and
Development as well as the wider organisation to develop plans which effectively align the function
with ACCA’s single strategic priority. The post holder will need to support and constructively challenge
their direct reports to ensure any plans are effective and aligned to the single priority.
• The post holder will operate in a matrix structure with direct responsibility for a team and dotted line
relationships with various stakeholders both at the corporate headquarters and in markets.
• The post holder will ensure that ACCA’s world class Professional Insights enhances and maintains
ACCA's pre-eminent brand and leadership position in the global market. The post holder will be
required to work closely with the Director of Brand and Director of Sales and Marketing, to ensure
alignment with integrated brand and marketing plans.
• The Director of Professional Insights will be a member of the Strategy and Development leadership
team, working collaboratively to join up plans and to maximise the impact of ACCA’s intellectual
property. This includes working collaboratively with the Director of Professional Qualifications to
identify changes which should be reflected in the ACCA qualification and in identifying opportunities
from the research findings for the continuing professional development of our members.• Within Professional Insights, the post holder will lead a team of highly qualified technical and policy
and public affairs experts. The day to day operations will be led by three Portfolio Heads (Business
Reporting, Business Management and Business Focus) and the Global Head of Public Affairs. These
are supported by a designated project delivery team. . Their remit is to ensure that the regular work
of the team is delivered in accordance with the overall agreed priorities of Professional Insights and
wider organisation, including representation on forums, technical committees and consultation
responses.
Professional Insights activity is focussed around 5 thematic areas as follows:
• Professional Accountant – The Future – This flagship thematic area considers the factors influencing
the future of the profession and how these changes will impact on the work of professional
accountants. This is of critical importance to the impact of the Professional Insights work.
• Technology - Advances in digital technology are a global mega trend for the accountancy profession.
This area of research considers a broad range of technology areas – from robotics to machine
learning, big data to the internet of things and considers what this means for professional
accountants.
• Risk – Research undertaken in this area explores risk from the perspective of governance and the
role of leadership in ensuring behaviour, strategy and performance are aligned.
• Global Economics - The world is constantly changing and our members need to be kept up-to-date.
Our research in this areas explores the factors that influence global economic confidence and social
mobility.
• Supporting the profession – Under this thematic area we explore developments in in audit, reporting,
tax and business law. This research supports our members engaged in these activities and influences
standard setters.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Key Metrics (financial and/or non-financial):
• The post holder will be responsible for developing influential contacts and relationships, in the
context of ACCA’s overall engagement model, which promotes understanding of and, movement
to, ACCA’s technical, policy and research positions.
• The post holder will champion ACCA’s overall approach to the profession, to seek innovation in
accountancy which meets the public interest and which continues to ensure that the profession is
placed at the heart of, and meets the needs of business. He or she will work closely with ACCA’s
Strategy and Development team to develop ACCA’s overall influence and reputation in the
technical, policy and research spheres and will have overall responsibility for the output of the
Professional Insights team.
• The job holder should be capable of representing ACCA on a range of public platforms, including
with employers. He or she will need to be highly presentable, an effective communicator, capable
of complex issues-based conversations, adept in self-expression, and able to develop and
maintain relationships with contribute to ACCA’s technical and policy agendas.
• Four direct reports• Overall team of 26, with the capability for additional flexible resourcing within budget
• Total Budget, £3.28m (including People costs)
• Best Companies team engagement score
Decision Making (Freedom to Act):
Must work within the remit of
• ACCA’s governance in relation to delegated authority
• given financial limits
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Representing ACCA on key public platforms in relation to key technical and policy issues and
emerging trends impacting the accountancy profession.
• Developing and enhancing high-level relationships with technical and policy experts in leading
positions in government, regulators, employers and professional bodies with the aim of
enhancing ACCA’s reputation and influence, within ACCA’s overall relationship management
model.
• Acting as “ambassador” for ACCA’s technical, policy and research agendas; helping the
organisation to further develop its reputation as a global body with influential positions which
take account of the needs of employers and policymakers and which inform the development of
the agenda of the accountancy profession
• Expanding ACCA’s technical contacts at senior levels in the profession and industry, to obtain
input on relevant technical issues and “open doors” to allow ACCA to develop an influential voice.
In particular, ACCA seeks to ensure that its technical positions are well respected by influential
experts across the profession, even where it has a different view.
• Contributing to ACCA’s technical and policy output and providing input into key ACCA responses
• Overall responsibility for the Professional Insights team; developing and embedding an
appropriate high performance culture and collaborative ways of working to deliver against agreed
objectives. The three Portfolio Heads and Global Head of Public Affairs will report into this role
• Recruitment, induction, performance management, training and development of direct reports.
• Providing effective leadership guidance, support and advice to direct reports to ensure the
appropriate recruitment, induction, performance management, training and development of each
of their team members.Working Relationships
The Director of Professional Insights will have key working relationships with;
• ACCA Council and the Executive Team; working closely with these groups to gain their input
into, and approval of, strategically important technical and policy positions.
• Strategy and Development Team – working collaboratively to join up plans and to maximise the
impact of ACCA’s intellectual property.
• Brand and Sales and Marketing Teams – working collaboratively to define the annual brand and
marketing plans aligned to the Professional Insight plan
• Market Leadership Team and wider Leadership Group – collaborating, influencing and
negotiating to achieve maximum impact for technical, policy and research work across ACCA.
• External policy and standard setters, key employers; networking, influencing and engaging in
complex debates and discussions related to the profession.PERSON SPECIFICATION
In order to meet the demands of this varied and challenging role the job holder must have extensive;
• Experience of working in a multi-national environment and be able to demonstrate a good
understanding of cultural differences.
• Substantial experience of line management of large and complex teams with the ability to work
closely with other senior members of a global organisation as part of a broad team.
• A clear and broad understanding of technical aspects of activity across the department, with
proven ability to identify and lead on strategic requirements to meet overall objectives.
Knowledge and Skills
• The ability to engage with high-profile employers and policy makers globally on matters relating to
technical, policy and research areas relating to the profession.
• Deep knowledge of technical and emerging trends in accounting and experience as a practitioner in
accounting and auditing and/or having held a high-level position in an accounting role in business;
• A wide base of contacts in the profession and a track record in developing relationships at senior
levels in organisations.
• Experience and competence in public speaking and representing organisations on public forums;
• Skills in presentation and media engagement and proven experience in keeping to agreed policies when
“on the record”;
• Strongly developed skills in influencing and negotiation; and
• Experience in networking to extend contacts and positive relationships consistent with ACCA’s goals.
Qualifications
• Educated to degree standard with senior experience working in a research analytical or technical role, and
across different teams, preferably focusing on secondary research in a global organisation. A member in
good standing of an IFAC member body is highly desirable.
• A member in good standing of an IFAC member body is highly desirable.TERMS OF APPOINTMENT Travel The post will involve regular international travel. Location The role will be based at ACCA’s Head Office in London An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful candidate. HOW TO APPLY Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to ACCA on this appointment. Candidates should apply for this role through our website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code HKAK. Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter. The closing date for applications is noon on Tuesday 25 September 2018.
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