Horizon Nexus Partners (HNP) is building something different in professional services - and our Audit practice is no exception.

As one of our four core service lines alongside Private, Tax and Deals Advisory, Audit is entering an exciting phase of growth. We work with large privately owned businesses, private equity-backed portfolio companies, Australian subsidiaries of multinational groups, not-for-profits and self-managed superannuation funds.

We’re now looking for an experienced Director – Audit Risk & Quality to take a leadership role in shaping the quality, risk, independence and technical framework that underpins the practice.

This is not a traditional “maintain the framework” position.

You’ll inherit a robust foundation but have the opportunity to harmonise existing frameworks across geographies, identify gaps, build new capabilities and influence how quality is embedded across a growing Audit practice.

As a member of, or key contributor to, the Audit practice leadership group, you’ll work closely with Partners and senior leaders and become a trusted advisor on complex technical, ethical, independence and regulatory matters.

What you’ll lead

Audit Quality & Methodology

- Co-own the Audit Quality Management System across HNP’s geographies, ensuring alignment with ASQM 1, ASQM 2 and applicable Australian Auditing Standards.
- Set the strategic direction for the firm’s Audit methodology and supporting toolkit.
- Harmonise existing methodologies and develop new frameworks as the practice evolves.
- Ensure methodology is practical and relevant across HNP’s core client segments.
- Lead root-cause analysis arising from internal file reviews and external inspections.
- Oversee remediation programs and ensure lessons learned are embedded across the practice.
- Establish and maintain a strong culture of audit quality, professional scepticism and continuous improvement.

Risk, Independence & Ethics
- Provide senior-level oversight of client and engagement acceptance and continuance processes.
- Advise Partners on complex independence, ethical, technical and engagement risk matters.
- Oversee independence policies and compliance across the Partner and staff population.
- Provide guidance on higher-risk,



first-year and complex engagements, including PE-backed and multinational group structures.
- Identify emerging risk areas and ensure the firm’s frameworks evolve accordingly.

Technical Leadership

- Oversee the firm’s hot and cold file review program and report key findings and themes to leadership.
- Provide senior technical consultation on complex accounting and auditing judgements.
- Monitor changes to Australian Auditing Standards, AASB pronouncements, ASIC guidance and other regulatory developments.
- Translate regulatory developments into practical firm policy, methodology, training and guidance.
- Provide leadership on emerging areas, including AASB S2 sustainability reporting, where relevant to the firm’s clients.

Regulatory & External Engagement
- Act as a senior representative of HNP in dealings with relevant regulatory and professional bodies.
- Lead the firm’s response to ASIC audit inspections, coordinating internal stakeholders and remediation activities.
- Ensure the Audit practice is appropriately prepared for regulatory and external scrutiny.
- Build strong relationships with external advisers and professional networks where relevant.

People & Practice Leadership
- Design and deliver technical, quality and risk training across the Audit practice.
- Help build capability and embed a consistent quality culture as the team grows.
- Sit on, or provide senior support to, the Audit practice leadership group.
- Contribute to Audit strategy, positioning and growth decisions.
- Partner with Audit leadership to ensure growth is underpinned by appropriate quality and risk frameworks.
- Identify opportunities to improve the way the practice operates and bring a continuous improvement mindset to the function.

What you’ll bring

You’re a senior Audit professional with the technical credibility,



judgement and influence to operate confidently with Partners and senior stakeholders.

You’ll bring

- CA/CPA qualification and relevant audit experience.
- Significant post-qualification experience in external audit, with substantial experience in technical, quality, risk or methodology leadership.
- Experience within a Big 4 or mid-tier firm, ideally in a National Office, Quality & Risk, Audit Technical or equivalent function.
- Deep working knowledge of ASQM 1, ASQM 2, Australian Auditing Standards, APES 110 and Corporations Act audit requirements.
- Demonstrated experience leading, maintaining or uplifting a Quality Management System.
- Strong technical accounting expertise across relevant AASB standards.
- The credibility and confidence to challenge Partners and senior stakeholders on technical, ethical and risk matters.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to balance quality requirements with the realities of a growing professional services business.
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills.
- The ability to operate strategically while remaining close enough to the detail to understand and resolve complex issues.

We’d particularly value experience in:
- Large privately owned businesses and complex private groups.
- Private equity-backed portfolio companies.
- Multinational group and subsidiary audits.
- Listed entities and complex reporting environments.
- ASIC or CAANZ audit inspections.
- Harmonising quality and risk frameworks across multiple offices or geographies.
- Emerging technical areas, including sustainability reporting.

Why HNP?

This is an opportunity to have a genuine leadership impact on a growing Audit practice.

You’ll have the autonomy to shape the way quality and risk operate across the firm, work directly with Audit Partners and senior leadership, and influence the systems, methodology and culture that will underpin the practice for years to come.

We’re looking for someone who doesn’t simply ask, “Are we compliant?” but also asks, “Can we do this better?”

If you’re an experienced Audit quality and risk professional looking for the opportunity to build, influence and lead, we’d love to hear from you.

📌 Director- Audit R&Q (Melbourne)
🏢 Horizon Nexus Partners
📍 Melbourne