Sentinel Resolver Team Assistant 12 Month FTC

Job description

Background
The Sentinel Resolver team (Sentinel team) are part of the Risk Operations Group which is responsible for monitoring the firm's and its individuals' compliance with the firm's professional risk management and quality control policies, procedures and guidance. Furthermore, the Group work with the wider Quality and Risk community and across the KPMG network to exchange knowledge, develop and improve processes and procedures in response to emerging regulatory, business and other requirements.
The Sentinel team are responsible for the processes relating to the firm's global Sentinel application, a KPMG secure online application developed to assist KPMG member firms in complying with legal and regulatory independence requirements related to the provision of services and in identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest with proposed engagements. In particular, the team review and propose mitigations for identified conflicts of interests, help engagement teams with correctly onboarding new clients onto the application, maintain a list of firm's restricted clients for personal independence purposes.

The Role
This role has responsibility for reviewing Sentinel requests to identify and assist with the management of potential conflicts of interest with proposed engagements within the global network of KPMG member firms. Every engagement entered into by each KPMG member firm is required to be submitted into Sentinel and receive a Sentinel Approval Number (SAN) prior to starting work. In addition to clearing requests to team undertake a number of other processes regarding using Sentinel data, to enable the firm to be compliant with auditor independence rules.

Initially, tasks will be completed under supervision until you develop a working knowledge of relevant regulations and processes, after which you will be expected to administer processes allocated to you. You will have responsibility for reviewing engagements for potential conflicts of interest and clearing in accordance with policies and procedures. You will also participate in dealing with queries and emails to the Sentinel helpline and manage other compliance processes.

Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities are as follows:

Ensuring no professional engagement is undertaken by KPMG which would create an unmanageable conflict of interest through the review of Sentinel requestWorking with engagement teams to ensure that steps are taken to manage conflicts identified, whilst protecting client confidentialitySentinel helpline to answer phone and email queries on the Sentinel system, conflicts of interest and the progress of engagement requests Liaising with global conflict resolvers, UK client facing teams and Quality and Risk Management professionals to manage conflicts of interest on cross-border engagementsUndertaking certain compliance processes associated with the Sentinel system to ensure the data it contains is up to date and accurateCarry out checks on prospective audit clients to identify existing business and financial relationships with KPMG which may impair our independenceEscalating policy queries or more complex cases to Sentinel Assistant Manager, where appropriate.Developing awareness/familiarity of the relevant firm's compliance policies, auditor independence rules, conflict of interest rules and systems that support the Sentinel procedures.

The Person - Skills, Qualifications and Behaviours

Sound organisational and analytical skills with the ability to prioritise efficiently.The ability and willingness to take personal responsibility and accountability for own work.Strong team-player who is both supportive and willing to help out.Client-focused approach with a passion for delivering excellence.Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to communicate with people at all levels and build relationships.The ability to interpret complex information and identify issues.The ability to work well under pressure.Extremely high level of attention to detail is essential.The ability to handle sensitive/confidential information appropriately.The confidence to challenge the status-quo and provide fresh ideas.Confident user of Microsoft Office applications and internet-based research tools.Prior working experience for a professional services firm and/or understanding of conflict of interest are a distinct advantage, although training will be given.