Audit
Commissioners urge NAO to monitor auditor powers
The National Audit Office (NAO) should monitor auditors’ use of additional powers and use this to produce a report to help identify sector-wide risks and issues, the Government-appointed commissioners overseeing under-fire Northamptonshire CC (NCC) have urged.
Local audit at a 'crossroads'
Local audit is at a ‘crossroads’ and needs to provide ‘better assurance and more impact for the public,’ Grant Thornton has said.
Number of delayed audit opinions rockets
The number of delayed audit opinions in local government has risen sharply this year, according to figures compiled by the body responsible for appointing auditors.
Rebuilding trust is a long-term ambition
Making local authority accounts more accessible to the modern-day user will help us shape a more transparent tomorrow, says Rob Whiteman
Moray warned time is running out
Audit Scotland has told a council that it has 'limited time' to curb spending before its reserves run out.
Audit separation call
A call has been made for auditors’ value for money work to be separated out from their wider work on councils’ financial statements.
Auditor raises reserves concerns at Redcar & Cleveland
The council has been warned it faces running out of reserves within two years.
Report discovers little assurance on council-owned company governance
A Hertsmere BC audit report has only given ‘limited assurance’ that its governance of council-owned companies is effectively controlled.
KPMG winner as big four take more public contracts
KPMG has emerged as the chief beneficiary of an increase in public sector spending with the big four accounting firms.
LGA: Audit deadline should be pushed back
The July audit deadline should be pushed back to September 30 for future years, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told ministers.
Auditors may consider 'emerging risks'
Auditors could be given ‘more flexibility to consider emerging risks’ after the National Audit Office (NAO) said it would consider the move.
Redditch slapped with rare Section 24
Auditor Grant Thornton has slapped Redditch BC with a rare Section 24 notice and urged it to take urgent steps to address its financial challenges.
Audit sign off delayed for fourth year
Auditors will not be able to sign off Scarborough BC’s accounts by the statutory deadline with a formal objection stretching back four years still unresolved.
CIPFA calls for auditing changes
The information currently reported publicly by auditors does not help taxpayers understand the key issues, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has said.
Standards bearer
As communities secretary James Brokenshire launched a review of the local government audit regime, he spoke to Heather Jameson about his plans to drive governance and performance
Watchdog plans audit regulations overhaul
Auditors face tougher ethical rules under proposals put forward by a financial watchdog.
Reading considers action against auditor over accounts
Reading Council has been left with a bill of more than £500,000 as it gets to grips with accounting problems.
Audit watchdog mauls firms for 'poor quality' work
The biggest auditors in the UK have come in for sharp criticism from the industry watchdog.
Brokenshire unveils audit review
Details of an independent review that will look at the impact of reforms to local government audit were today announced by communities secretary James Brokenshire.
‘Legacy issues’ delay South Ribble accounts
The leader of South Ribble BC has told councillors the authority will miss the statutory deadline for publishing its annual accounts.