There are two reports out this morning on the future of auditing and by pure chance I will be giving a presentation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales later this morning on accountancy and financial scandals (on which, more later).<\/p>\n
The first review is by Andrew Tyrie for the Competition and Markets Authority on the future of the Big 4 firms. This is what they had to say this morning:<\/p>\n
CMA proposes reforms to improve competition in audit sector<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Improvements to the independence and the quality of audits are the focus of the CMA\u2019s market study update.<\/i><\/p>\n The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published an update paper outlining serious competition concerns and proposing changes to legislation to improve the audit sector for the benefit of savers and investors alike. It is now putting these proposals out for public consultation.<\/i><\/p>\n Following the launch of its market study in October, the CMA has identified a number of reasons why it believes audit quality is falling short:<\/i><\/p>\n In order to address these concerns, the CMA is proposing legislation to:\u00a0 separate audit from consulting services; introduce measures to substantially increase the accountability of those chairing audit committees in firms, and impose a \u2018joint audit\u2019 regime giving firms outside the Big Four a role in auditing the UK\u2019s biggest companies.<\/i><\/p>\n CMA Chairman Andrew Tyrie said:\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAddressing the deep-seated problems in the audit market is now long overdue. Most people will never read an auditor\u2019s opinion on a company\u2019s accounts. But tens of millions of people depend on robust and high-quality audits. If a company\u2019s books aren\u2019t properly examined, people\u2019s jobs, pensions or savings can be at risk.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cThe CMA will now consult on a number of proposals for robust reform. These intractable problems may take some years to sort out. If it turns out that the proposals are not far-reaching enough, the CMA will persist until the problems are addressed.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli also commented<\/strong>: \u201cWe have moved fast to come up with a comprehensive package of proposals for legislation, which we will now consult on. Successful reform of the audit market will require legislation, in combination with planned improvements to regulation as recommended by Sir John Kingman.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n The reforms proposed by the CMA are:<\/i><\/p>\n -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A split between audit and advisory businesses.<\/strong>\u00a0To get higher quality, auditors should focus exclusively on audit \u2014 not on also selling consulting services. One way of achieving this could be a structural break-up. But the international networks these firms belong to and the extent to which audit firms draw on expertise of those advising businesses would make this protracted and complex. A more immediate solution would be for audit and non-audit businesses to be split into separate operating entities. To be effective this will also require separate management, accounts and remuneration. That way auditors will only be rewarded for scrutinising an organisation\u2019s accounts but will still be able to draw on expertise from other parts of the firm.<\/i><\/p>\n -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Regulatory scrutiny of auditor appointment and management.<\/strong>\u00a0Audits are a legal requirement, to ensure that companies act in the interests of their owners rather than their managers. Given the relative lack of engagement by investors and owners of some of Britain\u2019s largest companies, these companies should not be left to appoint their own auditors alone. The CMA proposes close scrutiny of audit appointment and management to make sure those appointing auditors are held to account and independent enough to choose the most challenging audit firm, rather than \u2014 for example \u2014 the cheapest.<\/i><\/p>\n -\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Encouraging more choice.<\/strong>\u00a0At present, many of the UK\u2019s largest companies have little choice, given that one or more of the Big Four may be conflicted. Competition is weak. The CMA proposes that audits of the UK\u2019s biggest companies (FTSE350) should be carried out by at least two firms, at least one of which would be from outside the Big Four. This will give mid-tier firms access to the largest clients, allowing them to develop their experience and credibility, while also ensuring a cross-check on quality. A possible alternative is a market share cap \u2014 ensuring that some major audit contracts are only available to non-Big Four firms.<\/i><\/p>\n The CMA\u2019s proposals only address some of the concerns in this sector. Sir John Kingman\u2019s independent review addresses another: the shortcomings of the current audit regulator. We would welcome any review of the purpose and scope of\u00a0 audits more widely. It is already clear from the CMA\u2019s work that a robust approach will likely be required here too.<\/i><\/p>\n The CMA now welcomes comments on its update paper by 21 January 2019.<\/i><\/p>\n I broadly welcome this proposal. It recognises that the Big 4 are fundamentally flawed that the audits that they have undertaken have failed. These are big steps forward.<\/p>\n What it does not do is break up the Big 4. I think that will happen in due course. I will welcome it when it does. I think that in the long term \u00a0it is essential.<\/p>\n In the shorter term the changes proposed are clever. They recognise that these firms are international (whatever they might claim for legal reasons) and that splitting them in the short term will, pragmatically, be hard. So it requires that second or joint auditors be required in each large company.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the reasoning?<\/p>\n First, to create diversity in the market.<\/p>\n Second, to expand that market.<\/p>\n But much more important, to create a whole tier of whistle blowers on the Big 4. That is what these joint auditors will really be required to do. And this will be guaranteed by the new appointment process.<\/p>\n Am I delighted by thee changes proposed? No. There is nothing to stop auditors still being linked to tax haven services, for example. And nothing to stop them seeking to capture the accounting standard setting process. Or from lobbying inappropriately. So many issues remain. But is this a step in the right direction? I think it is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n