Causes, consequences and possible resolution of the local authority audit crisis in England. Issue 3 (3rd April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bradley, Lynn; Heald, David; Hodges, Ron
• Is Part Of: Public money & management. Volume 43:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 259
• Page End: 267
• Publication Date: 2023-04-03
• Subjects: Accountability -- audit crisis -- audit market -- audit quality -- collibration -- economization -- local government -- local public audit; Finance, Public -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Economic policy -- 1945-1964 -- Periodicals; 336.005
• DOI: 10.1080/09540962.2022.2129550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0962

Abstract

IMPACT: Audit as adjudication in England has narrowed and become under-resourced, with consequent delays in the delivery of audit opinions. Local authorities, subjected to resource withdrawals from central government, have sought to navigate control processes to generate new, sometimes risky, forms of income. The integrated nature of public audit in the devolved nations has meant that they have avoided these calamities. Stakeholders in England will need to be vigilant to help ensure that local audit does not continue to be subsumed within the interests of corporate auditing.