UK Audit Regulations – effective 1 June 2025

The Institute’s UK Audit Regulations have been revised with effect from 1 June 2025.  The revision introduces a requirement for a sole practitioner firm with UK audit registration to put in place alternate arrangements.   Such arrangements enable a person/firm appointed as alternate to step in promptly where a sole practitioner is incapacitated by illness or other major event that would disrupt and disadvantage the service to their clients.

The appointed alternate can be a member of any UK Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB) including the Institute and does not have to be a registered auditor.   

In April 2022 the Institute’s Audit Regulations for Ireland introduced the requirement for sole practitioner audit firms in Ireland to put in place alternate arrangements.   Therefore, sole practitioner audit firms with audit registration in both Ireland and the UK should already be compliant with this mandatory alternate requirement now in the UK Audit Regulations.

A transitional period of six month is allowed before the obligation becomes compulsory in the UK context.

FAQs for Sole Practitioner Auditors (alternate arrangements) are available on the Institute’s website.