In the third part of our series on reforms to auditing standards, Katharine Bagshaw FCA examines the exposure draft on International Standard on Quality Management (ISQM 2) Engagement Quality Reviews, including its applicability for smaller firms

Despite nine Companies Acts in the 20th century, and numerous reviews, nothing has changed to prevent audit failure. Instead of changing the law, David Duvall argues for a change in cultural mindset to overturn auditor complacency and lack of management scrutiny, and clamp down on excessive dividend payments

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is planning to simplify the use of   International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) for the auditing of less complex entities

In this month’s audit updates, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sets out radical reform proposals including mandatory joint audits, Brydon review launches audit process consultation, the future of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), review of KPMG’s audit practice, sanctions for Grant Thornton and Baker Tilly, and audit switches at Mothercase and French Connection

A swathe of audit reviews from the fundamental structure of the Big Four audit firms to the very future of auditing standards could reshape the whole profession, but are legislators prepared to make the necessary reforms, asks Sara White, editor of Accountancy Daily

The government has made clear that the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) must prioritise inspection and enforcement activities during the overhaul of the regulator and restructure as the Auditing, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA)

In the second part of our series on reforms to auditing standards, Katharine Bagshaw FCA examines proposed changes to ISA 220 Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements and the introduction of the first quality management standard for auditors, ISQM 1, currently out for consultation by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)

As calls for a radical overhaul of the audit market heat up, Mark Kennedy, managing partner, Mazars Ireland, considers whether proposals to introduce joint audits would work in the UK

Plans to overhaul the audit market have gathered pace with the launch of the government’s public consultation into the quality and effectiveness of audit, looking at the fundamentals of the audit process, purpose and scope, led by Sir Donald Brydon. Sara White reports

The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) is consulting on planned changes to the code of ethics to ensure it is in line with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) independence standards for non-audit related assurance engagements

In the first in a four-part series, Katharine Bagshaw FCA considers quality management of audits and looks ahead to three new standards due to go out for consultation in 2019

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) will be closed and replaced with a new audit regulator following criticism of their effectiveness of the existing organisation following a string of audit scandals at major listed companies

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is consulting on plans to revise the International Standard on Auditing (ISA) (UK) 570 Going Concern, which will mean requirements for UK auditors will be significantly stronger than those required by international standards

Katharine Bagshaw FCA examines the future of auditing in light of a raft of UK investigations into quality, purpose and independence, the Monitoring Group's proposals to overhaul the international audit standard setters, and attempts to modernise auditing standards in an age of cross-border, digital multinational businesses, not to mention the audit needs of smaller entities

In this month’s roundup of audit news, MPs probe Big Four and mid-tier firm heads about sustainability of audit, FRC consults on tougher stewardship code and changes to third country auditor fees due to Brexit, Carillion audit investigation to continue well into 2019, audit wins at SSE and ICG, while Aston Martin puts audit out to tender