FORMER BDO CHIEF Jeremy Newman has been confirmed as chairman of the Audit Commission.
Newman was named in the role, in which he will help wind down the organisation, by local government secretary Eric Pickles.
Newman, who led both BDO and its international network, was appointed following a pre-appointment hearing in front of the Local Government Select Committee.
Closing down the central local government audit hub and privatising the work is predicted to save more than £100m a year over the next five years. Local councils will be able to pick their own auditors.
“Jeremy brings significant knowledge of audit and a proven track record of delivery, which will be essential as he oversees the commission’s closure and the smooth transfer to the new local audit regime,” said Pickles.
The select committee said it was “impressed with the breadth of his experience within the financial audit sector and his enthusiasm for helping to deliver a new framework for local government audit”.
He will be paid £30,000 a year and serve for six days a month.
Newman has also taken part in this year’s judging process for the British Accountancy Awards, which announced its shortlist last week.