Audit Commission responds to caustic criticism from KPMG over private sector audits
The Audit Commission remains open to an increase in the number of its public sector audits being carried out by the private accountancy firms.
Andrew Foster, controller of the Commission, made the statement following caustic criticism from Big Five firm KPMG that too much Commission work was carried by its own arms-length agency District Audit.
He told a Commons select committee today that the proportions could be reformed but only as a result of market testing?.
Currently 70% of the Commission?s audit work in undertaken by District leaving the rest for the private sector. KPMG, in their submission to the committee, argued this share should be 50-50.
Foster said: ?It?s definitely available to changed by market testing.?Testing to date however has resulted in the proportions remaining the same, an arrangement which Foster said was felt to be working ?reasonably well?.
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