Audit watchdog could push for clawback of audit partners’ bonuses after poor quality work
The audit watchdog could push for powers to clawback bonuses from audit partners if an audit fell below a certain level of quality.
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is thinking of asking the government for powers to set remuneration standards for auditors, The Sunday Times reported.
The idea follows scandals at department store BHS, outsourcer Carillion and cake chain Patisserie Valerie.
The FRC would lobby for the powers in the event that the audit practices of the big accountancy firms were separated from their consulting arms under proposed reforms for the sector.
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A clawback clause could lead to audit partners being forced to return some of their bonuses if audits fell below a certain standard.
The Sunday Times cited sources close to the FRC who said there had been talks of pushing for a system similar to the senior managers’ regime in banking, which increases accountability for senior bankers.
The potential proposals follow a series of scandals in the sector, including the failures of Carillion and BHS which both received clean bills of health from their auditors, KPMG and PwC respectively, in advance of their collapses.
Patisserie Valerie, audited by Grant Thornton, was forced into administration after a black hole was found in its accounts.
Earlier this year, the Competition and Markets Authority proposed an operational split between the audit and non-audit arms of the big accountancy firms to reduce conflicts of interest.
It also proposed the introduction of joint audits to help boost competition in a sector which remains dominated by the Big Four of PwC, KPMG, EY and Deloitte.
Legal & General chairman Sir John Kingman led a separate review of the sector last year, which recommended the replacement of the FRC with a new regulator: The Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority (Arga).
In October, a new leadership team was appointed to lead the FRC’s transition.
The former chief financial officer of drug company Glaxosmithkline Simon Dingemans was appointed as chair of the FRC and the head of HMRC was appointed as chief executive.
The government has said it is waiting on the results of a third review by former London Stock Exchange chair Sir Donald Brydon before bringing forward any legislation to reform the sector.
The FRC declined to comment.