Why might I need it?
The most obvious reason is that it is one of the prerequisites to becoming a Responsible Individual (RI). Responsible Individuals are authorised to sign audit reports.While you may not intend working in audit in the future, career plans change. If they do, you will be one step closer to becoming an RI.
Having the Audit Qualification also means that you can count towards the control percentage required for a firm to maintain its Registered Auditor status.
How do I get it?
The qualification requires you to gain 240 days of audit experience to an adequate level, 120 of which must be statutory (i.e., under the Companies Act).Your experience is recorded within your training file. Even if you don’t reach the full 240 days during your training, you can still ‘bank’ what you do get and top this up later. Note that if you choose not to claim the days within your training time, you will not be able to go back and claim them retrospectively. You will need to start a new application based on post qualification experience.
Audit experience is only eligible when gained at an EEA registered audit firm that is also an ICAEW authorised training employer. Full details on the Audit Qualification can be found at icaew.com/aq.
Claim the credit you deserve for the skills you have acquired!
What counts as audit experience?
Six-monthly recording and feedback
When updating your training file at your six-month review, you need to complete the Audit Experience tab. Once you have added an entry, ask your employer to verify that the number and split of your audit experience days is accurate. They should add constructive feedback to your file to confirm your progression and development within audit.
In contrast to the rest of your training file, the feedback must be added via your reviewer’s own log in. You should add your experience every six months, not all at the end of your training agreement or the experience may be disallowed.
Getting sign off for final approval
All of your audit experience must also be submitted for one final approval within six months of the end of your training agreement and be approved by your employer. Until all the entries say “Approved” your application is not complete. Approval must be completed within the six-month deadline. If you miss this deadline, your experience can not be claimed.
This final approval should also be completed if you change firm prior to your agreement being cancelled.
- For more guidance about this process, download the how to submit your audit experience for final sign-off guide
- Watch the video
Can I apply for the Audit Qualification later if I need it?
Yes, but there are restrictions. If you haven’t logged and submitted your audit experience gained during your training within six months of the end of your training agreement, you can’t go back and claim this experience later. If you want to earn the Audit Qualification, you will need to start accumulating experience again from scratch.
With audit thresholds increasing, fewer companies need to have an audit and cost implications mean that companies often opt out of an audit if they don’t have to have one. This means fewer audit days are available for students and recently qualified members, so it is only going to get harder to gain the Audit Qualification.
Tips for recording your audit experience
- Record and review your audit experience in your training file every six months throughout your ACA training, not after every audit.
- Audit experience gained during your ACA training may help you to gain the Audit Qualification if you’re working for a firm of registered auditors in the UK who is an ICAEW authorised training employer.
- Remember, you can’t claim your audit experience retrospectively, so don’t leave it to the end of your training. If you don’t record it, you will lose it.
- You will need the Audit Qualification to become a Responsible Individual to sign audit reports in the future.
- You may not know yet if you’ll ever become a Responsible Individual, but don’t limit your future career by ignoring it.
- At the end of your training agreement, you will have six months to finalise your audit experience and submit to ICAEW.