Gain audit rights in the UK

The ICAA and CPA Canada have been approved by the UK regulator as meeting the qualification requirements for audit eligibility in the UK. As a result, the application process for audit rights for members of these two bodies differs from that of the bodies below.

• Gain audit rights in the UK as a member of CPA Canada
• Gain Audit rights in the UK as a member of ICAA (or CA ANZ through the ICAA education route)

Below are details of what AICPA, CICPA, CIMA, CIPFA, CPA Australia, HKICPA, ICAB, ICAI, ICAP, CA Sri Lanka, ICAZ, MICPA, NZICA and SAICA members need to do in order to gain audit rights in the UK.

The Financial Reporting Council, the UK regulator, has not approved these bodies as meeting the qualification requirements for audit eligibility in the UK. Members of these bodies will therefore need to re-qualify with the ICAEW.

How to gain audit rights in the UK

In order to gain audit rights in the UK, individuals joining the ICAEW will need to:

• Gain the ICAEW Audit Qualification 
• Obtain an ICAEW practising certificate 
• Apply to be an ICAEW Responsible Individual (you must be nominated by your firm for this)

To gain the Audit Qualification you will be required to:

• Sit and pass additional ICAEW examinations
• Register into a Training Agreement to undertake a further 3 years of practical experience which meets the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (you may apply for a maximum one year of credit for prior experience)

Examinations

The following exams are mandatory for all applicants:

• Case Study
• Corporate Reporting
• Strategic Business Management
• Principles of Tax
• Law

You may also be required to sit further exams depending on your home body membership. Please call +44 (0)1908 248 250 for further information.

Practical training / experience

1. During the combined periods of approved training and post-qualification work experience, a minimum of 3 years’ general training and work experience within an authorised training environment. At least 2 of the 3 years must have been completed within a firm of registered auditors; and
2. During the combined periods of approved training and post-qualification work experience, completed a minimum of 240 days’ audit work experience within an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer which is also a firm of Registered Auditors.
3. Of this 240 days’ work experience, at least 120 days must be in statutory company audit work as defined in the Companies Act 2006, and the rest must be in either statutory audit work or other audit work similar to statutory audit work, where the nature of such work conforms to the definitions agreed by the ICAEW and the Financial Reporting Council.
4. The audit work must have been supervised by an individual eligible to sign UK audit reports and must have been obtained in an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer.