Audit Regulations and Guidance

Effective 1 June 2025

From 1 June 2025, changes to the Audit Regulations introduced a requirement for ICAEW-registered audit firms to notify ICAEW when appointed to certain complex or high-risk audits. There is also a new requirement for sole practice auditors to appoint an alternate. Sole practice auditors have until the end of a six-month transition period to appoint an alternate (ie, until 1st December 2025).

• Access the UK Audit Regulations and Guidance effective from 1 June 2025
• Access forms and guidance to support the notification of audit movements and sole practitioner requirements
• View a schedule of amendments to show the changes effective 1 June 2025

Effective 1 April 2025: audit-firm eligibility requirements

The deadline to ensure your firm was compliant with changes that relate to audit firm control was 1 April 2025. Ensure your firm has remained eligible to carry out audit work under the changes.

• Audit eligibility changes: check your firm meets the requirements
• Check and monitor your firm's audit eligibility

UK Audit Regulations and Guidance Archive

• Download the Audit Regulations effective 1 October 2024 – 31 May 2025
• Access the UK Audit Regulations and Guidance archive

ICAEW has revoked its Recognised Accountancy Body (RAB) status in Ireland.

Chartered Accountants Ireland has recently issued new stand-alone Audit Regulations for Ireland. The Audit Regulations Ireland replace the Audit Regulations and Guidance (effective 1 January 2020) and the addendum effective 22 December 2021.

• Access the Audit Regulations and Guidance for Ireland (effective from 6 April 2022)

Special arrangements apply to firms that audit companies incorporated in one of the Crown Dependencies that have 'transferable securities' admitted to trading on a 'regulated market' in the EU. The arrangements apply even if the firm or company is not operating in a Crown Dependency.

• Access the requirements

Practical audit support and guidance is available to ICAEW auditors including the latest regulatory updates, webcasts and monitoring reports.

• Access a wide range of useful resources

Issues for audit firms outside the US that audit entities with a primary or secondary listing in the US, or a significant subsidiary thereof, and need to register with the PCAOB.

All audit registered firms considering a change of ownership to introduce private capital should engage with the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and their recognised supervisory body (RSB) as early as possible.

• Learn more and read FRC guidance on the independence implications of private capital funding