- Raise the Issue with the Auditor First – Before escalating the complaint, try to resolve it directly with the auditor or their firm. Many firms have internal complaints procedures that should be followed.
- Contact the Recognised Supervisory Body (RSB)
If the issue is unresolved, you can escalate the complaint to the professional body that regulates the auditor. The main Recognised Supervisory Bodies (RSBs) in the UK are:
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) – www.icaew.com
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – www.accaglobal.com
- Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) – www.charteredaccountants.ie
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) – www.icas.com
Each body has a complaints process that allows you to submit a complaint about an auditor’s misconduct, breaches of professional standards, or poor-quality audit work.
- Report to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) (For Serious Cases)
If the complaint involves serious misconduct, breaches of audit regulations, or unethical behavior, you can report it to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), which oversees auditors and audit firms in the UK.
- FRC Contact:
- Website: www.frc.org.uk
- Email: conduct@frc.org.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)20 7492 2300
- If It’s About a Public Interest Audit (e.g., Large Companies or Charities)
For complaints involving audits of large public interest entities (PIEs), major charities, or financial institutions, the FRC may directly investigate serious misconduct.
- Legal Action as a Last Resort
If your complaint involves financial loss or negligence, you may need to seek legal advice and consider legal action against the auditor.