Qualitative research with audit committee chairs on audit quality

Tender description

**THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE - THIS TENDER IS CLOSED** The Financial Reporting Council sets the UK Corporate Governance and UK Stewardship Codes; sets UK standards for accounting and actuarial work; monitors and takes action to promote the quality of corporate reporting; and operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries. As the competent authority for audit in the UK the FRC sets auditing and ethical standards and monitors and enforces audit quality. The FRC works in the public interest. Our work is aimed at investors and others who rely on company reports, audit and high-quality risk management. The research project objective is to obtain qualitative research with Audit Committee Chairs (ACCs) of Public Interest Entities (PIEs) - a rich, in-depth understanding of ACCs' views on audit quality. This will build on similar research undertaken in 2020. The FRC does not anticipate tender bids over £50,000 excluding VAT Note: The FRC may in future decide to repeat this research in future years to provide an over-time comparison. If the FRC takes up this option, it will do so before the end of 2025 (and the total expenditure including repeat(s) will be capped at no more than £175,000). The overarching objective of the project is to provide the FRC with a rich understanding of ACCs' views on, and approach to, audit quality. This may include: • ACC's views on the key drivers of audit quality • What does a good/bad audit look like to an ACC? • Selection of auditors / tender process • Audit planning • Considerations of quality during the audit and post-audit, including ACC's views of the impact, if any, of audit firm culture • How ACC's use the results of AQR inspections to drive improved audit quality • How ACC's satisfy themselves as to the independence and suitability of their auditor • How ACC's assess the work of their committees The above list of questions is not exhaustive. ** This is a summary only **