Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Accepted
FRC develops long-term local audit workforce strategy, expected for autumn 2023 publication.
Conclusion
The FRC is beginning work on a comprehensive workforce strategy. The FRC told us this will represent a long-term plan including routes into local audit starting with championing public sector audit among people at university and college. When we challenged the FRC on how long it might take for people to emerge as senior auditors the FRC conceded it was a long-term plan.63 The Department is confident that the new audit contracts will offer firms the certainty to start planning their own pipelines to bring these new staff through the system.64 We also received evidence highlighting the importance of workforce planning for local government finance staff. Local authority representative groups described concerns with the recruitment and retention of skilled finance staff.65 Local audit providers also emphasised the need for a pipeline to develop future finance staff.66 The FRC expects to publish its workforce strategy in autumn 2023.67 55 Qq 80–81 56 C&AG’s Report, Paras 3.9, 3.10; Q17 57 Q 17 58 Q 24 59 Q 17 60 Qq 82–83 61 Q 42 62 TAR0014 63 Qq 82, 83 64 Q 27 65 TAR0007, TAR0008, TAR0013 66 TAR0001 67 Q 28 Timeliness of local auditor reporting 15 System leadership
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that the recommendation is implemented, stating the Permanent Secretary has written to the Committee outlining the FRC's plans for a Local Audit Workforce Strategy and will provide further details on determined actions before the end of 2023.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 3.2 The Permanent Secretary has written to the Committee alongside this Treasury Minute setting out FRC’s plans to progress the Local Audit Workforce Strategy and will write again before the end of 2023 setting out the actions the FRC, working collaboratively with system partners, has determined are necessary across the local audit system.