Draft accounts are late, and full audits are impossible. Catch-up could take years due to a backlog in audit checks.
Many English councils faced audit issues. This left accounts unaudited for extended times. Audits help uncover waste and corruption. Delays can hide these problems. This backlog affected many councils badly.
The council approved old accounts in November. These covered 2020/21 to 2022/23. The 2023/24 accounts should be ready soon. That meets government deadlines.
Auditors can’t fully check 2023/24 accounts because not enough audit time exists. They will issue a ‘disclaimed’ opinion, which happened for prior years too. The 2019/20 accounts are fully audited.
Mazars’ Marc Surridge spoke to the committee, saying this is a nationwide problem. It’s unclear how long full catch-up will take. He said finishing five years quickly is impossible.
They will issue a limited opinion right now. He clarified resolving this is complicated, and guidance is lacking at the moment. He thinks it might take several years.
Mr. Surridge knows the finance team is strained. Getting accounts ready put lots of stress on the team.
Nick Edmonds also spoke on this subject, directing resources and strategy at the council. He thanked staff for their hard work. It was very tough for them.
Edmonds added that a shortage exists: the country lacks enough qualified accountants. The council will provide enough support. Recruiting needed experts remains challenging. They explore ways to find these experts.