Morning, Monday, 23rd March 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for corporate governance and audit reform in the UK.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together in preparation for the next phase of reform, with legislative timing yet to be confirmed, looking ahead to the transition towards new institutional structures for audit following the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and the UK Corporate Governance Code.
Policy, proposals & implications
Delegates will assess implications of the delay to the Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill, including determination of the future role and powers of the proposed Corporate Reporting Authority as successor to the Financial Reporting Council, and how its remit might develop. Attendees will also consider proposals to extend public interest entity status to large unlisted companies, and priorities for fostering confidence and competition across the audit market, including implications for SME audit practice.
Preparation, oversight & meeting requirements
The planned agenda will also consider practicalities of compliance and enforcement. Sessions will examine preparation by boards and audit committees for internal controls declarations under the UK Corporate Governance Code, including board responsibility for the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management under Provision 29. Discussion will also consider how Companies House identity verification reforms may affect audit and reporting requirements, and what adjustments might be needed to ensure alignment across frameworks. The support and oversight provided by regulators and auditors in achieving proportionate implementation will also be discussed.
Confidence, culture, accountability & sustainability
Further sessions will focus on investor confidence and public trust in corporate reporting, looking at approaches for strengthening assurance, accountability and transparency. Considerations of conduct, culture and accountability within governance frameworks will also be examined, and best practice in positively influencing behaviour and decision-making across organisations. The conference will also look at expectations of boards in relation to ESG disclosure and sustainability, and approaches to achieving proportionality, transparency, competitiveness and sustainable growth - within the wider context of the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and the future direction of corporate governance reform.
Overview of areas for discussion
- Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill: consequences of continued delay - pressure from ICAEW and the Business and Trade Committee - options for sustaining reform momentum
- regulator role: transition from the FRC to the CRA - resource pressures during the interim period - clarity of remit between regulators and government
- SME audits: thresholds that define smaller entities - risks of reduced assurance for investors - role of professional bodies in supporting firms
- Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act: readiness for the new fraud offence - consistency of enforcement across sectors - implications of identity verification rules for directors
- authority design: scope of statutory powers - impact of defining public interest entities - safeguards against regulatory capture
- transition arrangements: coordination between regulators during transition - potential gaps in supervision - benchmarks for measuring enforcement review effectiveness
- compliance requirements: implications of Provision 29 for audit committees - changes to reporting processes near thresholds - extent of auditor involvement in controls
- investor confidence: trust in audits in light of past corporate crises - consequences of audit market concentration - implications of litigation and the Stewardship Code 2026 transition
- governance culture: values and board decisions - links between culture and consumer outcomes - balance of culture with formal structures and enforcement trends
