Buyer Name: THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL LIMITED
Buyer Address: 13th Floor, Exchange Tower, 1 Harbour Exchange Square, London, UKI42, E14 9GE, United Kingdom
Contact Name: Head of Procurement
Contact Email: Procurement@frc.org.uk
Contact Telephone: +442074922300
The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) regulates auditors, accountants and actuaries and sets the UK's Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes. As the Competent Authority for audit in the UK, we set auditing and ethical standards and monitor and enforce audit quality. The purpose of the FRC is to serve the public interest and support UK economic growth by upholding high standards of corporate governance, corporate reporting, audit and actuarial work. Our requirement is for an Audit Qualification Literature Review. Purpose This project will gather, synthesise and analyse existing evidence, including academic research, on the pre-qualification education, training, and assessment of UK statutory auditors. Specifically it will: • Summarise current thinking on changes in the role of financial auditors, specifically with respect to their education and training needs. • Examine the evidence on how technology and AI are influencing auditor knowledge and skill requirements - and how this might feed through to qualification requirements. • Identify challenges these changes pose for the pre-qualification education and training of auditors and the assessment mechanisms used to admit them to the profession. • Identify specific topics / proxies / sources which will help us monitor the audit qualification landscape and the impact of any changes. • Explore how other jurisdictions and professions (e.g. the legal profession) are responding or changing their own qualification pathways. • Present a consolidated view of academic, professional, and industry insights. Scope The review should cover the UK plus comparable jurisdictions (for example EEA countries, US, Australia, Canada, Singapore). Sources: • Academic literature (peer-reviewed journals, conference papers). • Professional bodies (e.g. ICAEW, ACCA, IAASB, PCAOB, IIA). • Corporate and consultancy reports. • Regulatory documents and policy papers. • Comparative insights from law and other regulated professions. Suggested approach Literature Search • Databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SSRN. • Professional sources (e.g.) ICAEW, ACCA, IFAC, IAASB, PCAOB, etc. • Grey literature: company/consultancy analyses; government / regulator briefings; think tank publications. Inclusion Criteria • Recently published (to capture post-pandemic and tech-driven changes). • Focus on pre-qualification audit education, training, technology, and professional qualification reform. • Comparative studies or case examples from other professions. Thematic synthesis across four dimensions 1. Role evolution and skill gaps. 2. Professional training and educational responses in other jurisdictions. 3. Technology-driven competency requirements. 4. Cross-professional lessons. Workshop Part way through the research, a review workshop will be held at the FRC offices (either London or Birmingham) to discuss a full draft of the Review. This will involve the authors of the Review (i.e. the appointed contract team) and independent expert discussants as well as the FRC's internal policy team. The Review authors will subsequently revise/extend the draft Review to incorporate insights, and address comments, arising from the workshop. PLEASE REFER TO THE INVITATION TO TENDER FOR FULL DETAILS. IMPORTANT • Please register your interest by emailing the FRC's procurement team - procurement@frc.org.uk • The FRC will share all tender queries and answers with those that have registered. • Your tender submission must be submitted within the deadline by email to procurement@frc.org.uk
External Link: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007271-2026
Link Description: Tender notice on Find a Tender
Lot 1 Status: active
Lot 1 Has Options: Yes
Lot 1 Options: • Additional research services of the same nature
Lot 1 Value: GBP 45,000
Lot 1 Value (Gross): GBP 54,000
Lot 1 Contract Start: 2026-03-02T00:00:00Z
Lot 1 Contract End: 2026-05-15T23:59:59+01:00
Lot 1 SME Suitable: Yes
Document Description: Tender notice on Find a Tender
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"description": "The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) regulates auditors, accountants and actuaries and sets the UK\u0027s Corporate Governance and Stewardship Codes. As the Competent Authority for audit in the UK, we set auditing and ethical standards and monitor and enforce audit quality.\nThe purpose of the FRC is to serve the public interest and support UK economic growth by upholding high standards of corporate governance, corporate reporting, audit and actuarial work.\nOur requirement is for an Audit Qualification Literature Review.\nPurpose\nThis project will gather, synthesise and analyse existing evidence, including academic research, on the pre-qualification education, training, and assessment of UK statutory auditors. Specifically it will:\n\u2022\tSummarise current thinking on changes in the role of financial auditors, specifically with respect to their education and training needs.\n\u2022\tExamine the evidence on how technology and AI are influencing auditor knowledge and skill requirements - and how this might feed through to qualification requirements.\n\u2022\tIdentify challenges these changes pose for the pre-qualification education and training of auditors and the assessment mechanisms used to admit them to the profession.\n\u2022\tIdentify specific topics / proxies / sources which will help us monitor the audit qualification landscape and the impact of any changes.\n\u2022\tExplore how other jurisdictions and professions (e.g. the legal profession) are responding or changing their own qualification pathways.\n\u2022\tPresent a consolidated view of academic, professional, and industry insights.\nScope\nThe review should cover the UK plus comparable jurisdictions (for example EEA countries, US, Australia, Canada, Singapore).\nSources:\n\u2022\tAcademic literature (peer-reviewed journals, conference papers).\n\u2022\tProfessional bodies (e.g. ICAEW, ACCA, IAASB, PCAOB, IIA).\n\u2022\tCorporate and consultancy reports.\n\u2022\tRegulatory documents and policy papers.\n\u2022\tComparative insights from law and other regulated professions.\nSuggested approach\nLiterature Search\n\u2022\tDatabases: Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SSRN.\n\u2022\tProfessional sources (e.g.) ICAEW, ACCA, IFAC, IAASB, PCAOB, etc.\n\u2022\tGrey literature: company/consultancy analyses; government / regulator briefings; think tank publications.\nInclusion Criteria\n\u2022\tRecently published (to capture post-pandemic and tech-driven changes).\n\u2022\tFocus on pre-qualification audit education, training, technology, and professional qualification reform.\n\u2022\tComparative studies or case examples from other professions.\nThematic synthesis across four dimensions\n1.\tRole evolution and skill gaps.\n2.\tProfessional training and educational responses in other jurisdictions.\n3.\tTechnology-driven competency requirements.\n4.\tCross-professional lessons.\nWorkshop\nPart way through the research, a review workshop will be held at the FRC offices (either London or Birmingham) to discuss a full draft of the Review. This will involve the authors of the Review (i.e. the appointed contract team) and independent expert discussants as well as the FRC\u0027s internal policy team. The Review authors will subsequently revise/extend the draft Review to incorporate insights, and address comments, arising from the workshop.\nPLEASE REFER TO THE INVITATION TO TENDER FOR FULL DETAILS.\nIMPORTANT\n\u2022\tPlease register your interest by emailing the FRC\u0027s procurement team - procurement@frc.org.uk\n\u2022\tThe FRC will share all tender queries and answers with those that have registered.\n\u2022\tYour tender submission must be submitted within the deadline by email to procurement@frc.org.uk",
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