Public Sector and Education

Our Public Sector team has extensive experience providing audit, tax, funding advice, accounting, and other related services to public sector organisations within the local government, Charities and Not For Profit, Education, Healthcare, and Housing Associations sectors. 

Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited (PSAA) is responsible for appointing auditors and setting scales of fees for relevant principal authorities that have chosen to opt into its national scheme, overseeing issues of auditor independence and monitoring compliance by the auditor with the contracts entered with the audit firms. 

470 bodies opted-in to the scheme and we are delighted to have been appointed by PSAA from 1 April 2023 for audits from 2023/24 to 2027/28, with Craig Sullivan as our contract partner. 

Our public sector audit team will provide external audit services, which will also include assurance on their value for money arrangements. 

We are led by ICAEW-registered key audit partners, who have previous experience of providing external audit services to NHS organisations and local authorities and extensive experience working with public sector organisations within the charity, education, health, and housing sectors. 

Through the PSAA audit appointment, we will be working with the following public sector bodies: 

• Local Councils 

• Police & Crime commissioners 

• Chief Constables 

• Fire & Rescue authorities 

• National Parks 

The Education sector is ever-changing where every educational institution will need to regularly review and update its strategy, to ensure it is providing an educational environment where children and students come first. 

We are the number one auditor for Multi Academy Trusts and have a clear understanding of the many practical challenges educational institutions face on a day-to-day basis. Working closely with our clients, we use our knowledge of the legal and financial requirements within the sector to deliver tailored advice and guidance alongside our financial accounting and audit work. 

We understand all the regulatory requirements and the unique challenges that you face in delivering high quality services and providing value for money. 

Our team of Housing experts currently act for several Housing Associations within our portfolio of over 500 property clients and continue to invest in this sector. All our team members have knowledge and experience of the sector; and the commercial, structural, legal, and practical issues that can arise. 

We guarantee to deliver expert technical knowledge with the corporate experience of a large national accountancy practice, but with our ethos to work in partnership with our clients and colleagues to ensure we provide the highest standards of pro-active service, advice, and support on a personal and local level. 

Our long-standing relationship with organisations in the social housing and property sector extends over many years, and we have been trusted advisers in numerous areas. 

In addition to audit and tax compliance services, we are supporting our housing sector clients with other activities and plans. Our team will be able to share best practice and commercial experience from this work.