FTSE 250: firms in fees bonanza amid regulatory scrutiny

摘要

Companies in the FTSE 250 index, the second tier of the UK’s largest listed companies, collective now pay more than £230m to have their financial reports audited. These same companies paid just under £203m 12 months ago, 14% less than today’s figures. It is an increase that has been predicted, and called for, by auditors (and indeed regulators) for some time, as the arguments over audit market competition and quality have raged at government and regulator level. It is an argument that UK boardrooms appear to have accepted as well – in no other market would one expect to see increases of this order following a period of intense competitive pressure.