Editorial

For the first time this year, this month’s WAR contains an exclusive interview with a leading regulator. Stephen Haddrill, Chief Executive Officer of the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) granted me an hour of his time for a wide-ranging discussion. Mr Haddrill provided insights into how the FRC has evolved under his leadership and the measures it is taking to face challenges in corporate reporting including the impact of increasing use of technology in the audit profession and how the FRC would seek to maintain its influential position post Brexit. With public interest concerns about the Big Four auditors increasingly in the news, readers will not be surprised to note the importance regulators place on auditors maintaining sufficient independence from their clients, which facilitates the exercise of proper judgement and scepticism. This is currently a topical and controversial area and the latest developments will be covered in more detail in next month’s newsletter.