Charities Act 2011

153 Commission’s powers to order audit of group accounts

(1) The Commission may by order require the group accounts of a parent charity for a financial year to be audited by a person within section 144(2)(a) or (b) if it appears to the Commission that—

(a) section 151(4)(a), or (as the case may be) section 152(2), has not been complied with in relation to that year within 10 months from the end of that year, or

(b) although section 151(4)(a) does not apply to that year, it would nevertheless be desirable for the group accounts for that year to be audited by a person within section 144(2)(a) or (b).

But this subsection does not apply if section 149 or 150 (audit or examination of NHS charity accounts) applies in relation to the parent charity for that year.

(2) If the Commission makes an order under subsection (1) with respect to group accounts, the auditor must be a person appointed by the Commission unless—

(a) the order is made by virtue of subsection (1)(b), and

(b) the charity trustees of the parent charity themselves appoint an auditor in accordance with the order.

(3) The expenses of any audit carried out by an auditor appointed by the Commission under subsection (2), including the auditor’s remuneration, are recoverable by the Commission—

(a) from the charity trustees of the parent charity, who are personally liable, jointly and severally, for those expenses, or

(b) to the extent that it appears to the Commission not to be practical to seek recovery of those expenses in accordance with paragraph (a), from the funds of the parent charity.