Scope
Reference
FRC2025-169
Description
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
Total value (estimated)
- £45,000 excluding VAT
- £54,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 16 February 2026 to 8 May 2026
- Possible extension to 31 March 2027
- 1 year, 1 month, 13 days
Description of possible extension:
• The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
• The right to extend should there be a pause or delay to the project activities.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
• Additional research services of the same nature
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
20 January 2026, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
29 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders should be submitted within the deadline by email to procurement@frc.org.uk
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Award criteria
Quality and Price.
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Contracting authority
THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL LIMITED
- Companies House: 02486368
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLRG-2717-VPBY
13th Floor, Exchange Tower, 1 Harbour Exchange Square
London
E14 9GE
United Kingdom
Contact name: Head of Procurement
Telephone: +442074922300
Email: Procurement@frc.org.uk
Website: https://www.frc.org.uk/
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Organisation type: Public authority - central government