Principal Auditor
Richmond upon Thames Council is facing significant delays in its internal audit work due to staffing shortages for roles like Principal Auditor.
Richmond upon Thames Council's internal audit work is experiencing significant delays due to staffing shortages, impacting roles such as Principal Auditor. The Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee heard in October 2026 that only 51% of planned internal audits for the 2026/27 financial year were completed or in progress by the end of September 2026.
Recruitment challenges for experienced internal auditors are contributing to the situation, with 18 out of 55 planned audits for the year not yet started as of September 2026. This has led to the council falling behind its targets for the first six months of the financial year.
Key facts
- Richmond upon Thames Council's internal audit work is experiencing significant delays due to staffing shortages. Source
- By the end of September 2026, only 51% of planned internal audits for the 2026/27 financial year were completed or in progress. Source
- 18 out of 55 planned audits for the year had not yet started as of 30 September 2026. Source
- The Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee heard about these delays on 20 October 2026. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.