Trainee Auditor
Richmond upon Thames Council is addressing significant delays in its internal audit work due to ongoing staffing shortages.
Richmond upon Thames Council's internal audit work is facing significant delays due to staffing shortages, with only 51% of planned audits for 2026/27 completed or in progress by the end of September 2026. A report to the Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee in October 2026 noted that 18 out of 55 planned audits had not yet started.
The council is experiencing recruitment difficulties for experienced internal auditors, a situation described as common across London councils. These challenges are contributing to the backlog in audit reviews, which falls behind the council's targets for the first half of the financial year.
Key facts
- By the end of September 2026, only 51% of Richmond upon Thames Council's planned internal audits for 2026/27 were completed or in progress. Source
- As of 30 September 2026, 18 out of 55 planned internal audits for Richmond upon Thames Council had not yet started. Source
- Richmond upon Thames Council faces recruitment challenges for experienced internal auditors, a situation common across London councils. Source
- The Audit, Standards and Statutory Accounts Committee heard about audit 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.