UK Audit Board

The Audit Board provides a forum for detailed consideration of audit quality and supports the PIC’s public-interest oversight of matters relating to the Audit Service Line.

The terms of reference of the Audit Board can be found here.

The Audit Board consists of not fewer than three independent non-executive members, the Head of Audit and the Head of Audit Quality.

Current members are set out below:

Oliver Tant – INE and Audit Board Chair
Guy Jubb – INE
Devyani Vaishampayan – INE
Lord Morse – INE
Caroline Plumb - INE
Greg Simpson – Head of Audit
Christos Vernardos – in his capacity as Head of Audit Quality

The summary biographies of the INEs can be found here.

Independent Non-Executives (INEs) are members of both the PIC and Audit Board. For simplicity and clarity of roles we refer to all non-executives as INEs.

The PIC focuses on firm‑wide public interest oversight. The Audit Board provides a mechanism, alongside its advisory function, for the INEs to devote more time to matters relating to audit quality and to monitor the drivers of audit quality in more depth. The role of the INEs, the Firm's supporting obligations and escalation arrangements are set out in the Independent Non-Executive Charter here.

Changes since our financial year end 31 August 2026:

From 15 Sept 2026 all Independent Non-Executives (INEs) are now members of both the PIC and Audit Board.
Professor Guy Jubb will step down from the Audit Board on 31 October 2026 having concluded his nine year tenure.
Caroline Plumb – INE was appointed as an INE from 1 September 2026.
Following his appointment to Head of Risk and Quality effective 1 Sept 2026, Christos Vernardos will continue to serve as a member of the Audit Board during FY27 while the firm completes the recruitment and transition of a new Head of Audit Quality. This interim arrangement is intended to support an orderly transition before Christos steps down from the Board in his capacity as Head of Audit Quality.