Soft Market Test - External Audit

Aspire Housing is a leading housing provider, place shaper and property developer. We are a financially strong business. Profits are reinvested in new homes, in revitalising communities and in a comprehensive range of innovative support services, designed to transform lives. Our properties are in Staffordshire and Cheshire. The Group comprises the parent ('The Aspire Group'), Aspire Housing and its two subsidiaries, Durata and Incana (currently dormant). The Aspire Group is seeking to appoint an auditor for the provision of external audit services to the Group. The auditor will be required to audit the financial statements for the 3 Group companies. The audit must be carried out in accordance with applicable law, International Standards on Auditing, and any relevant Statements of Recommended Practice. The external auditor will be required to report to the Audit and Risk Committee and Group Board on the accounting and internal control systems in a management letter, and to review the Board's statement on internal controls. The external auditor will be expected to liaise with the internal auditor and place reliance on their work where appropriate. The external auditor will be required to guide and advise the officers of the Group on relevant legislative changes and changes to accounting standards, SORPs and treatments as part of the ongoing relationship. The external auditors will be expected to work closely with the officers of the Group in undertaking their responsibilities. The contract will be for a 3-year term subject to a satisfactory performance review after completion of the first year of the programme with the option to extend a further two years.