Local authority audit in England, playing the field?

Bradley, L. , Favotto, A. and McKernan, J. (2023) Local authority audit in England, playing the field? Financial Accountability and Management, 39(2), pp. 286-303. (doi: 10.1111/faam.12350)

Abstract

This study focuses on the field of public audit as a collibrative element of public sector accountability. It reports on the consequences of substantial collibrative intervention in such a field. The intervention studied is the change to local authority audit in England that culminated in the Local Audit and Accountability Act, 2014, and entailed the abolition of the Audit Commission. Drawing on strategic action field theory, and through examination of submissions to the Redmond Review and other documentary materials, an analysis is developed of the field of public financial audit in its ongoing efforts to re-equilibriate following the intervention. The analysis explores the action taken in pursuit of the restoration of field stability, effective functioning, and legitimacy, and the effects on public accountability. The analysis supports Julia Black's contention that different accountability regimes are not readily substitutable and exposes some of the risks and difficulties associated with attempts to modify accountability through collibrative intervention.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bradley, Ms Lynn and Favotto, Dr Alvise and McKernan, Professor John
• Authors: Bradley, L., Favotto, A., and McKernan, J.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Accounting and Finance
• Journal Name: Financial Accountability and Management
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0267-4424
• ISSN (Online): 1468-0408
• Published Online: 23 November 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Financial Accountability and Management 39(2):286-303
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License