CASS 5 Audit Companies in London: A Guide to Providers
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·14 min read
For firms operating under the FCA's client money rules, CASS 5 compliance is more than a regulatory requirement. It plays an important role in maintaining effective controls, protecting client assets and demonstrating sound governance to regulators and stakeholders alike.
London is home to a wide range of firms offering CASS audit and assurance services. These include global professional services networks, specialist regulatory advisors and chartered accountancy practices with experience supporting regulated businesses across the financial services sector.
This guide highlights a selection of companies providing CASS 5 audit services in London. Rather than ranking providers, the aim is to offer practical context on the firms operating in this area, the types of organisations they typically support, and the broader expertise they bring across governance, risk and regulatory compliance.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing CASS 5 audit services to firms and organisations across London and the wider UK market.
The firm supports regulated businesses ranging from insurance intermediaries and brokers through to larger corporate groups operating within FCA-regulated environments. CASS 5 audit engagements are designed to assess compliance with client money rules, strengthen governance arrangements and support effective regulatory oversight.
Acumon provides CASS 5 audit support across a range of regulatory and reporting requirements, including client money assessments, control reviews, compliance testing and reporting obligations under the FCA Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS). Services are delivered using a structured, risk-based approach tailored to the scale and complexity of each regulated entity.
Acumon holds a Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence, enabling the firm to support organisations subject to enhanced regulatory oversight in the United Kingdom. In addition to its UK statutory audit registration, the firm also maintains audit licences in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Jersey and Isle of Man, supporting organisations operating across international structures and reporting environments.
Regulated firms handling client money often face increasingly complex compliance requirements involving governance oversight, control frameworks and evolving FCA expectations. Acumon works with finance teams, compliance functions and senior management to support regulatory compliance, reporting accuracy and effective control environments.
CASS 5 Audit Capabilities
Acumon provides CASS 5 audit services across a range of regulated entities and compliance environments.
These include:
insurance intermediaries and brokers
FCA-regulated firms handling client money
organisations subject to CASS 5 requirements
multi-entity and group structures
businesses with cross-border operations
regulated entities with complex control frameworks
CASS 5 engagements are led by experienced professionals with direct involvement throughout the audit and reporting process.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon maintains a range of regulatory registrations and professional authorisations supporting organisations operating across UK and international environments.
These include:
UK statutory audit registration
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audit licence
Jersey audit licence
Isle of Man audit licence
Cayman Islands audit licence
British Virgin Islands audit licence
These registrations support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions, regulated sectors and international group structures.
Core Services
Alongside CASS 5 audit services, Acumon provides a wider range of services supporting governance, reporting and regulatory compliance.
These include:
CASS 5 audits and compliance reviews
client money control assessments
statutory external audit
group and subsidiary audits
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
charity and not-for-profit audit
internal audit and governance reviews
risk management and compliance support
CASS 5 engagements are often delivered alongside discussions regarding client money controls, governance frameworks, regulatory reporting and internal oversight procedures.
As regulated businesses expand operations or introduce more complex operating structures, compliance obligations and control requirements often require increased oversight and documentation.
Acumon works with businesses that are:
managing client money under CASS 5 rules
preparing for FCA regulatory reviews
operating within group structures
reviewing governance and control procedures
expanding regulated activities
Early engagement can help organisations strengthen compliance frameworks, improve control environments and support ongoing regulatory obligations.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
Phone: 020 8567 3451
BKL
BKL provides CASS audit services for FCA-regulated firms that hold or control client money and assets. Their work covers several areas of the Client Assets Sourcebook, including CASS 5 audits for insurance intermediaries. Alongside the audit process itself, they review systems and controls to help firms understand how client money arrangements operate in practice and where gaps may exist in compliance processes.
CASS requirements often sit alongside broader governance and assurance obligations, particularly for firms operating in regulated financial markets. BKL's financial services audit specialists support businesses across different stages of growth, including fintech companies, by combining CASS audits with wider audit engagements where appropriate. Their approach includes coordination with regulatory advisers and legal specialists when firms face more complex regulatory requirements.
Key Highlights:
Experience supporting FCA-regulated businesses
CASS 5 audit services for insurance firms
Coverage across multiple CASS categories, including CASS 6, 7 and 8
Support for Limited Assurance Reports and Reasonable Assurance Reports
Experience working with fintech businesses and regulated financial services firms
Audit work linked to systems, controls and regulatory compliance
Preparation for evolving safeguarding requirements under CASS 15
Address: First floor, 5 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7RD
Phone: +44 (0)20 7832 0444
Price Bailey
Price Bailey carries out CASS audits for firms regulated by the FCA that hold client money or custody assets. Their work covers businesses operating under CASS 5, CASS 6 and CASS 7 requirements, including insurance distributors, investment firms and payment-related businesses. Audit engagements are structured around understanding a firm's control environment and assessing whether client money arrangements meet regulatory expectations.
The firm places particular attention on reconciliations, acknowledgement letters and breach identification, all of which remain areas of interest for the regulator. Their audit process includes reviewing operating controls, testing transactions and assessing how firms manage client asset protections on an ongoing basis. With regulatory requirements continuing to evolve, especially for safeguarding arrangements, CASS compliance remains closely linked to wider governance and risk management frameworks.
Key Highlights:
CASS audit services for FCA-regulated firms
Experience across insurance, investment and payment sectors
Coverage of CASS 5, CASS 6 and CASS 7 requirements
Assessment of client money controls and reconciliations
Support for limited, reasonable and hybrid assurance engagements
Focus on breach identification and regulatory reporting
Knowledge of safeguarding developments affecting regulated firms
MAH has experience supporting financial services firms with CASS audits, particularly in relation to CASS 5 and CASS 7 client money rules. Their client base includes insurance brokers, foreign exchange businesses, wealth managers and other FCA-authorised firms where safeguarding client money forms part of day-to-day operations. Audit work is built around understanding how firms manage transactions, reconciliations and client balances within their regulatory framework.
The audit process typically involves reviewing systems, testing transactions and documenting any issues identified during the engagement. Given the importance of accurate client money calculations and record keeping, firms operating under CASS requirements often need clear evidence that controls function as intended. MAH's work in this area reflects the close relationship between compliance, operational processes and regulatory oversight.
Key Highlights:
Experience with CASS 5 and CASS 7 audits
Work with FCA-authorised financial services firms
Coverage of both limited and reasonable assurance engagements
Experience across insurance, FX and wealth management sectors
Review of reconciliations and client money controls
Menzies provides audit and assurance services to businesses operating in regulated sectors, including firms subject to the FCA's client money rules. Their work in the CASS area includes assurance services linked to client money reconciliations, an important element of CASS 5 compliance for mortgage and insurance firms. The firm publishes guidance on how regulated businesses can maintain accurate records and ensure that client money requirements align with available resources.
Client money oversight remains a key part of the wider regulatory framework, particularly where firms handle funds on behalf of customers. Menzies highlights the importance of reconciliation processes, record retention and governance arrangements that support ongoing compliance. Their experience across financial services and statutory audit engagements places CASS reviews within a broader context of risk management and regulatory assurance.
Key Highlights:
Experience supporting FCA-regulated firms
Focus on client money reconciliations under CASS 5
Audit and assurance capabilities across regulated sectors
Guidance on client money calculations and record keeping
Support for governance and compliance processes
Experience in financial services assurance
Coverage of regulatory requirements linked to client assets
Johnston Carmichael offers audit and assurance services to businesses operating in changing regulatory environments, including firms affected by the FCA's Client Assets Sourcebook. Their CASS audit services are designed to support organisations dealing with client asset and client money requirements, particularly where growth, market entry or changes in business activities introduce additional compliance obligations.
As financial services firms continue to adapt to evolving regulations, CASS oversight often extends beyond annual audits and into wider control frameworks. Johnston Carmichael combines CASS support with expertise in internal audit, IT assurance and financial reporting, reflecting the increasing connection between governance, operational resilience and regulatory expectations. This broader perspective can be particularly relevant for firms managing complex systems and customer assets.
Key Highlights:
CASS audit services for regulated businesses
Experience supporting firms in evolving regulatory environments
Expertise in audit, assurance and financial reporting
Integration of IT assurance and control reviews
Focus on governance and operational resilience
Support for businesses at different stages of growth
Thistle Initiatives specialises in regulatory consulting and compliance support for firms operating under FCA supervision. Their work around CASS focuses on helping businesses understand and maintain compliance with client money and custody asset requirements across sectors such as investments, insurance, credit and digital assets. Support is available both before and after external audits, reflecting the ongoing nature of CASS compliance.
CASS frameworks often require more than periodic reviews, particularly as firms grow or adapt to changing regulations. Thistle Initiatives carries out health checks, reviews internal procedures and assists with remediation where issues have been identified. Their services are closely linked to governance, risk management and compliance monitoring, which are central to maintaining effective client asset controls.
Key Highlights:
Focus on FCA compliance and regulatory consulting
Support across investments, insurance and digital assets sectors
CASS health check and review services
Assistance before and after external audits
Experience with compliance monitoring and reporting
FSCom focuses on regulatory compliance and assurance services for firms operating under UK and EEA financial regulations. Their work includes support across the Client Assets Sourcebook, where CASS compliance remains a key area for firms handling client money and assets. In the context of CASS 5, this can involve assessing controls, reviewing processes and helping businesses understand whether their arrangements meet regulatory expectations.
As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, CASS oversight has become closely linked with governance, risk management and operational resilience. FSCom's background in compliance and audit allows them to assist firms with remediation, control testing and ongoing assurance activities. Their experience spans several regulated sectors, including payments and financial services.
Key Highlights:
Focus on regulatory compliance and assurance
Experience with FCA and EEA regulatory frameworks
Support for CASS compliance and remediation
Expertise across governance and control frameworks
Experience in payments and financial services sectors
Audit and assurance services linked to regulatory requirements
Lighthouse Consultants provides CASS audit services aimed at helping firms demonstrate compliance with the FCA's client money rules. Their published materials highlight the role of audits in safeguarding client funds and maintaining effective controls, which are central elements of CASS 5 requirements for insurance intermediaries and other regulated firms.
Client money oversight is often more than an annual exercise, particularly where businesses need to monitor controls on an ongoing basis. Lighthouse Consultants emphasises transparency, risk reduction and regulatory compliance as part of the audit process, reflecting the broader governance responsibilities associated with managing client assets.
Address: Fitzrovia, 60 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 2EW
Phone: +44 207 871 0485
Wisteria Accountants
Wisteria Accountants offers CASS and client money audit services for businesses regulated by the FCA. Their approach centres on examining how client money is handled, whether controls are operating effectively and if existing arrangements align with regulatory obligations. This area is particularly relevant for firms subject to CASS 5 requirements, where protecting client funds remains a core expectation.
Handling client money can involve complex processes that change as firms grow or introduce new services. Wisteria Accountants review these arrangements to identify gaps, assess safeguards and provide observations on areas that may require attention. The audit process is positioned within the wider context of compliance, accountability and maintaining confidence in financial operations.
Address: The Grange Barn, Pike's End, Pinner, London, HA5 2EX
Phone: 020 4546 7630
Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars provides CASS and safeguarding services to firms operating across financial services, including insurance, banking, asset management and payment sectors. Their CASS work is closely linked to governance, internal controls and regulatory oversight, reflecting the FCA's continued focus on client asset protection. For businesses subject to CASS 5 requirements, this includes reviewing how client money is managed, recorded and reconciled within broader control frameworks.
Regulatory expectations around client assets have expanded significantly over time, particularly in areas such as IT systems, record keeping and oversight processes. Forvis Mazars draws on audit, risk and technology expertise to assess how firms maintain compliance in practice and how systems support accurate client money management. Their approach extends beyond annual assurance by helping organisations identify control gaps and address areas requiring remediation.
Key Highlights:
Experience across regulated financial services sectors
CASS and safeguarding expertise
Focus on governance and control frameworks
Assessment of client asset protection arrangements
Address: 30 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AU, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7063 4000
CASS Audit Services
CASS Audit Services specialises in assurance and advisory work relating to the FCA's Client Assets Sourcebook. Their activities cover external and internal CASS reviews, with a focus on helping regulated firms maintain effective oversight of client money and related controls. While their published expertise spans multiple CASS chapters, the principles applied to CASS 5 engagements remain centred on compliance, monitoring and protection of client assets.
Many firms now view CASS compliance as an ongoing process that requires coordination between operations, compliance and independent oversight functions. CASS Audit Services supports this through risk-based reviews, third-line monitoring and consultancy work linked to regulatory change and control enhancements. This can be particularly relevant where firms introduce new products, systems or operating models that affect client money arrangements.
Key Highlights:
Focus on CASS assurance and advisory services
Experience with external and internal CASS reviews
Risk-based approach to compliance monitoring
Support for independent third-line oversight
Knowledge of regulatory developments
Experience with remediation and control enhancements
Choosing a CASS 5 audit provider in London is not simply about meeting an annual regulatory requirement. For insurance intermediaries and other FCA-regulated firms, CASS compliance forms part of a broader framework of governance, risk management and client money protection. As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, firms often look for advisers who understand both the technical requirements of the Client Assets Sourcebook and the practical realities of operating in regulated markets.
The companies featured in this guide represent a range of approaches to CASS 5 audits, from specialist compliance consultancies to established audit and assurance firms. Some place greater emphasis on regulatory advisory and remediation, while others integrate CASS work into wider audit, risk and governance services. The most suitable provider will often depend on a firm's business model, regulatory permissions and the complexity of its client money arrangements.
When assessing potential providers, organisations typically consider factors such as experience with FCA-regulated businesses, understanding of client money controls, reporting capabilities and familiarity with evolving regulatory requirements. A well-executed CASS 5 audit can do more than support compliance - it can help firms strengthen controls, improve oversight and maintain confidence in how client assets are managed.
AC
Written by the Acumon team
Acumon is an ICAEW-registered firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors
based in London, with offices in Pitstone, Aylesbury and Bournemouth. Need advice on
anything covered here? Talk to us.
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