CASS 7 Audit Companies in Leeds: Guide to Providers
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·14 min read
Choosing a CASS 7 audit provider in Leeds is more than a regulatory task - it can affect how confidently a firm manages client money, control processes and FCA reporting expectations over time.
Leeds has a strong financial and professional services market, with audit firms ranging from larger accountancy networks to specialist assurance and advisory practices. Each provider brings a different mix of CASS experience, sector knowledge and approach to client money compliance.
This guide highlights a selection of CASS 7 audit companies operating in Leeds and across the wider UK market. Rather than ranking providers, the aim is to give practical context - outlining who these firms are, the types of FCA-regulated organisations they typically support, and the areas where they are most active.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing CASS 7 audit services to FCA-regulated investment firms.
The firm works with organisations ranging from investment firms holding client assets through to larger regulated entities. CASS 7 audit engagements are delivered in accordance with relevant FCA requirements under the Client Assets Sourcebook and supported by a structured risk-based audit methodology.
Acumon holds the necessary regulatory authorisations as an ICAEW-registered audit firm with FRC oversight, enabling it to deliver CASS audits for firms subject to enhanced regulatory requirements in the United Kingdom. The firm provides services throughout Great Britain, including Leeds.
In addition to its UK audit registration, Acumon also holds audit licences in several international financial centres, including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI), Jersey, and Isle of Man. These licences enable the firm to support international corporate groups where entities are located across multiple jurisdictions.
International group structures frequently involve a combination of UK operating companies and offshore holding entities, particularly in sectors such as investment management, technology, energy, and international trade. Coordinating audit work across these structures requires familiarity with cross-border financial reporting and group consolidation processes.
Acumon works with finance teams and boards to support CASS 7 audit requirements while also helping organisations strengthen client asset safeguarding processes, governance arrangements, and internal controls as they grow.
CASS 7 Audit Capabilities:
Acumon provides CASS 7 audit services across a wide range of organisational structures and sectors.
Firms subject to CASS 7 rules for client asset protection
Investment management and related regulated entities
Organisations requiring verification of client asset segregation, reconciliations, and custody arrangements
Firms needing compliance with FCA Handbook Section 7.10
Audit engagements are typically led by senior audit professionals with direct involvement throughout the engagement.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations:
Acumon holds several audit registrations that enable it to support organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions.
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 allow the firm to provide audit services to groups that include entities in both the UK and key international financial centres.
Core Services:
In addition to statutory external audit, Acumon provides a range of services that support financial reporting and governance.
These include:
Statutory external audit
Group and subsidiary audits
Public Interest Entity (PIE) audits
Charity and not-for-profit audit
Audit of international group structures
Internal audit and governance reviews
Risk management and compliance support
Audit work is often delivered alongside discussions with management and boards regarding financial reporting processes and governance frameworks.
Many organisations initially encounter statutory audit requirements as they grow and exceed the audit exemption thresholds set out in the Companies Act.
Acumon works with businesses that are:
Approaching their first statutory audit
Preparing for external investment
Expanding into international markets
Operating within corporate group structures
Early engagement with an audit firm can help ensure that financial reporting systems and documentation are aligned with statutory audit requirements.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
PKF Littlejohn
PKF Littlejohn works with financial services firms that need support around CASS 6 and CASS 7 audit requirements. For CASS 7, PKF Littlejohn places clear focus on planning, audit timing, breach records, risk and control documentation, resolution packs and the internal processes that support client money compliance.
PKF Littlejohn has a Leeds office, which makes them relevant for firms looking at CASS 7 audit companies in Leeds, while their wider funds and asset management team works with asset managers, wealth managers, private equity firms, broker dealers, listed and unlisted funds, investment trusts and related financial services businesses. Their CASS work sits alongside statutory audit, health checks, limited assurance reviews and internal audit, so their approach is tied closely to regulated financial services and audit preparation.
Key Highlights:
Leeds office presence, with wider UK audit and assurance support
Experience with CASS 6 and CASS 7 audit preparation
Focus on early audit planning, fieldwork timing and FCA reporting deadlines
Attention to risk and controls matrices as part of CASS audit planning
Clear focus on CASS 10 resolution packs for firms subject to CASS 7
Address: 4th Floor, 12 King Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS1 2HL
Phone: 0113 244 5141
S&W Group
S&W Group provides audit and assurance services for businesses that need clearer reporting, stronger controls and more structured review of financial processes. Their audit is not limited to CASS 7, but it shows a wider assurance approach built around planning, risk identification, senior team involvement and regular communication.
S&W Group’s audit and assurance work covers statutory audit, financial reporting, assurance services, royalty audit and pensions audit. The company places a lot of weight on understanding the business before testing begins, which fits the kind of work needed when reviewing client money processes, internal reporting and governance arrangements. For firms comparing CASS 7 audit companies serving Leeds, S&W Group may be relevant where broader audit and assurance experience is needed alongside regulated-sector understanding.
Key Highlights:
Provides audit and assurance services across several business types
Works with CFOs, finance directors, owners and audit committee chairs
Uses planning and risk identification as part of the audit process
Focuses on communication between client teams and internal audit teams
Forvis Mazars has a dedicated CASS and Safeguarding service for regulated firms that need support with client asset protection rules. Their work covers CASS for investment and insurance business firms, as well as safeguarding for payment services and e-money providers. The company has a Leeds office and a wider UK financial services team.
Forvis Mazars focuses on governance, oversight, systems, controls and the way firms use IT within client asset compliance. This is a useful part of their CASS profile, as CASS 7 work often depends on how well a firm understands reconciliations, client records, transaction flows and the systems behind them. Forvis Mazars also supports firms with annual assurance reports, gap identification and remediation work, so their role can go beyond the audit report itself.
Key Highlights:
Dedicated CASS and Safeguarding service within financial services
Covers CASS for investment and insurance business firms
Supports safeguarding work for payment services and e-money firms
Works with asset managers, banks, brokers, custodians and capital markets firms
Has IT specialists involved in client asset compliance work
Grant Thornton UK works with FCA-regulated firms that need assurance around client asset protection, including CASS 7 client money requirements. Grant Thornton UK’s CASS work sits within a wider financial services audit and advisory setting, so the focus is not only on the report itself, but also on how firms manage controls, governance, systems and regulatory change around client money.
A clear part of Grant Thornton UK’s approach is the changing scope of CASS. They cover areas such as safeguarding for payment and e-money firms, future digital asset regulation, and the way technology affects compliance work. For investment firms, asset managers and brokers, this makes Grant Thornton UK relevant where CASS 7 compliance connects with wider questions about business models, operational functions, audit quality and readiness for new regulatory expectations.
Key Highlights:
Provides CASS assurance services for FCA-regulated financial services firms
Covers CASS 7 client money requirements as part of wider client asset work
Works with investment firms, asset managers, brokers and other regulated businesses
Strong focus on governance, risk controls and operational readiness
Covers changes linked to safeguarding, digital assets and wider CASS expansion
Saffery provides CASS audit support for FCA-regulated firms that hold or control client money or assets. Saffery explains CASS audits in a clear way, separating reasonable assurance, limited assurance and hybrid reports, which is useful for firms that need to understand what type of CASS engagement applies to them. Their work is relevant to firms dealing with client money, custody assets and FCA reporting deadlines.
Saffery’s CASS audit work is led by a specialist team with experience across professional practice and financial services firms. Saffery also gives attention to the practical details that matter during a CASS audit, including the four-month reporting deadline, the absence of materiality in CASS breach reporting, and the need to plan CASS and statutory audit work before the year-end process begins.
Key Highlights:
Provides CASS audit support for FCA-regulated firms
Covers reasonable assurance, limited assurance and hybrid CASS reports
Works with firms that hold or control client money and client assets
Sedulo provides audit and assurance services across several specialist areas, including Client Assets (CASS) audits for FCA-regulated firms. Their CASS work focuses on understanding how a business meets client asset rules, reviewing that approach and challenging it where controls or processes may need closer attention.
Sedulo’s wider assurance work covers external audit, statutory audit, internal compliance, due diligence, grant audits, Solicitors’ Accounts Rules, credit unions and pensions audits. That range gives Sedulo a broader compliance background, especially for firms that want audit work to include feedback on systems, accounts and control weaknesses.
Key Highlights:
Provides Client Assets (CASS) audits for FCA-regulated firms
Reviews how firms meet client asset rule requirements
Focuses on systems, controls and compliance processes during audit work
Covers other assurance areas, including SAR, credit unions and pensions audits
Provides feedback on weaknesses in systems and accounts
BDO works with regulated financial services firms on CASS and safeguarding-related assurance, with a strong focus on control testing, books and records, reconciliations and regulatory reporting. For CASS 7 work, BDO is relevant to firms that need independent review of how client money is segregated, recorded and checked against internal and external records.
BDO also has a clear safeguarding focus for payment and e-money firms, including the new rules coming into force on 7 May 2026. That work covers gap analysis, remediation, audit readiness, resolution packs, monthly returns and training for boards or staff. For firms comparing CASS 7 audit companies serving Leeds, BDO may be a fit where client money controls sit alongside broader safeguarding, governance and reporting work.
Key Highlights:
Provides CASS and safeguarding assurance for regulated firms
Reviews client money segregation, records and reconciliation controls
Covers internal and external reconciliation processes
Works with payment firms, e-money firms and other FCA-regulated businesses
Supports firms preparing for the 7 May 2026 safeguarding rule changes
Address: Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL, United Kingdom
Phone: 0113 244 3839
PwC
PwC works with financial services firms on CASS, safeguarding, regulatory assurance and broader risk matters. Their CASS-related work is relevant for firms that hold client money and need assurance over segregation, record keeping, reconciliation and protection of funds if the firm becomes insolvent. PwC’s financial services team also covers areas such as banking, capital markets, insurance, asset and wealth management, so their CASS work sits within a wider regulated-sector setting.
A large part of PwC’s recent focus is the move toward CASS-style safeguarding rules for payments and e-money firms. PwC looks at how firms prepare their controls, systems, cash collection processes, documentation, staff training and audit readiness before new requirements take effect.
Key Highlights:
Provides CASS and regulatory assurance support for financial services firms
Covers client money segregation, records and protection of client funds
Works across banking, capital markets, insurance, asset management and wealth management
Supports firms preparing for CASS-style safeguarding rules
Focuses on reconciliations, control frameworks, documentation and systems changes
Services:
CASS 7 audit support
Regulatory assurance
Client money compliance review
Safeguarding readiness support
Gap analysis
Controls and systems review
Staff training support
Contact Information:
Website: www.pwc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PwCUK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pwc-uk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pwc_uk
Address: Central Square, 29 Wellington St, Leeds, LS1 4DL
Phone: +44 (0)113 289 4000
Deloitte
Deloitte has a dedicated CASS Risk Advisory team that works with financial institutions on the practical application of CASS rules. Deloitte’s work is relevant to firms that need support with CASS 7 client money requirements, including segregation, governance, reconciliations, bank acknowledgement letters and resolution pack expectations.
Deloitte supports a broad range of financial institutions, including wealth managers, investment firms and FinTech businesses. Their CASS work covers oversight support, training, regulatory reviews, remediation and risk and control management.
Key Highlights:
Supports firms with interpretation and practical application of CASS rules
Covers CASS 7 client money controls and governance
Reviews segregation, reconciliations, bank acknowledgement letters and resolution packs
Works with financial institutions, including wealth managers and FinTech firms
Helps firms identify possible non-compliance during engagement work
Services:
CASS 7 audit support
CASS risk advisory
CASS SMF and oversight support
Training and ad-hoc advice
FCA regulatory visit support
Audit findings remediation
Contact Information:
Website: www.deloitte.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuk
Twitter: x.com/deloitteuk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte
Address: 1 City Square Leeds, LS1 2AL United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)113 243 9021
RSM UK
RSM UK works with financial services firms that need support with client money and client asset rules, including CASS requirements. RSM UK’s work focuses on whether a firm’s CASS arrangements are clear, controlled and able to stand up to FCA scrutiny. They look at areas such as client money segregation, asset allocation, internal reporting, management information and the regular returns firms may need to submit to the FCA.
RSM UK also supports firms that need a closer review of their existing CASS processes before an annual audit. Their team can carry out assurance reviews, forensic analysis, operational process reviews and resolution pack work.
Key Highlights:
Covers CASS arrangements, controls and FCA compliance
Reviews segregation of client money and allocation of client assets
Helps firms prepare for annual CASS audits
Carries out assurance reviews to assess CASS compliance
Reviews internal CASS reporting and management information
EY provides audit services for financial services firms where control testing, reporting quality and regulatory confidence are central to the work. Their audit work is built around independence, professional scepticism, technology and a consistent audit method.
EY’s wider audit approach also puts a strong focus on data, digital audit tools and risk insight. That matters for CASS 7 work because client money reviews often depend on reliable records, clear reconciliation routines, proper bank acknowledgement letters and a well-maintained breach register. For Leeds firms looking at CASS 7 audit providers, EY may be a fit where the audit needs to handle large volumes of data, complex controls or wider financial services reporting requirements.
Key Highlights:
Provides audit services for financial services firms
Relevant to CASS 7 client money assurance and control testing
Reviews segregation, reconciliations and client money records
Uses a global audit method supported by audit technology
Focuses on independence, objectivity and professional scepticism
Covers audit work linked to trust in business and capital markets
Services:
CASS 7 audit support
Client money controls testing
Audit and assurance
Financial services audit
Reconciliation review
Bank acknowledgement letter review
Breach register review
Contact Information:
Website: www.ey.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EY
Twitter: x.com/EYnews
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ernstandyoung
Address: 12 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP
Phone: +44 113 298 2200
Conclusion
Choosing a CASS 7 audit provider usually starts with sector fit. Firms tend to look for auditors who understand FCA-regulated businesses, client money rules, reconciliation processes, breach reporting and the practical pressure of meeting submission deadlines. A general audit background is useful, but CASS 7 work needs a more specific understanding of how client money is held, recorded, protected and reviewed.
The right provider will also depend on the firm’s size, systems and level of CASS complexity. Some organisations may need a firm with national financial services coverage and technology-led audit tools. Others may prefer a provider with closer local access, clearer communication and hands-on support around controls, resolution packs or audit preparation.
This guide is not intended to rank CASS 7 audit companies in Leeds. Its purpose is to give a clearer view of the firms active in this area, the type of CASS and assurance work they handle, and the points organisations may want to compare before choosing an audit provider.
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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