Outsourced Audit Companies in Leeds: A Practical Selection Guide (2026)
AC
Acumon Chartered Accountants·11 min read
This practical guide presents companies offering outsourced audit services in Leeds and supporting organisations across the wider UK market. Rather than ranking companies from first to last, it provides a structured overview of the options available, from large multidisciplinary companies with broad audit and risk capabilities to more focused specialists. The selection highlights the types of organisations they serve, their relevant expertise, service scope, and particular strengths. The aim is to give readers enough practical context to compare different companies and identify an option that fits their audit requirements, internal resources, and business structure.
Acumon
Acumon is a UK firm of chartered accountants and registered auditors providing outsourced audit, internal audit, risk assurance, and related accounting services to companies and other organisations. Its outsourced audit work can give businesses access to experienced audit professionals without requiring them to maintain all audit capabilities internally.
The firm works with organisations at different stages of growth, including owner-managed businesses, corporate groups, charities, regulated entities, and internationally structured organisations. Outsourced engagements can be structured around recurring audit requirements, additional capacity, or specialist support where an internal team does not have the resources required for particular areas of review.
For organisations in Leeds, outsourced audit support can be relevant when finance, risk, or governance teams need independent review without expanding permanent headcount. Acumon’s UK-wide service model allows it to support organisations outside its London base, including businesses requiring audit and assurance expertise in Leeds and the wider Yorkshire market.
Acumon’s wider audit and assurance capabilities include statutory external audit, internal audit, governance reviews, risk management, and compliance support. This combination can be useful where an outsourced engagement involves financial reporting as well as examination of internal controls, operational processes, governance arrangements, or regulatory requirements.
Outsourcing can also provide additional flexibility for corporate groups and growing businesses whose audit requirements change during periods of expansion, restructuring, investment, or increased regulatory oversight. External audit professionals can supplement existing finance and governance resources while maintaining an independent perspective on areas included within the agreed audit scope.
Acumon works with management teams, finance functions, boards, and other stakeholders to provide audit and assurance support aligned with organisational requirements. Engagements can cover ongoing audit responsibilities as well as specific reviews where additional expertise, capacity, or independent assurance is required.
Outsourced Audit Capabilities
Acumon provides outsourced audit and assurance support across a range of organisational structures and business requirements.
These include:
Fully outsourced internal audit functions
Co-sourced audit support for existing teams
Risk and internal control reviews
Governance and compliance assessments
Financial reporting and assurance reviews
Specialist audit support for corporate groups
Outsourced engagements can be tailored around the organisation’s existing resources, audit programme, governance structure, and areas of risk, with senior professionals involved throughout the engagement.
Regulatory Licences and Registrations
Acumon holds audit registrations and licences that support its work with UK organisations and internationally structured groups.
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 are particularly relevant where outsourced audit requirements sit alongside statutory audit responsibilities or involve corporate structures containing entities across the UK and international financial centres.
Outsourced audit arrangements can be useful when an organisation needs independent assurance but does not require, or cannot justify, a permanently staffed internal audit department. They can also provide additional capacity when an existing team faces a larger audit programme, new regulatory requirements, or specialist areas outside its usual expertise.
For Leeds organisations, this approach can be relevant during periods of growth, investment, restructuring, or changes in governance and reporting requirements. It also allows management and boards to obtain independent scrutiny of selected business processes without transferring every assurance responsibility to an external team.
Acumon works with organisations that are:
Expanding their internal audit coverage
Supplementing an existing audit team
Preparing for investment or corporate transactions
Strengthening governance and internal controls
Early discussions about the scope of an outsourced audit arrangement can help define responsibilities, priority risk areas, reporting expectations, and the level of external resource required before the audit programme begins.
Address: 1-2 Craven Road, Ealing, London, W5 2UA, UK
BDO
BDO combines audit with risk, advisory, digital and business services from its Leeds presence. This breadth can be useful where outsourced audit requirements extend beyond conventional financial controls into technology, governance, compliance or operational risk.
Its multidisciplinary model also suits organisations with more complex structures, including businesses that need access to specialists outside the core internal audit team. BDO works across private, public and listed organisations, giving it experience with different governance and reporting environments.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Mid-market and larger organisations
Core services: Internal audit, business assurance, risk advisory, digital risk and external audit
Specialization: Multidisciplinary risk and assurance work
Location: Leeds, UK
Relevant sectors: Private, public and listed organisations
Address: Central Square 29 Wellington Street Leeds, LS1 4DL, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bdo-llp
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bdo_uk
RSM
RSM has an established risk assurance operation covering Leeds. Its teams provide outsourced and co-sourced internal audit, secondments and internal audit effectiveness reviews across corporate, public sector, charity and financial services organisations.
The Leeds operation forms part of RSM’s wider Yorkshire and North East business. For organisations that already have an internal audit function, RSM can provide additional resources or specialist input rather than replacing the entire team. This flexibility is particularly relevant when audit workloads fluctuate or an organisation needs expertise that is difficult to maintain internally.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Middle-market businesses, charities and public sector organisations
Protiviti focuses heavily on internal audit, risk and controls consulting. Its internal audit work can be structured around outsourcing, co-sourcing or specialist support, making the firm relevant when an organisation wants to expand audit coverage without adding permanent employees.
Technology risk is another important part of the offering. Reviews can extend into IT controls, cybersecurity, data, regulatory compliance and transformation programmes, giving organisations access to specialist capabilities alongside conventional operational and financial internal audit.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Organisations with complex risk, technology or compliance requirements
Core services: Internal audit outsourcing, co-sourcing, IT audit, controls advisory and risk consulting
Specialization: Internal audit and technology risk
Location: Leeds presence
Delivery model: Outsourced, co-sourced and specialist project support
Contact Information
Website: www.protiviti.com
Phone: +44.11.3242. 8978
Address: Northspring, 21-23 Wellington St, Leeds LS1 2HH, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/protiviti
Facebook: www.facebook.com/protiviti
Twitter: x.com/protiviti
Instagram: www.instagram.com/protiviti
PKF Littlejohn
PKF Littlejohn provides internal audit and controls services that can support organisations needing either a complete outsourced function or additional expertise alongside an existing team. Engagements can include targeted control reviews as well as broader internal audit programmes.
The model is particularly relevant where organisations want flexible external resources rather than maintaining every audit skill internally. Internal audit support can also be combined with advice to audit leadership and reviews of particular governance or control areas.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Businesses and regulated organisations requiring flexible audit resources
Core services: Outsourced internal audit, co-sourcing, control reviews and internal audit support
Specialization: Governance, risk and internal controls
Location: Leeds presence
Delivery model: Full outsourcing and supplementary support
Address: 4th Floor 12 King Street Leeds Yorkshire LS1 2HL
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/littlejohn
Twitter: x.com/PKF_Littlejohn
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pkf.littlejohn
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton provides risk-based internal audit services to private and public sector organisations. Its delivery models can include outsourcing and co-sourcing, allowing clients to hand over substantial parts of the internal audit programme or use external specialists to strengthen an existing function.
The firm’s broader advisory capabilities can also support audits involving governance, regulatory compliance and operational risks. This makes the model relevant for organisations whose audit plan extends well beyond finance.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Private and public sector organisations
Sedulo operates in Leeds and provides audit and risk-related professional services. Its internal audit work can cover risk management frameworks, governance, controls and the delivery of ongoing audit plans rather than being limited to individual reviews.
Organisations with an existing audit team can also use external specialists for targeted assurance assignments, effectiveness assessments or additional capacity. This creates an alternative to either building a larger permanent internal audit department or transferring the whole function externally.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Growing businesses and organisations needing flexible assurance support
Core services: Internal audit, risk management reviews, governance support and assurance
Address: St. Paul’s House, 23 Park Square, Leeds, LS1 2ND
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sedulo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeduloGroup
Twitter: x.com/sedulo_group
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sedulogroup
Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars has a Leeds office and a dedicated internal audit practice. Its services address governance, risk management, compliance and internal controls, with teams able to help organisations establish an internal audit function or enhance an existing one.
Outsourcing and co-sourcing are established parts of the firm’s model, including specialist IT internal audit arrangements. Its published work also includes a case where an internal audit function moved to a fully outsourced Forvis Mazars model, illustrating how the firm can assume responsibility for ongoing audit delivery rather than only individual reviews.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Larger businesses, public sector organisations and complex groups
Core services: Internal audit, IT audit, governance reviews, risk management and compliance
Specialization: Governance, risk and internal control
Location: 3 Wellington Place, Leeds
Delivery model: Outsourced and co-sourced internal audit
AAB provides audit, assurance and risk-focused services to organisations across the UK and has a Leeds presence. Its capabilities are relevant to businesses looking for external support with internal controls, risk management and specific assurance projects.
External resources can also be used alongside an organisation’s own team where additional capacity or specialist input is needed. Related capabilities such as forensic work and contract or vendor reviews can broaden the scope of an outsourced assurance programme.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Private, public and not-for-profit organisations
Core services: Internal audit support, risk management, forensic work and contract assurance
Specialization: Risk-focused assurance
Location: Leeds, UK
Delivery model: Outsourced, co-sourced and project-based support
Contact Information
Website: aab.uk
Phone: +44 (0)113 297 6789
Address: Gresham House, 5-7 St Paul’s St, Leeds, LS1 2JG
Armstrong Watson offers audit and assurance services to commercial organisations, charities and other entities, with a Leeds office providing a local base for Yorkshire engagements. Internal audit work can focus on processes, controls and the way operational risks are managed.
The firm’s wider assurance work includes statutory audit and specialist assignments, which can be useful where an organisation prefers to consolidate several audit requirements with one professional services provider.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Commercial organisations and not-for-profit entities
Core services: Internal audit, statutory audit, assurance and risk reviews
KPMG maintains a substantial Leeds operation combining audit, tax, advisory, technology and legal specialists. Its UK internal audit practice delivers services across the full audit lifecycle, from strategy and function design through execution, testing and continuous assurance.
For organisations specifically looking to outsource, KPMG explicitly provides internal audit co-sourcing and outsourcing. Its capabilities include risk-based reviews, audit planning, external quality assessments, regulatory compliance and specialist technology-related work. This breadth is most relevant where an audit programme covers several business functions or operates across multiple jurisdictions.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Large, regulated and internationally active organisations
Delivery model: Outsourced, co-sourced and managed internal audit
Contact Information
Website: kpmg.com
Phone: +44 (0)113 231 3000
Address: 1 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, LS1 4DA Leeds, UK
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kpmg-uk
Twitter: x.com/kpmguk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KPMG
Deloitte
Deloitte has local capabilities spanning Audit & Assurance, Strategy, Risk & Transactions Advisory, Tax & Legal, and Technology & Transformation.
Its Leeds-based risk specialists work on technology controls and IT internal audit, including both co-source and outsource engagements. That makes Deloitte particularly relevant where the audit programme has a substantial technology component involving cybersecurity, cloud governance, data, critical IT controls or major transformation programmes.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Large organisations with complex technology and enterprise risks
Core services: Internal audit support, IT audit, risk advisory and controls assurance
Specialization: Technology risk and multidisciplinary assurance
Location: Leeds, UK
Relevant model: IT internal audit co-sourcing and outsourcing
Contact Information
Website: www.deloitte.com
Phone: +44 (0)113 243 9021
Address: 1 City Square, Leeds, LS1 2AL, United Kingdom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/deloitte
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloitteuk
Twitter: x.com/deloitteuk
PwC
PwC has more than 1,100 specialists in its Leeds office, with services spanning risk assurance, audit and other professional disciplines. Its UK internal audit practice works with private sector, public sector and financial services organisations.
For outsourced audit requirements, PwC offers outsource, co-source and managed service delivery. Its work can cover the complete internal audit plan, risk assessment, audit execution, reporting and specialist areas including cyber security, ESG, HR, culture, M&A and third-party risks. The breadth of the model makes it particularly relevant for organisations seeking access to multiple subject matter specialists through one internal audit arrangement.
Key Facts
Ideal for: Large businesses, financial services and public sector organisations
Core services: Internal audit outsourcing, co-sourcing, managed services and advisory
Specialization: Enterprise-wide internal audit and specialist risk assurance
Location: Leeds, UK
Additional capability: Technology-enabled audit and data-driven testing
Address: Central Square, 29 Wellington ,St Leeds, LS1 4DL
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pwc-uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PwCUK
Instagram: www.instagram.com/pwc_uk
Conclusion
Outsourced audit services in Leeds range from complete internal audit functions to co-sourced teams and specialist reviews covering technology, compliance, governance and operational controls. Larger providers tend to offer broad multidisciplinary resources, while mid-sized firms can be a practical fit for organisations seeking a more focused audit relationship. The appropriate provider depends on the organisation’s risk profile, sector, required audit coverage, internal resources and preferred delivery model.
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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