New data from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has revealed the challenger audit firms have increased their share of FTSE 250 audits, up from 4.8% to 7.6%, however all FTSE 100 companies continue to be audited by a Big Four firm.

Improving competition across the FTSE 350 audit market remains a key focus for the FRC, and the Government recently consulted on major reforms to improve choice and competition in the audit market.

The FRC’s latest Key Facts and Trends in the Accountancy Profession (KFAT) found that the five largest challenger firms outside the Big 4 audited 19 FTSE 350 companies, up from 10 the previous year.

Despite the challenging economic environment, the Big 4 firms increased their average audit fee income per Responsible Individual (RI)* by 7.7%. Those firms outside the Big 4, with Public Interest Entity clients, also increased their average audit fee income per RI by 4.7%. There has been a continual increase in the average audit fee income per RI for all firms since 2004 when the FRC began its data collection for this publication.

FRC CEO, Sir Jon Thompson, said: “It is encouraging that the challenger firms have increased their share of the FTSE 350 audit market, albeit from a low base, however it is clear the Big 4 continue to dominate the FTSE audit market.

Improving competition across the audit market and ensuring audit firms focus, above all else, on delivering high-quality audit is essential to improving trust in audit and corporate governance and remains a key priority for the FRC as it transitions to becoming ARGA.”