Companies Act 2014

Prohibition on acting in relation to audit while disqualification order in force

405. (1) If a person who is subject or deemed to be subject to a disqualification order (within the meaning of Chapter 4 of Part 14 )—

(a) becomes, or remains more than 28 days after the date of the making of the order, a partner in a firm of statutory auditors,

(b) gives directions or instructions in relation to the conduct of any part of the audit of the financial statements of a company, or

(c) works in any capacity in the conduct of an audit of the financial statements of a company,

he or she shall be guilty of a category 2 offence.

(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), the period for which he or she was disqualified by virtue of the foregoing order shall be extended for—

(a) a further period of 10 years beginning after the date of conviction, or

(b) such other (shorter or longer) further period as the court, on the application of the prosecutor or the defendant and having regard to all the circumstances of the case, may order.

(3) Section 847 shall not apply to a person convicted of an offence under subsection (1).