EY wins battle of the accountants to pick up Dignity audit contract

ACCOUNTANCY firm EY has seen off its big four rivals to win the auditing contract of Sutton Coldfield funeral services firm Dignity.

The incumbent, PwC, resigned from its role as auditor when Dignity decided to put the audit contract out for tender and then appointed EY to the role.

Dignity – the UK’s only listed funeral services business – says it recognised the ratio of non-audit to audit services provided by PwC as having been relatively high and therefore decided to tender the role of external auditor.

EY and big four accountancy firm rivals Deloitte and KPMG were invited to take part in the tender. PwC did not take part, leaving it available to continue to provide the non-audit services.

Dignity says its policy on non-audit fees, as adopted on January 1, will apply to EY.

This policy states that non-audit fees will be limited to 50% of the annual audit fee unless there are exceptional circumstances.