27/07/2026
ASIC just disqualified more auditors than ever. Here's the pattern behind it.
ASIC took action against 36 approved SMSF auditors between January and June 2026 alone — bringing its total actions for FY26 to 64. That's up on last year. Again.
Across the sector, one issue keeps surfacing: auditor independence. Specifically, firms auditing SMSFs whose financial statements were prepared by their own staff - the "in-house audit" problem.
It's an easy trap to fall into. Same firm, same client, same file. But ASIC has made it clear: routine convenience doesn't excuse an independence breach, and the consequences aren't just a warning letter. Disqualification is on the table.
For accounting and SMSF firms, the fix isn't complicated; it's structural. Separating audit from preparation removes the risk entirely, without adding headcount or slowing down turnaround.
That's exactly what our SMSF Audit Back Office does: a dedicated, independent audit function that plugs into your existing workflow, so your team stays focused on advice, not exposure.
If audit independence has been a "we'll get to it" item on your risk register, this is the year to move it up.
👉 See how our SMSF Audit Back Office removes the independence risk: https://tinyurl.com/bdzm53nb