Harborough District Council Accounts Fail Audit Sign-Off Again
Written by HFM News on 27th May 2026
External auditors will refuse to sign off Harborough District Council’s accounts for a third successive year.
Ongoing issues linked to a new financial system and unreconciled transactions are being blamed, with accountants from Grant Thornton unable to confirm the authority’s financial statements are accurate.
As a result, a Disclaimer of Opinion is set to be issued again, although auditors have noted progress in addressing the problems over the past year.
Harborough District Council’s Symington Building HQ
Concerns had also previously been raised about a wholly owned council subsidiary failing to meet statutory filing obligations for a second year in a row, although its accounts have now been declared.
Deputy council leader Phil King said the authority had faced a number of financial reporting and audit challenges while introducing a new financial management system, recruiting a new finance team and working with new external auditors.
He said “a stronger focus is now being placed on grip, accountability and financial oversight” and that auditors had identified “a significant improvement” in the quality of information being provided by the council.
Councillor King added the authority remained on track to publish its 2025/26 accounts by the end of June.
