From 6 May 2026, every audit report issued in respect of an audited Singapore company must now bear the name of the individual public accountant who personally led the engagement. This change, introduced by the Corporate and Accounting Laws (Amendment) Act 2025 (CALA 2025), represents a significant shift in audit transparency — and it has practical implications for boards, audit committees, and management teams at every audited Singapore company.

Previously, audit reports were signed off in the name of the accounting firm. The engagement partner was registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) but was not disclosed to the public or to shareholders. Under CALA 2025, that anonymity ends. The individual’s name must appear in the audit report.

This article explains who is affected, what the new requirement actually involves, why it has been introduced, and what directors and audit committees should do in response. For broader CALA 2025 context, see our overview of the Corporate and Accounting Laws Amendment Act 2025.

Who Is Affected?

The named auditor requirement applies to all Singapore-incorporated companies that are required by law to have their financial statements audited — in other words, companies that do not qualify for the small company audit exemption.

The Small Company Audit Exemption — A Quick Reminder

Under Section 205B of the Companies Act, a company qualifies as a “small company” and is exempt from the statutory audit requirement if it satisfies at least two of the three following criteria for the past two consecutive financial years:

  • Annual revenue of not more than S$10 million
  • Total assets of not more than S$10 million
  • Fewer than 50 employees

Additionally, the company must be a private company throughout both financial years. Listed companies cannot qualify for the small company exemption regardless of their size.

If your company qualifies as a small company, it does not need a statutory audit and the CALA 2025 named auditor requirement does not apply. If it does not qualify — because it is too large, because it is a listed entity, because its constitution requires an audit, or because a shareholder has demanded one under Section 205(2) — the named auditor requirement applies.

What Does the New Named Auditor Requirement Involve?

Under the CALA 2025 amendments, the audit report of an audited Singapore company must identify the name of the individual public accountant (the engagement partner) who is personally responsible for the audit engagement. Specifically:

  • The name of the engagement partner must appear in the body of the audit report alongside the name of the accounting firm.
  • The engagement partner must be a registered public accountant in Singapore under the Accountants Act.
  • The requirement applies to financial statements signed off on or after the commencement date of 6 May 2026, regardless of when the financial year ended.
  • Auditors will also be required to confirm the name of the responsible engagement partner in the engagement letter and the management representation letter.

This is not merely an administrative formality. It creates direct, public accountability for the individual who stands behind the audit opinion — a significant change in how professional responsibility is allocated in the Singapore audit framework.

Why Has This Change Been Made?

The introduction of named auditors in Singapore reflects a global trend towards greater audit transparency and personal accountability. Several key drivers underpin the reform:

International Alignment

The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) have long required engagement partner identification in audit reports in their respective jurisdictions. Singapore’s move brings it in line with these major frameworks and reinforces its position as a leading financial centre with robust governance standards.

Investor and Shareholder Protection

Naming the engagement partner provides shareholders with greater information about who is responsible for the audit opinion. Shareholders can assess whether the same engagement partner has been in place for many consecutive years (raising questions about auditor independence), whether the named partner has been subject to any disciplinary proceedings, and whether they wish to raise questions at the AGM about auditor performance or rotation.

Professional Accountability

By making the engagement partner’s name public, ACRA creates a stronger direct accountability link between the individual professional and the quality of the audit work. This is intended to reinforce the culture of professional responsibility and discourage complacency in audit engagements.

Practical Implications for Boards and Audit Committees

1. Confirm Your Auditor Is Ready

The first and most immediate step for boards is to confirm with their audit firm that updated report templates are in place before the next audit is signed off. Audit firms should have updated their standard report formats to include the engagement partner’s name, but it is prudent for the board or audit committee to verify this proactively rather than discover after signing that the report does not comply.

2. Review Your Engagement Letter

The engagement letter for your current audit year should now name the engagement partner. If you have already signed an engagement letter for your current financial year that does not include this information, ask your audit firm to issue a supplementary letter or amendment confirming the named partner. This is a straightforward administrative step but should not be overlooked.

3. Factor the Named Partner Into Auditor Selection and Evaluation

For audit committees, the named auditor requirement creates a new dimension to auditor evaluation and selection. Audit committees should now consider:

  • The specific engagement partner being assigned to the company’s audit — not just the firm’s reputation generally
  • The engagement partner’s experience with the company’s industry and size
  • Whether auditor rotation policies should address both firm rotation and partner rotation
  • Whether the named partner has any disciplinary history with ACRA or the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

4. Shareholder Questions at AGMs

With the engagement partner now named in the audit report, shareholders who receive audited financial statements ahead of the AGM will be able to identify and potentially raise questions about the named individual. Boards should be prepared for shareholder questions about the engagement partner’s tenure, qualifications, and any changes in engagement partner from previous years. See our guide on AGM requirements for Singapore companies for how to manage the annual general meeting process effectively.

5. Listed Companies

For listed companies, the named auditor requirement interacts with SGX Listing Rules obligations on auditor transparency. Listed companies already have more extensive disclosure obligations around their auditors, and the CALA 2025 change reinforces these existing requirements at the statutory level.

Implications for the Accounting Profession

From the perspective of public accountants and audit firms, the named auditor change creates both obligations and professional reputation considerations:

  • Engagement letters must be updated to identify the named partner from the outset of each engagement.
  • Report templates must be revised to include the partner’s name in a manner that satisfies ACRA’s requirements.
  • Quality control processes take on greater significance because the named partner now carries direct reputational exposure for any audit quality issues that come to light after the report is issued.
  • Partner assignment decisions within firms may be subject to greater scrutiny from audit committees and boards, who will increasingly view partner selection as part of their auditor governance responsibilities.

Compliance Timeline and Actions

CALA 2025 commenced on 6 May 2026. The named auditor requirement applies to audit reports signed off on or after that date. There is no transition period for reports that straddle the commencement date — if the report is signed after 6 May 2026, the requirement applies.

Key actions for directors and company secretaries:

  1. Confirm with your audit firm that their report template for your company’s next audit includes the engagement partner’s name.
  2. Review your current engagement letter to confirm the named partner is identified; obtain a supplementary letter if necessary.
  3. Update your board resolutions relating to auditor appointment to include the engagement partner’s name going forward.
  4. Advise your audit committee to factor engagement partner identity into annual auditor evaluation.
  5. Check our Singapore Company Compliance Calendar to ensure all related filing obligations are tracked.

For the latest Singapore business and compliance news, staying current on ACRA guidance as it develops around the CALA 2025 implementation is advisable for all directors and company secretaries.

For broader business and investment planning in the context of Singapore’s evolving corporate governance requirements, professional advice remains important.

If you need legal advice on your audit obligations or CALA 2025 compliance more broadly, we can point you in the right direction.

To speak with the team at Raffles Corporate Services, you can email [email protected] or call, SMS, or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. We are happy to assist with any queries.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services