Mandatory audit firm rotation in Spain: a policy that was never applied

Abstract

In recent international debates on auditing regulation, Spain has assumed a real prominence as a claimed practical example of where a policy of mandatory audit firm rotation did not work and was duly abolished. This study provides an analysis of the implementation and removal of such policy in Spain. Using the evidence provided by congressional hearings, financial newspapers and other documents we demonstrate that at no stage was mandatory rotation of audit firms ever enforced on Spanish auditors.Auditing regulation, Auditor independence, Mandatory audit firm rotation