Bill Butler named as the government’s preferred candidate for Local Audit Office Chair

Bill Butler has been announced as the preferred candidate to be appointed as the Chair of the Local Audit Office. Subject to Parliamentary hearing, Mr Butler will be appointed for a 5-year term.

The Chair will play a critical role in the establishment of the organisation, providing strategic leadership to ensure the delivery of its statutory responsibilities. The Local Audit Office will be instrumental in delivering the manifesto commitment to overhaul the local audit system, and the Chair will ensure the reforms are effectively implemented to provide better value for taxpayers and support economic growth. 

Mr Butler is an experienced public sector and regulatory leader with a career spanning senior executive and non-executive roles across national regulatory bodies, professional organisations and public governance. His background combines financial, regulatory and governance expertise, underpinned by professional qualifications in accountancy and security, and a long-standing career in public service and regulatory oversight.

He has held several significant public interest appointments, including his current role as the Chair of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd, the body responsible for appointing external auditors to English local authorities, police bodies and other public organisations.

Mr Butler has also undertaken non-executive roles with organisations such as The Law Society and the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, contributing to governance and oversight in legal and health system contexts.

Earlier in his career, Mr Butler was Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority, the statutory regulator for the UK private security industry, and prior to that held senior leadership roles within national regulatory bodies including the Gambling Commission, Healthcare Commission and Audit Commission.

Minister of State for Local Government Alison McGovern said: “Bill Butler brings a wealth of leadership experience from across the public and regulatory sectors and is exceptionally well placed to chair the Local Audit Office at this pivotal moment.

“As we drive forward reforms to restore confidence in local audit, strengthen accountability and secure better value for taxpayers – delivering on our manifesto commitment to overhaul the broken system that this government inherited – Bill's expertise will be invaluable in helping to establish the new organisation and ensure it delivers from the outset.”

Mr Butler said: “I am honoured to have been nominated as the government's preferred candidate to chair the Local Audit Office at this critical juncture for local public audit. The establishment of the Office represents an important step in strengthening the local audit framework, restoring confidence, and securing proper stewardship of taxpayers' money.

“If confirmed, my focus will be on working constructively with colleagues, stakeholders and the sector to establish a robust and effective organisation that discharges its statutory responsibilities and supports the recovery and long‑term resilience of the local audit system.”

The preferred candidate will attend a pre-appointment hearing by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee on 16 June 2026 before a final appointment decision is confirmed.