Correspondence

Local Audit Office chair: appointment

Bill Butler has been appointed by the government as the first chair of the Local Audit Office.

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Alison McGovern MP
• Published: 1 July 2026

Applies to England

Documents

Local Audit Office chair: appointment letter

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Local Audit Office chair: appointment letter (accessible)

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The Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, has today confirmed Bill Butler will be the new chair of the Local Audit Office (LAO).

Bill has held leadership positions in the public sector for over 2 decades, most recently as chair of Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA).

He is also the chair of Propertymark Ltd, the professional body for property agents, and he has held non-executive director roles at the Law Society, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board. In these 3 positions, he also chaired the relevant Audit Committee or Finance Committee.

Bill has experience as a senior manager, being chief executive of the Security Industry Authority until 2015, and having held director roles at the Gambling Commission, the Healthcare Commission, and the Audit Commission, where he was also a district auditor.

As chair of the LAO, he will use his knowledge and experience to focus on establishing the Local Audit Office and tackling the local audit crisis.

Minister of State Alison McGovern said:

I am delighted to appoint Bill Butler as chair of the Local Audit Office. Bill brings a wealth of experience in public audit, a strong commitment to transparency and accountability and a proven ability to lead organisations through complex reform.

His deep understanding of the local government landscape, combined with his independence and sound judgement, make him exceptionally well placed to steer the Local Audit Office as it strengthens the local audit system and rebuilds public confidence.

Bill Butler said:

I’m honoured to take on this role as the first chair of the Local Audit Office. Good local audit is key for public trust, and I will work closely with colleagues and stakeholders to build an organisation that is inclusive, transparent, and committed to raising standards.

Our focus will be on supporting both audited bodies and auditors while ensuring the delivery of effective public audit. I aim to lead with independence and integrity, and help build a stronger, more reliable audit framework that serves the public interest.

Bill Butler was selected following an open public appointment process for the first chair and was endorsed by the HCLG Select Committee on 19 June 2026.

This appointment is a 5-year term and begins 1 July 2026.

Published 1 July 2026