Independent auditor’s report to the members of Vodafone Group Plc continued 136 Vodafone Group Plc Annual Report 2026 Strategic report
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testing, with a focus on manual consolidation journals, journals indicating large or unusual transactions and journals with key words that could indicate management override, based on our understanding of the business; and challenging the assumptions and judgements made by management in respect of significant one-off transactions in the financial year and significant accounting estimates, as referred to in the key audit matters section above. At a component level, our full and specific scope component audit teams’ procedures included enquiries of component management; journal entry testing; and testing in respect of the key audit matter of revenue recognition. We also leveraged our data analytics capabilities in performing work on the purchase to pay process and fixed asset balances and leases, to assist in identifying higher risk transactions and balances, for testing. Any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including in relation to fraud, were communicated by/to components and considered in our audit approach, if applicable. – Where the risk of fraud, including the risk of management override, was considered to be higher, including areas impacting Group key performance indicators or management remuneration, we performed audit procedures to address each identified material fraud risk or other risk of material misstatement. These procedures included those on revenue recognition referred to in the key audit matters section above and testing journal entries that we judged to be of higher risk and were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from material fraud or error. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities . – Following the recommendation from the Audit and Risk Committee, we were appointed by the Parent company on 23 July 2019 to audit the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2020 and subsequent financial periods. – The period of total uninterrupted engagement including previous renewals and reappointments is seven years, covering the years ending 31 March 2020 to 31 March 2026. – The audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the Audit and Risk Committee. Use of our report This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. Other matters we are required to address
Michael Rudberg (Senior statutory auditor) for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor London 19 May 2026
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