The roles are 3-6 months fixed term contracts with “a possibility of extension”.

Earlier in June, Lookers announced its shares are expected to be suspended as it will not meet a 30 June deadline for publishing its 2019 results. It said the results will be published “no later than the end of August 2020”.

A spokesman confirmed to Auto Retail Agenda there is “no change to this timeframe… these guys are coming on board to speed things up”. They will then be involved in other audit-related processes, including Lookers interim 2020 results.

One expert told Auto Retail Agenda the 2019 results delay could affect the publication of Lookers’ 2020 H1 results, produced last year in August.

Lookers is parting company with auditor Deloitte and is tendering to appoint a new auditor.

The company is also undertaking a restructuring that will result in 1,500 job losses. Staff at the Charles Hurst division last weekend said the consultation process has been “an absolute shambles”.

Lookers is, however, advertising for new IT and cyber security roles based at its head office in Altrincham.