FRC chief Jon Thompson to leave audit watchdog to lead HS2 project February 9, 2023 The head of the UK’s audit watchdog, Jon Thompson, is set to step down to take up a new position as the chair of HS2. Thompson has handed in his notice to leave his job as head of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and will now serve out his six-month notice period, Sky News first [...]
London firm Shipleys investigated over audit of Russian fintech Zaim Credit Systems January 18, 2023 The UK’s accounting regulator has launched an investigation into London accounting firm Shipleys over its audit work for the UK-listed holding company of Russian fintech firm Zaim Express. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said today that it has decided to open an investigation into the firm’s audit of Zaim Credit Systems’ 2021 accounts. The FRC’s [...]
Carillion: Five years on, MPs and industry leaders demand audit reform to ensure scandal is not repeated January 18, 2023 On the fifth anniversary of the collapse of outsourcer Carillion, MPs and audit sector leaders have united in calling on the UK government to push forwards with plans to overhaul the country’s audit sector. MPs said a shake-up of the country’s accounting industry is needed imminently to ensure that audit failures, such as the one [...]
PwC steps down from auditing heavily-indebted property developer Evergrande January 17, 2023 PwC has resigned as Evergrande’s auditor following a series of disagreements with the heavily-indebted property developer over its audit of the firm’s 2021 accounts. In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, Evergrande said its board had decided to replace PwC as the company’s auditor after the two parties failed to reach an agreement [...]
EY appoints ex-Cargill exec as newly-separated advisory firm’s CFO January 10, 2023 EY has appointed former Cargill and General Electric exec Jamie Miller as chief financial officer (CFO) of its split-off global advisory firm. Miller’s appointment as CFO of EY’s soon-to-be separate consultancy firm comes as the Big Four firm pushes forwards with plans to float the newly spun-out business in New York. EY chief executive Carmine [...]
EY builds £2bn war chest to fund M&A spree for newly-separated consulting arm January 8, 2023 EY is creating a $2.5bn war chest to finance acquisitions of consulting businesses as it pushes ahead with plans to spin off its advisory arm into an entirely separate firm. The Big Four accounting firm is setting aside a sum of $2.5bn (£2.07bn) to fund an M&A spree for its newly-separated consulting arm, with a [...]
Fees paid to FTSE 100’s auditors hit record sums of more than £1bn December 20, 2022 The UK’s top 100 listed companies paid more than £1bn to their auditors for the first time in 2021/22, following a steady uptick in audit fees linked to a tougher stance from the UK’s accounting regulator. FTSE 100 companies paid a record £1.01bn to their auditors for both audit and non-audit services, in the year [...]
EY names new leaders of globally separated firms December 14, 2022 EY has named two of its top leaders as heads of the firm’s soon-to-be separate audit and advisory businesses, as it pushes forwards with plans for a global split. EY said current chief executive Carmine Di Sibio will head the new consulting business – NewCo – as it named US managing partner Julie Boland [...]
KPMG chief snubs global split as consulting arm drives growth in revenues December 13, 2022 The global head of KPMG today slapped down suggestions it might follow EY in pursuing a global split, in claiming the accounting firm’s strong financial performance “validates” its current approach. KPMG chief executive Bill Thomas rejected plans for a split in claiming the Big Four firm’s results “validates an unwavering commitment to deliver services… through [...]
BDO partners see payouts drop following £70m hiring spree November 30, 2022 BDO’s managing partner today said the firm will continue investing in long-term growth after partners saw their payouts drop 15 per cent as the result of a £70m spending spree. Speaking to CityAM Paul Eagland also refused to rule out a firm-wide split as he signaled BDO may follow EY in separating its audit [...]