Mitie Group share price drops as it reveals another FRC investigation and announces drop in profit and revenue November 20, 2017 Mitie Group has revealed the accounting watchdog has opened another investigation into the group’s financial statements, as it unveils its first half results. The figures Revenue was up four per cent in the first half of 2017, from £922.6m to £959.7m. Operating profit dropped 38.1 per cent to £14.8m from £23.9m. Basic earnings per share [...]
KPMG has been cleared of wrongdoing over its 2007 HBOS audit September 19, 2017 KPMG has been absolved of responsibility by the accounting watchdog over its auditing of HBOS in the run-up to the bank’s collapse in 2008, saying at the time there was no evidence market conditions would take such a dramatic turn. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said today after a detailed investigation, it had decided it [...]
BT and Rolls-Royce investigations: Auditors are not there to find fraud, says accounting body boss July 13, 2017 Accounting investigations into audit sign-offs of two British stalwarts are not a sign the profession is in crisis, a senior figure at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) said today. But Vernon Soare, the ICAEW’s chief operating officer, admitted there is an “expectation gap” over the role of the auditor. KPMG [...]
Oscars Best Picture screw-up: City stalwart is investigating how the award was handed to the wrong film February 27, 2017 Last night's Oscars ceremony took a surprising and extremely awkward turn when the big prize – the Best Picture award – was mistakenly handed to the wrong film. Stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced that La La Land had won, as was widely expected. The film's producers were midway through their acceptance speeches when Beatty interrupted [...]
BT’s accounting black hole to be investigated by Italian prosecutors January 25, 2017 Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into BT’s £530m accounting black hole, according to reports. The scale of the scandal today wiped £7bn off the telecom giant’s market capitalisation. BT’s shares fell over 20 per cent yesterday, closing at 303p. And after markets closed, Reuters cited two sources saying Milan prosecutors have started a probe into the [...]
Sports Direct is in the hot seat again this week December 4, 2016 Sports Direct will be in the spotlight again this week as it reports its interims on Thursday. Analysts are predicting chief executive Mike Ashley will announce a profit fall of 25 per cent to £170m. The City will also be looking for signs that Sports Direct is improving its corporate governance, something the retailer promised to focus [...]
Sports Direct accounts probe announced by watchdog November 28, 2016 The accountancy watchdog has today launched an investigation into Sports Direct, probing into claims surrounding the relationship between the retailer and a firm run by chief exec and founder Mike Ashley's brother. In particular, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is taking a closer look at the accounts for the 52 weeks to 24 April and whether [...]
Fraud squad eyes end of Tesco investigation November 13, 2016 The fraud squad is expected to announce within weeks what its next steps for Tesco will be, as it wraps up its investigation into the black hole in the retailer's accounts. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launched its probe into the supermarket giant's accounting practices in October 2014, and brought charges against three individuals, Carl Rogberg, [...]
Deloitte fined a record £4m by accountancy watchdog over audit of Aero Inventory November 10, 2016 Deloitte has been fined a record £4m by the accountancy watchdog for misconduct in its audit of AIM listed Aero Inventory in the run up to its administration in 2009. In particular, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) claims the accountancy giant, along with partner John Clennett, fell short of the standard expected when auditing the company in [...]
Former Co-operative Bank boss admits misconduct October 28, 2016 A former boss of the Co-operative Bank has admitted misconduct and agreed to pay out £20,000 to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Barry Tootell, the chief financial officer and chief executive of the Co-Operative Bank between 2009 and 2013, was accused of not exercising due skill, care and diligence in managing the firm for which he [...]