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 [...]
Accounting giant PWC posts global revenue rise of $35.9bn October 4, 2016 Accounting and professional services giant PWC last night toasted $35.9bn (£27.9bn) in global revenues in its latest year to 30 June. The tally represents a 1.5 per cent increase on the same period last year and close to 7.5 per cent growth at constant exchange rates. However, that revenue growth has slowed from the 9.9 per [...]
Sir Win Bischoff: Trustworthy information isn’t enough – trustworthy behaviour in a company is equally as important September 20, 2016 What can business do to rebuild public trust? There may be no silver bullet, but there is no doubt that corporate behaviours need to be closely aligned with long-term value creation for all stakeholders. With the government and others taking a close interest in issues that portray business as out of touch, firms face a [...]
Three former Tesco executives have been charged by the SFO in relation its accounting scandal September 9, 2016 Three former Tesco executives have been charged with fraud by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in relation its accounting scandal. The ex-financial director Carl Rogberg, former commercial director John Scouler and the former UK managing director Christopher Bush have been charged for their role in the retailer's profit overstatement. They have each been charged with one count of [...]
PwC pays largest ever uncontested fine to Financial Reporting Council over Cattles audit sign-off August 31, 2016 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today fined PwC £2.3m in relation to the 2007 audit of failed sub-prime lender Cattles. The fines are the highest ever imposed by the FRC for an uncontested disciplinary hearing and only surpassed by the £3m of penalties accepted on appeal by Deloitte in connection with the failure of MG Rover. Total fines of £3.5m were reduced [...]