Accountancy regulator to probe PwC audit of Berkeley last year September 16, 2013 THE UK accounting watchdog said yesterday it has opened an investigation into whether PwC was acting independently when it checked the books of UK house builder Berkeley Group. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said that the probe would look at PwC’s audit of Berkeley’s financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2012, as a [...]
Regulator launches investigation into PwC audit of Berkeley September 16, 2013 Regulators have announced the launch of an investigation into auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) (release). The Financial Reporting Council is looking into PwC's audit of Berkeley. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched an investigation under the Accountancy Scheme into whether PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was independent when it conducted the audit of The Berkeley Group Holdings plc’s financial [...]
Regulator fines Deloitte £14m over MG Rover fiasco September 9, 2013 Regulators have issued Deloitte a £14m fine and a severe reprimand for matters relating to their role as advisers to MG Rover during its collapse in 2005 (release). The accountancy firm advised four of Rover's directors – the Phoenix Four – who had taken over the company for £10m five years before its collapse. Mr [...]
Second probe for Grant Thornton August 7, 2013 The accounting watchdog has launched its second investigation in as many days into Grant Thornton. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it was investigating how Grant Thornton audited and accounted for interest rate swap arrangements in Manchester Building Society’s accounts, prompting a financial adjustment last year. The FRC on Tuesday announced an investigation into the [...]
Mazars faces accounting tribunal over First Quench pension advice August 5, 2013 THE ACCOUNTANCY watchdog is investigating Mazars and the managing partner of its London office over pension advice given to the now-defunct drinks firm First Quench Retailing. The Financial Reporting Council has made a formal complaint about Mazars and partner Richard Karmel, claiming their conduct “fell significantly short of the standards reasonably to be expected”. The [...]
Regulator closes investigation into KPMG auditing of BAE August 1, 2013 The investigation into the conduct of KPMG as an auditor of British Aerospace/BAE is over. Launched in 2010, the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board (AADB) was investigating the audits and professional services adviced provided during the period 1997 to 2007. Subsequent investigations have shown that proper assessment of KPMG’s conduct would require consideration of work [...]
Deloitte warns serious misconduct ruling could damage financial advisory industry July 29, 2013 Big four accountancy firm Deloitte has warned that a Financial Reporting Council (FRC) tribunal ruling it engaged in serious misconduct when it advised the owners of MG Rover in 2000 over two transactions could damage the financial advisory industry. City A.M. understands that Deloitte will make an interim payment of £1.75m, with the final figure [...]
Watchdog sets out plans to shake up accountancy July 22, 2013 THE COMPETITION Commission has stopped short of forcing companies to regularly change their auditor, in a package of planned reforms that has split the accountancy profession. Smaller auditors yesterday called for the watchdog to go further, while the so-called Big Four firms warned of the red tape that could come with plans to force FTSE [...]
Don’t underestimate proposed changes to the UK audit market July 22, 2013 THE COMPETITION Commission’s proposals represent a more potent solution than may first meet the eye. We are very supportive of those remedies that aid competition, increase transparency between auditor and shareholders and, most vitally, improve audit quality. We think that the moves to increase transparency between the regulator, auditors, audit committees and shareholders are positive [...]
Compulsory audit tenders could cost consumers quality, money and competition July 22, 2013 The Competition Commission (CC) has shied away from compulsory auditor switching, instead pushing for mandatory tenders every five years, in an attempt to break up the big four (PwC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG). FTSE 350 companies should put their statutory audit engagement out to tender at least every five years. Companies may defer this [...]