British Bankers’ Association set to merge with rival trade associations June 9, 2016 British Bankers' Association (BBA), the trade body that was heavily criticised for its role as the administrator of the Libor interest rate benchmark, is expected to be merged with its rival associations. According to Sky News, BBA members are reportedly set to vote in favour of plans to merge the banking trade bodies to form a [...]
Accountancy watchdog launches probe into Deloitte over Serco audit off back of fraud squad investigation June 8, 2016 The accountancy watchdog today launched an investigation into Deloitte over the audit of Serco Group, off the back of information uncovered by an ongoing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has said it will be investigating the big four firm in relation to the preparation, approval and audit of the outsourcing company’s [...]
Accountancy watchdog cannot follow up on BHS inquiry as requested because it’s being asked to investigate people who aren’t actually accountants June 7, 2016 The accountancy watchdog today declined to investigate the BHS collapse as thoroughly as one professional body has requested it to, on the grounds that such a probe would fall miles outside of its remit. Responding to a letter from Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, the Financial Reporting Council's (FRC) chief executive Stephen [...]
The war on cash is raging – should we welcome or fear the death of hard money? June 7, 2016 Cash is no longer king. Although the Bank of England unveiled a new, polymer-coated £5 note last week, the seemingly unstoppable march towards paper-free transactions continues. Electronic payments overtook notes and coins last year in the UK, according to the Payments Council, an industry body representing the banks and card machine industry. They now account for [...]
Financial Reporting Council launches KPMG probe over additional services provided while it audited Ted Baker June 6, 2016 The accountancy watchdog has today announced an investigation into KPMG Audit over its handling of its additional services provided to Ted Baker. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has said it will be examining how the big four firm complied with ethical standards relating to providing non-audit services while it was auditing the retailer. The periods concerned [...]
Archaic laws surrounding UK defined benefit pension promises are not fit for purpose June 4, 2016 The proposed and unprecedented plan to change the basis for Tata steel members’ future pension increases from Retail Price Index to Consumer Price Index is another reality check of the real pressure faced by companies which are trying to remain competitive and, at the same time, honour generous legacy defined benefit (DB) pensions, which in many [...]
Institute of Directors boss slams Arcadia chairman over BHS collapse in open letter to MPs June 3, 2016 A day after its collapse, the boss of one of the UK's largest business lobbying organisations has said he "can't defend" the running of BHS – and added that "serious questions need to be asked of almost everybody concerned". In an open letter to MPs Frank Field and Iain Wright, chairs of the Commons Select [...]
Why the City of London will be better off if we leave the European Union May 31, 2016 Too much of the debate about what the European Union referendum means for the City has been frustratingly narrow and short-term, confined to the immediate financial implications of leaving. Far too little attention has been paid to the longer-term health of the City, in particular the implications of remaining inside the EU. Inside the EU, [...]
Boards are still failing to fix culture in their organisations; though financial services is leading the way May 31, 2016 Defining corporate culture is still an issue at many companies, new research has revealed. Nearly one in three (31 per cent) of boards across the public and private sectors have not established or articulated what sort of corporate culture they want, according to the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. It was also found that even when companies [...]
City Moves for 27 May 2016 | Who’s switching jobs May 27, 2016 Payne Hicks Beach Central London law firm Payne Hicks Beach has announced that Virginia Farquharson, a chartered accountant, has been appointed to the newly created director of management role, following the retirement of Peter Black, as managing partner. Virginia has enjoyed a long career at Payne Hicks Beach for over two decades, principally as director [...]