Pandemic affects retirement plans for over half the nation, says Aviva November 25, 2021 Covid-19 has affected the retirement plans of 54 per cent of UK adults, with people nearing mid-life bearing the brunt of anxiety, according to new research.
Diversity levels on boards still unsatisfactory – Ignoring this is ‘at everyone’s peril’ November 24, 2021 DiverCity® Podcast · Building Better Boards: Finding your place in the boardroom The economic case for diversity at a board level is clear, but too many firms still fall short Despite the increased focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, too many boards remain stuck in the past and are failing to meet equality targets. Fiona [...]
ITV to renew horse racing rights to win heftier advertising deals November 23, 2021 ITV is looking to renew its television rights for horse racing events as it hopes to secure more lucrative deal with bookmaker advertisers.
Brussels pushes to freeze out London banks in post-Brexit crackdown November 22, 2021 The EU is planning on freezing out London banks by clamping down on the network of national arrangements that allow non-EU banks to sell services to the bloc. Brussels is pushing to cut off avenues for banks operating outside the region to conduct cross-border transactions. The news was first reported by the Financial Times. The [...]
HSBC’s $94m-a-year audits may not be enough to woo Big Four accountants November 22, 2021 Fears that the UK’s biggest lender will struggle to attract the Big Four accounting firms have been stoked as HSBC prepares to tender the audits of its accounts next year, according to reports. The heads of HSBC reached out to the Big Four auditors but found they were reluctant to bid for the bank’s audits [...]
Accounting watchdog: Third of all audits ‘unsatisfactory’ amid fears sector reforms will be watered down November 18, 2021 An “unacceptably high” number of audits still need improving, according to the UK accounting watchdog’s latest report, amid increasing concerns that the government may scale back long-awaited corporate governance and audit reforms. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today published its latest annual report on UK audits, finding that 33 per cent of all audits still [...]
Big Four accountants warned by regulator to improve audits November 16, 2021 The head of the UK accounting watchdog has told the Big Four audit firms they need to run their own businesses better, before advising other companies, according to reports. Sir Jon Thompson, chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) made his remarks ahead of the regulator’s launch today of its first guide for accountants [...]
No Bitcoin believers: Indonesia’s religious leaders forbid muslims from using crypto as currency November 11, 2021 Indonesia’s religious council has declared the use of crypto assets as currency unlawful for muslims. At a meeting of the National Ulema Council, MUI, clerics deemed cryptocurrency to be forbidden under Shariah law because it includes elements of uncertainty, wagering and harm. Trading cryptocurrencies as a commodity is also unlawful because it does not meet [...]
KPMG faces £15m fine over Quindell audit November 10, 2021 Accounting giant KPMG could be confronted with a £15m legal claim from insurance outsourcer Quindell, according to reports. Quindell, now known as Watchstone, is preparing to file claims against the Big Four firm, alleging that it suffered losses of up to £15m from KPMG’s audit in 2013, according to Financial News, which first reported the [...]
Climate change and the humble auditor – CityAM : CityAM November 8, 2021 The relevance of climate change to world leaders, Royals, activists, Leonardo DiCaprio, chief execs and both former, and current central bank heads, is largely understood, by their presence at Cop26, to be of paramount importance. But what on earth auditors have to do with climate change, is rather more perplexing. One explanation is that audit [...]