How finance can help forge a cleaner future for all November 5, 2021 This article first appeared in ICAS’ CA magazine. Finance can help forge a cleaner future for all, and the contribution of accountants will prove essential, says James Alexander, CEO of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association Earlier this year, the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) celebrated its 30th birthday by publishing its policy [...]
Grant Thornton and partner fined over £750,000 over Interserve audit failings November 1, 2021 Grant Thornton has been fined over £700,00 by UK regulator Financial Reporting Council (FRC) for audit failings at Interserve, a British multinational construction business which collapsed in 2019. The fine comes just over a month after the FRC issued another sanction, of £2.3m, on the accounting giant for a “serious lack of competence” in the [...]
Bank of England mulls regulatory shake up to manage climate risks October 28, 2021 The Bank of England has taken a step closer to imposing stricter rules on banks to ensure they step up their preparedness for climate change. The Old Lady’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) said today it is mulling a shake up of capital buffer structures to manage the potential risks of global warming. It will publish [...]
Exclusive: ‘London needs to take a leaf out of Dorset’s book,’ argues veteran City lawyer October 28, 2021 As restrictions have eased, office doors reopened and professionals flock back into the City, life is once again teeming in London. However, as living priorities and sustainability targets have evolved post-pandemic, London must ensure that it remains attractive, liveable and sustainable in the long-run. A formula that has proven to create eco-friendly and community-focused residential [...]
BDO faces FRC investigation over audit of collapsed construction firm October 21, 2021 Accountancy firm BDO is being investigated by the UK accounting regulator over its audit of collapsed construction company NMCN. The Financial Reporting Council confirmed on Thursday it was examining the BDO’s audit of NCMN’s financial statements and its final set of accounts before it filed for administration on October 4. BDO resigned as the group’s [...]
Ed Warner: Activity vouchers can solve post-Covid sport participation problem October 21, 2021 I addressed a bunch of politicians, advisors and sports industry types at a Westminster Forum this week on the challenges facing sport and the public funding priorities as we come out of the pandemic. The risk on these occasions is that you get caught in an echo chamber, telling the audience what it already thinks [...]
Ethics – the foundation for a better world October 21, 2021 This week has been a special one for us at ACCA. Wednesday was Global Ethics Day – an important occasion in the calendar that we celebrate annually as it aligns with our values. It’s a day where businesses and individuals can reflect and explore the meaning of ethics and their impact on life and society. [...]
Close to 4m low-income households across UK are in arrears with household bills October 21, 2021 Nearly 4m British households on low incomes are estimated to be in arrears with household bills, according to new figures published this morning. Around 950,000 are thought to be in rent arrears, 1.4m are behind on council tax bills and 1.4m are behind on electricity and gas bills, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said. It looked [...]
KPMG gave ‘untruthful defence’ in tribunal over £13m Silentnight fine October 13, 2021 The UK accounting watchdog has today denounced KPMG for knowingly giving an “untruthful” defence over its conflict of interest in the 2011 sale of Silentnight, for which it was fined £13m. The verdict of the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) disciplinary tribunal marks the first time ever that the body has found an accountancy to have [...]
Perpetual debt is already here October 12, 2021 “Be still indebted to somebody or other, that there may be somebody always to pray for you, [. . .] fearing, if fortune should deal crossly with you, that it might be his chance to come short of being paid by you.” François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book III Pundits worldwide are debating what to do with [...]