Audit reform: FRC asks for power to cap Big Four’s audit clients October 12, 2021 The chief executive of the UK’s accounting watchdog has asked ministers for the authority to enforce a cap on the number of large companies that any one accountancy firm can audit, in an attempt to break up the dominance of the Big Four firms. Sir Jon Thompson went on to question the likelihood of the [...]
Jenny Watson: New chair of UK accounting regulatory board wants to be a driver of change October 11, 2021 Jenny Watson CBE, newly appointed as the chair to the regulatory board of the UK body of chartered accountants, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), is a woman on a mission: the former chair of the Electoral Commission wants to be a driver of change. “We already know that there is much [...]
UK to start preparations for post-Brexit trade deal with Gulf countries October 7, 2021 The UK has announced it will soon begin preparations to land a post-Brexit trade deal with the six Middle Eastern countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan today launched a 14-week consultation on what businesses would like to see in a trade deal, before formal negotiations start next year. The [...]
Accounting watchdog FRC launches probe into French Connection audit by Mazars October 6, 2021 The accounting watchdog said this morning it has launched an investigation into retailer French Connection’s audit by Mazars. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said it was probing the chain’s accounts for the year ending January 31 of last year. It said the decision to investigate the audit was made at a meeting of its conduct [...]
Watchdog mulls investigation for EY and Deloitte over Southeastern audits October 3, 2021 The accountancy watchdog is debating whether to launch a probe into the auditors of the Southeastern train line after the company last week admitted to hiding £25m owed to the state. The Financial Reporting Council is looking into whether audit giants EY and Deloitte have a case to answer, sources told the Sunday Telegraph. Last [...]
Can Bitcoin style validation solve financial statement fraud? September 30, 2021 Jason Meyers, inventor of Auditchain Protocol addresses the question of how a Bitcoin-style validation could solve financial statement fraud.
‘Severe reprimand’ for Patisserie Valerie audit: Grant Thornton failed and was incompetent, says watchdog September 27, 2021 Red flags were missed while auditing the collapsed cake chain Patisserie Valerie, and auditors failed to question management properly. Overall, it showed a serious lack of competence, according to regulators this morning. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) made its findings against accounting giant Grant Thornton and auditor David Newstead, handing them fines of £2.3m and [...]
Bonus backlash: John Lewis workers angered by awards for senior staff September 23, 2021 Retail group John Lewis Partnership has angered employees after senior managers received awards while a wider partnership bonus was denied for the first time. Almost 4,000 special contribution awards were made last year, it was first reported by The Financial Times, including to 16 managers, out of an 79,000-strong workforce. A wider percentage award was [...]
FRC calls for businesses to better report longer-term viability for investors September 22, 2021 The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has called for businesses to better report their longer-term viability and liquidity to investors – particularly during times of economic uncertainty. It forms part of the financial watchdog’s findings in a review of companies’ viability and concern disclosures amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has pushed heightened levels of market [...]
Build 250,000 homes for key workers, urges think tank September 16, 2021 The government should ring fence land to build 50,000 homes each year for key workers on the frontline of dealing with the Covid crisis. The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has called on the government to use land to build affordable homes for key workers to help them get on the property ladder. Properties built [...]