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 [...]
Insurance body ABI names Nicky Morgan new chair amid management shake up November 10, 2021 Former MP Nicky Morgan has been appointed as the first independent chair of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), as the trade body overhauls its management. Two more senior appointments were today announced by the ABI, whose members include Aviva and Axa, as part of reforms by the organisation to improve consumer trust in the [...]
UK economy set to eke out anaemic growth in set of muddled GDP figures November 9, 2021 The UK economy is set to squeeze out anaemic growth as the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis continues to slow, according to City economists. Severe supply chain bottlenecks, compounded by soaring energy prices, logistics systems breaking down and a paucity of workers has crimped businesses. As a result, the size of the British economy is [...]
Australian treasury accused of pressuring ex-KPMG partner to omit $10bn gap in report November 8, 2021 A former KPMG partner has claimed he lost his job after being pressured by an Australian public servant to change a document that found a $10bn gap in the Treasury’s finances, according to reports. In a parliamentary hearing today, Brendan Lyon said he received “professional, ongoing attacks,” from public servants and that the Australian treasury [...]
KPMG eyes larger piece of UK’s asset management pie as it lures EY and UBS veterans November 8, 2021 Accountancy giant KPMG is ramping up its efforts in the UK’s wealth and asset management space as the firm has appointed a range of new partners. KPMG said it has appointed Dean Brown as a partner and Shelley Doorey-Williams as an Associate Partner in its market leading Wealth and Asset Management practice. Brown will support [...]
Clear targets are needed to make the Square Mile a more inclusive workplace November 8, 2021 If you take a walk through the Square Mile’s streets you will see people coming together from a range of backgrounds, and will hear a vast spectrum of accents and languages. This diversity and openness are major assets for the City. They help create a melting pot of different ideas, encouraging innovation and an entrepreneurial [...]
First-time buyer price inflation nears 10 per cent as London house prices shoot past £500k November 6, 2021 First-time buyer annual house price inflation is now at a five-month high, at 9.2 per cent, and has pushed ahead of the equivalent measure for home movers, at 8.1 per cent, according to property experts. In London, the average house prices have shot passed £500k. The average UK house price hit a record high of [...]
Firms hike pay at record print to lure workers amid labour squeeze November 5, 2021 Businesses are being forced to hike pay at the fastest pace on record to lure talent amid severe worker shortages. Hot competition for fresh staff, compounded by a paucity of available candidates, has led to employers raising starting salaries at the steepest rate since records began, research by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment and [...]
Investors warn Big Four of AGM rebellions over climate accounting November 2, 2021 An investor group managing around $4.5tn worth of assets have issued a warning to the top four auditing giants to start including climate risk into their audits, or risk rebellions at AGMs, according to reports. In a letter seen by Reuters, which first reported the news, the investors told the Big Four auditors that unless [...]
London titans fear business rates relief cap will leave them with ‘same old headache’ October 28, 2021 Central London businesses and landlords have been left disappointed after a cap on a new business rates discount. At the dispatch box on Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a one-year discount of 50 per cent for businesses in the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors. Eligible businesses will be able to claim a discount on their [...]