KPMG examining audit spin-off in wake of damning report from MPs April 8, 2019 Big Four accounting firm KPMG is reportedly planning an overhaul of its UK business in the wake of political pressure and a wave of scandals. KPMG could split its UK audit practice from its wider UK business, The Times reported. Read more: MPs call for full breakup of audit’s Big Four in wake of scandals [...]
Professional services firm BDO plots out break-up plan April 7, 2019 Accountancy and professional services firm BDO is plotting out how it will carve off its auditing arm from the rest of its UK business, following a withering report from MPs on the embattled sector. BDO's head of audit Scott Knight said the firm had run through a range of scenarios in response to the report from the [...]
Editors’ Notes: Philip Hammond outfoxes the Treasury committee in clash over end to austerity April 5, 2019 Three cheers for Philip Hammond! Yes, you heard that right – I may be alone, but I found myself applauding the chancellor last night when we got a sneak preview of his response to the Treasury Select Committee’s (TSC) fisking of the autumn Budget. Read more: Hammond says ending austerity will not mean spending splurge [...]
Permanent job appointments fall as Brexit uncertainty intensifies April 5, 2019 Permanent job appointments in the UK have declined amid continuing Brexit uncertainty, a new report revealed today. Read more: Brexit uncertainty 'has cost the UK £66bn' Political uncertainty also contributed to a further steep decline in staff availability in March compared to the previous month, the latest KPMG and Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) UK [...]
Malaysia sells 1MDB-linked superyacht to casino operator for $126m April 3, 2019 The Malaysian government has sold a superyacht allegedly bought with money stolen from state fund 1MDB to casino firm Genting Malaysia Berhad for $126m (£95.6m). The 92m superyacht Equanimity is one of a number of assets allegedly bought by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho with money embezzled from the fund, and the sale marks Malaysia’s [...]
MPs call for full breakup of audit’s Big Four in wake of scandals April 2, 2019 MPs have triggered a war of words in the City after calling for a radical breakup of accountancy’s Big Four firms. A highly-anticipated report by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis) Committee, released today, said the audit and consultancy arms of Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC should be forcibly divided to drive up competition [...]
Brexit alarm bells: City optimism tanks at fastest rate since financial crisis March 25, 2019 Britain’s biggest business group today warns that the “alarm bells have reached deafening levels” as the political crisis surrounding Brexit threatens to force the Prime Minister from office. Read more: Brexit secretary admits indicative votes 'could be ignored' The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) declared Brexit a “national emergency” as it revealed that financial services [...]
KPMG downgrades UK economic growth forecast for 2019 due to Brexit March 25, 2019 Audit firm KPMG has downgraded its short term expectations for the UK economy due to the lack of clarity around Brexit and global headwinds. The firm forecasts that the UK economy will expand by 1.2 per cent in 2019, assuming that a Brexit deal is reached. The predictions are included in KPMG’s latest quarterly Economic [...]
Creditors approve Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner CVA March 21, 2019 The operator of Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner has been given the green light for store closures today, as creditors voted through a major restructuring plan that puts hundreds of jobs at risk. Giraffe Concepts Limited, which gained the 75 per cent approval it needed from creditors in a vote this afternoon, is now set to [...]
Patisserie Valerie overstated financial position by £94m, auditors say March 16, 2019 The amount of money missing from Patissserie Valerie's consolidated accounts has grown to more than double a previous estimate to a total of £94m, according to a new report by its administrators, KPMG. The company fell into administration in January and was found to have overstated its financial position by £30m while also failing to disclose £10m of overdrafts. Read [...]