Breaking the Bank – review of ‘Meltdown’ by Duncan Mavin
Credit Suisse, founded as Schweizerische Kreditanstalt by Alfred Escher in 1856, was once an engine of Switzerland’s modernisation, funding both […]
KPMG
Carillion was a form of Ponzi scheme
In this, my second interview with Kam Sandhu of Real Media, I was asked about the collapse of the construction
KPMG’s annual report — vague about ethics
By Atul Shah The growing size and influence of “big four” accountancy firms as they further transform themselves into global business
Chuka Umunna: PWC’s useful idiot?
I’ve long wondered how committed the Labour shadow business secretary and MP for Streatham Chuka Umunna really is to UK
The Business Herald 2013 Review – Professional Services
Two of the biggest developments in Scottish professional services in the past year came when global firms set up large
The “financial terrorism” of Royal Bank of Scotland
Another of the banking scandals I’ve been covering for more than three years is gaining a wider audience, following the
Prince Andrew’s outburst in Bishkek proves it: Britain has become a Banana monarchy
In October 2008, on a visit to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a “cocky” Prince Andrew not only welcomed, but
Salmond’s £1.7m bung to KPMG is a kick in the teeth for taxpayers
The government of first minister Alex Salmond yesterday gave a £1.7 million Regional Selective Assistance grant to the ‘Big Four’
Why ex-HBOS chief executive James Crosby deserves no mercy
In a comment piece in Saturday’s Times, financial editor Patrick Hosking gave ten reasons why the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards must
Corruption allegations, major fraud inquiries, links to pornographic magazines … and a luxury yacht. Welcome to the world of banking 2012
Police are poised to press charges against several HBOS bankers and consultants after a two-year investigation into large-scale fraud, money
Loss of trust
Scottish banking was once renowned for prudential management. Today the association is rather different. Financial journalist Ian Fraser gives his
Financial regulation: with Griffith-Jones’ appointment, Britain keeps it in the family
I was surprised and exasperated to learn last week that chancellor George Osborne has rubber-stamped the appointment of John Griffith-Jones,
FSA bombshell changes everything for ex-HBOS directors Crosby, Stevenson and Cummings
Yesterday was an extraordinary day in the world of banking. First we had confirmation from Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and
KPMG and the HBOS whistleblower
KPMG was already auditing Halifax when the ex-building society merged with Bank of Scotland a decade ago, and the audit
Accountancy lost sight of its primary role to the detriment of us all
Accountancy has changed beyond recognition since the 1970s. At that time the accountancy professor Roy Sidebotham wrote: “There seems to be
The horse has bolted, but at least the Lords have started to clean out accountancy’s Augean stables
Lord MacGregor, a former Conservative chief secretary of the Treasury, today unveiled the hard-hitting and long-awaited conclusions of the House
Francine McKenna: Ten things you need to know about ‘Big Four’ audit firms
I’ve long suspected that, where banking and finance sector clients are concerned, the Big Four audit firms see their role
Banking’s Abu Ghraib
A fourth person has been arrested in relation to Thames Valley Police’s investigation into “corruption and large-scale fraud in connection
The secrets and lies of Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown recently branded Goldman Sachs “morally bankrupt” and asked the FSA to investigate it. Yet he has turned a
Are “Big Four” accountants a waste of space?
From the evidence submitted to the Treasury Select Committee’s inquiry into the banking crisis, one might conclude that the profession
‘Bling’ Crosby’s day of reckoning
This charade of apology is a diversion from bankers’ role in financial destruction Edith Piaf’s chanson “Non, Je Ne Regrette