Stopping the clock: Can we buy more time to figure out Brexit? January 17, 2019 The UK is running out of time before it leaves the EU. The Prime Minister’s deal now lies in tatters, but what happens next is anyone’s guess. A General Election will take at least a month, and any new government would clearly want to renegotiate the exit deal. Alternatively, a second referendum would take months [...]
Euribor traders gamed the financial system for personal gain, court told January 15, 2019 Three former Barclays employees who are on trial for allegedly rigging the Euribor interest rate were part of an “elite” group of traders who gamed the financial system for personal gain, a court has heard. James Waddington QC, representing the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), told Southwark Crown Court that Sisse Bohart, 41, Carlo Palombo, 40, [...]
Experts pour cold water on CMA’s proposals for joint audits in first Beis committee hearing January 15, 2019 Audit academics and investment managers have called for caution over recommendations by the competition regulator to shake-up the audit sector. During the first in a series of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee hearings, held today, witnesses warned that the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recommendation could risk unintended consequences for auditing. Led by [...]
Hays reports strong quarterly growth as Germany boost outweighs Brexit slowdown January 15, 2019 Recruitment firm Hays delivered strong growth in the second quarter as rising fees in Germany outweighed the impact of Brexit uncertainty. The company said like-for-like net fees rose nine per cent in the three months to the end of December, with equal growth across temporary and permanent roles. Read more: Smaller companies forced to compete for [...]
Audit must reclaim its Victorian roots to win back public trust January 15, 2019 Today marks the first anniversary of the collapse of Carillion. It is also the first day that the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy select committee takes evidence in its inquiry into the audit market. Carillion’s downfall brought the role of audit in business and society into the spotlight, and was a watershed moment for the [...]
Shares in recruitment firm Page Group drop amid macroeconomic uncertainty despite record profits January 14, 2019 Recruitment firm Page Group saw its shares fall by seven per cent today after it said in its annual results statement that Brexit uncertainty has affected the job market. The FTSE 250 recruiter said that while it had increased its number of fee-earning staff by 561 in the first three quarters of 2018, this slowed [...]
Let Jeff Bezos be a lesson: Have a plan for if your marriage ends January 14, 2019 Amazon chief Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie have announced that their marriage is ending, likely leading to the largest divorce settlement in history. Though the couple has asserted that their separation will be amicable, the divorce proceedings could still be complex, highlighting the risks to entrepreneurs when marriages end. The law in Washington State, [...]
Exclusive: Deloitte hires senior Magic Circle partner to lead its push into the UK legal market January 14, 2019 Big Four accountancy firm Deloitte has hired a senior partner from the Magic Circle to lead its expansion into the UK legal market after announcing plans to target the sector last year. The audit firm has appointed veteran Allen & Overy banking partner Michael Castle as managing partner for Deloitte Legal to lead its UK [...]
Galacticos! Inside the US law firm building the most expensive team in UK legal history January 13, 2019 In 2000 Real Madrid signed Portuguese football star Luis Figo from arch rivals Barcelona in a move that signalled the start of the galacticos era at the Spanish club which used its financial clout to bring other international stars such as Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Brazilian striker Ronaldo to the Bernabeu in the following [...]
Accenture chief executive Pierre Nanterme steps down for health reasons January 11, 2019 Accenture chairman and chief executive Pierre Nanterme has stepped down, citing health reasons. The company's chief financial officer David Rowland will become interim chief executive officer and independent director Marge Magner has been appointed as the company’s non-executive chair of the board. Finance operations leader KC McClure will take on the chief financial officer role. [...]