New research: Accounting students are not generally psychopaths but some slip through

New academic research says accounting students are less likely to be psychopaths who will commit fraud but surprising admissions by some suggest a reason to be wary.

KPMG Takes Its Turn With a Big 4 -Sized Scandal

The KPMG/PCAOB scandal is neither the first or last time a Big 4 firm reminded us that there’s nothing special anymore about being a Big 4 firm professional The firms, and their partners, are not capitalist eunuchs, immune from perverse incentives that advocates for free markets say, if big enough, can corrupt anyone.

PwC Settles Campbell Overtime Case; Impact To Profession Is Happening Now

PwC recently agreed to settle the Campbell v. PwC overtime class action lawsuit pending in California. I first wrote about the case on October 25, 2007. Here’s an excerpt from my wrap-up at Medium.com.

The Saga Of Stephen Glass: A Guest Post Morality Tale From Eric Starkman

Is it fair to “tar and feather” professionals when they are sued or only when they are convicted of crimes? How much time must pass before they can get on with their lives?

An Interview For The Society of Professional Journalists Region 1 Conference

David Levitt of the Society of Professional Journalists Region 1 in New Jersey
asked me back in April to answer a few questions for a conference panel I, unfortunately, could not attend live.

McKenna Interviewed By Public Relations Site Gorkana

Gorkana covers the latest industry news for the PR and corporate communications community. I spoke to Social Media Executive Ebunola Adenipekun last fall about the evolution of this blog, its relationship to its readers and my interactions with the public relations, corporate communications community.

Blogging – My Religion

So, if you’ve ever wanted to put your stuff out there, tell your story, be judged on what you know, not what box you may have found yourself in…
Just do it. It’s not hard. It’s pretty forgiving. It’s neat.

“Wait! I Was Just Getting Started…”

“If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” Henry Miller

Will More Women Mean Better Audit Firms?

This column originally appeared in Going Concern on June 16, 2010. From the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce website: Deb [DeHaas] is the vice chairman and Central region managing partner for Deloitte LLP, which includes 23 offices across 12 states. With 9,000 professionals, Deloitte is the largest Big Four organization in the region. In this role, […]

In Memoriam – Roberta Gilna Merkel

Executive search is a lot like the real estate business. Headhunters, with very few exceptions, like realtors, are getting paid by the seller or the company that is selling the job that you, as a candidate, are buying. The best ones manage this ethical dilemma well, especially when the compensation package, like the purchase price of […]

Top Ten Reasons You Still Want To Work For The Auditors

College students are being wined, dined, and picked over by the large firms. The recruiting season is in full bloom. One of the most frequent searches leading to my blog is some variation on what to wear to the post-interview fancy restaurant dinner. As you go through the experience, remember: They’ve already established what you […]