Looking For Talent? Steal From Your Competitors

This was originally posted September 6, 2007.  Not much has changed since then.  Not much varies for the Big Four member firms all over the world.  Regulators, please note: This is the level of responsibility- the level of expectations – for non-management staff. Quite significant. I ran across this recruiting ad for PwC Belgium while […]

Say Anything: The Big Four Defense Of Overtime Exemptions

Although the state and federal wage and hour laws governing eligibility for overtime pay are complicated, the public policy issues they present for audit firms are not.

Just A Cog In The Big 4 Machine

The Big 4 are still reeling them in like large mouth bass…

PricewaterhouseCoopers Headed For A Trial In California Overtime Case

There’s one thing about litigation that everyone agrees on. Anything can, and sometimes does, happen.

Embracing Change – Day by Day

I often think of my career as having had at least four parts, so far…

The Perils Of Pre-Inspection File Polishing

Ever wondered what it would be like to see your name in print? Most auditors do not aspire to seeing their name in the papers. It’s a career-limiting move to be cited in a bankruptcy examiner’s report or a disciplinary order issued by the PCAOB.

Taking a Louisville Slugger: Lawsuits Against E&Y, PwC Show Ugly Side of Big 4

Warning: Violence, unsavory language. Watch at your own risk. Robert DeNiro as Al Capone in The Untouchables: “A man becomes preeminent, he’s expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiasms, enthusiasms… What are mine? Baseball! A man stands alone at the plate. This is the time for what? For individual achievement. There he stands alone. But in the […]

Accounting Basics: A Guest Post From Robert B. Walker

Robert B Walker, Chartered Accountant is a sole practitioner undertaking insolvency work, in Wellington and Auckland New Zealand. Is Mr. Walker the last man on earth who appreciates a solid set of books and records?

Professional Rogues

This post originally appeared at GoingConcern.com on August 26, 2009. I’ve added updates and additions where available.

Insider trading. Fraud. Money laundering. Falsifying documents. Embezzlement. Tax shelter abuses.
Some say I’m too negative about the audit industry. Occasionally I’m accused of making things up.
Ha.

Ratings, Raises and Promotions – Forced Ranking In The Big 4

This was originally posted  Going Concern.com on August 12, 2009. …there’s definitely collusion/shenanigans going on amongst the big 4 for compensation along with extending dates for promotions. Ratings manipulation is also going on along with unfair treatment of those that tried to go above and beyond….” Both Deloitte and KPMG admitted last fall that job […]

The Big 4: A “Professional” Racket: How Did I Get Here?

The graduation party’s come and gone. There’s a Mont Blanc in your limited edition Prada backpack. The economy is not getting any better, but friends, relatives coughed up decent cash and you headed to Barcelona and Bilbao with a few buds to check out the Gehry Guggenheim. Your start date is delayed until January and the offer letter has […]

Updated: PricewaterhouseCoopers Cuts Hundreds of Internal IT Professionals

In a move that was too big to hide, PricewaterhouseCoopers on Thursday cut between 500-800 professionals from its internal IT organization. Multiple sources are telling me the number is closer to 800. In any event, PwC admits, in an unprecedented press release, that there is no severance offered because they are giving professionals until the end of the year to find other jobs.