Latest Updates: My Clients Are Failing, My Clients Are Failing

Update: Chicago’s John “Dr. J.” Najarian co-founder of OptionMONSTER on the need for transparency when the assets bought by the US government are eventually sold. On YouTube. Part 2 from Jon Najarian is here.   I have been updating this information throughout the weekend as other banks failed and other deals have been done. A […]

"Rogue" Partners At KPMG Christchurch

Here in the US, we are accustomed to the concept of a national practice  for our Big 4 firms.  Although each of the local offices, in each city, in each state has a Managing Partner and local partners, the firms are rarely separate legal entities.  A partner is a partner of the National firm, not […]

And The IRS Has What Leverage Over The Firms?

I laughed out loud when a Google Alert pointed me to the FT article excerpted below.  I find this solicitation by the US Internal Revenue Service quite ironic given that four of the six firms mentioned have had serious, and I mean serious, issues with the IRS related to their aiding and abetting the development […]

Approved! All Together Now – EY To Be One Firm (Except US, Of Course)

Ernst & Young Completes Groundbreaking Globalization Move EY Partners Overwhelmingly Approve the Creation of EMEIA LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ernst & Young today announces that its partners across Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa have overwhelmingly approved the proposed integration of its country practices into a single EMEIA Area. The new Area will be […]

SocGen And PwC – They Still Don’t Know Jack…

As those of you who follow my Twitters know, last Wednesday I had the good fortune to have dinner with our Governor and a few other State of Illinois executives and local entrepreneurs. Most were in the technology arena, as is my client, who I was there to support, cajole, nudge and share a rib […]

Nickels and Dimes – They Add Up…

Michael David Thomas over at The Daily Caveat does a nice wrap up on the latest charges by the SEC against AOL/Time Warner. Who is AOL/Time Warner’s auditor? It has been Ernst and Young since before the merger between AOL and Time Warner in January of 2000. Ernst and Young was also AOL’s auditor before […]

You Thought Backdating Was On The Back Burner?

Picture Source I paid Linda Thomsen a compliment at the recent Capital Markets Summit.  I told her that the SEC was out of the gate early and strong on backdating and it was heartening to hear that they were still interested in it, even though the business community, maybe, thought it was old news. She liked […]

Canada and Overtime

Go here for an exhaustive summary of the overtime pay situation in Canada.  Krupo has even posted the links where you can file your claim.  Hey Krupo, what about all those US staff being imported to Canada to do audit and SOx work for multinationals because the dollar is so weak?  Do they get overtime […]

Sunday News Roundup

The WSJ does have a story about Jérôme Kerviel’s new job, but still no story about Ernst & Young’s merger move in the rest of the world outside the US. And here I thought I had to post at 11:00 pm on a Sunday night to beat the US business media to the story. I guess […]

Delta And Northwest Merge – No Auditors Were Harmed In The Process

Picture Source Delta, Northwest Agree to Merger Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp., after three months of twists and turns, Monday received approval from their boards to merge in a deal that would create the world’s largest airline by traffic — if the agreement can pass regulatory muster and overcome potentially serious employee […]

The Big 4 And Their Travel Card Relationships – Comfy And Cozy

This blog has recently been reminding you of the independence standards imposed on the audit firms with regard to their relationships with their vendors.   Don’t get me wrong…  It’s not easy for anyone to keep it all straight.   In my previous post on PwC’s relationship with Aramark as a vendor for its cafeteria, […]

EY Steps Up To Strategic Risk

Picture Source Regular readers will be hard pressed to find too many shout outs and kudos to Big 4 firms or their defenders on this blog.   Oh,  they’re there.  And there.  And there. But I’m very picky about giving out compliments.  It’s not that I don’t have many friends, former colleagues, and business contacts […]