Ad boss Sir Martin Sorrell says S4 Capital’s results delays are unacceptable and embarrassing’ May 6, 2022 Ad industry veteran Sir Martin Sorell has said month long delay in the release of marketing firm S4 Capital’s results are “unacceptable and embarrassing,” after promising to make “significant changes” to the firm. The WPP founder decried the delays to the publication of S4 Capital’s results, after Big Four auditing firm PwC failed to sign [...]
‘The lazy g**s make me sick’: Lord Sugar berates PwC summer working hours as a ‘bloody joke’ May 6, 2022 Lord Alan Sugar has branded PwC’s summer working hours scheme a “bloody joke”, after the Big Four firm said it would give workers Friday afternoons off. The business leader took to Twitter in a tirade against the decision saying the “lazy gits make me sick.” “Call me old fashioned but all this work from home [...]
PwC extends summer working hours policy following success of pilot scheme last year May 4, 2022 Big Four accountancy firm PwC has said it is extending its “summer working hours” programme to June, following the success of the pilot scheme last year. The firm said it will let staff to leave at lunchtime on Fridays for the months of June, July and August of this year. The plan comes after PwC [...]
UK government drops audit reform from Queen’s Speech agenda April 30, 2022 The UK government is expected to announce further delays to its shakeup of the audit sector, after dropping a draft bill on audit reform from the Queen’s Speech. A draft bill to introduce a raft of measures aimed at reforming the UK’s audit industry, including by replacing the UK’s audit watchdog with a new more [...]
EY Germany vows to improve working conditions in wake of Wirecard scandal April 28, 2022 EY Germany has vowed to cut staff workloads and improve company working conditions, in response to its role in the multi-billion-euro Wirecard scandal. The German arm of the Big Four accountancy firm said it plans to reduce workplace stress and the overburdening of its workers, by limiting overtime and hiring more people. The pledge comes [...]
PwC acquires London consultancy Pollen8 in bid to enhance innovation offering April 20, 2022 Big Four accountancy firm PwC has acquired tech-focused consultancy Pollen8. In a statement, the major auditor said its acquisition of the London-based consultancy will enhance its “technology innovation capability” and give it access to Pollen8’s “specialist innovation management platform”. Founded in 2016, Pollen8 describes itself as a “tech-led” innovation consultancy which uses “data-driven” analysis to [...]
EY to double size of consulting team by hiring 5,100 consultants over the next four years April 5, 2022 Big Four accountancy firm EY is set to double the size of its UK consulting team, by hiring 5,100 new consultants over the next four years. The accountancy giant said it plans to double the size of 5,100 strong consulting team, with a view to having more than 10,200 consultants on its books by 2026. [...]
Big Four cut ties to China’s debt-ridden property giants as developers delay results March 30, 2022 The Big Four auditors have begun cutting their links to China’s heavily indebted property developers, amid mounting concerns over the sector’s debt crisis. Accountancy giants Deloitte and PwC have both pulled out of auditing at a slew of Chinese property developers over the past three months. The exits come as PwC is reportedly set to [...]
Randox delays release of audited results amid concerns over Covid procurement process March 30, 2022 Covid test maker Randox has delayed release of its audited results amid mounting scrutiny over the government’s decision to award it contracts worth almost £777m. The delay to publication comes after the UK’s public spending watchdog said the government failed to document the procurement process that led to Randox being awarded 22 government contracts for [...]
PwC fined £670,000 for allowing exam cheating scandal involving 1,200 employees February 28, 2022 Canadian and US regulators have hit PwC’s Canadian business with more than £670,000 in fines, for failing to prevent a widespread cheating scandal involving more than 1,200 of its employees. The US and Canadian watchdogs slammed PwC for allowing more than 1,200 employees to share answers while taking mandatory accounting exams. Canada’s audit watchdog [...]