Three former executives at collapsed construction firm Carillion each face six-figure fines for market abuse for “recklessly” making misleadingly positive and inaccurate statements about the company’s financial health despite knowing it was in trouble.
Accounting & Auditing
FRC finalizes $17.4M fine against KPMG for Carillion, Regenersis dishonesty
KPMG was fined £14.4 million (U.S. $17.4 million) and severely reprimanded for providing false and misleading information relating to its audits of construction company Carillion and software business Regenersis.
Assessing results of FASB’s 2021 agenda consultation report
The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s 2021 agenda consultation report summarizes the extensive feedback FASB received when it asked stakeholders where it should focus its time and resources.
FRC 2021/22 audit inspections: KPMG praised; BDO and Mazars rebuked
Improvements at KPMG resulted in each of the Big Four returning no audits requiring significant improvement during an inspection cycle for the first time in the last five years, according to the U.K. Financial Reporting Council’s latest quality review results.
Grant Thornton UK to pay $1.6M over Sports Direct audit failings
Grant Thornton UK was fined a total of approximately £1.3 million (U.S. $1.6 million) by the Financial Reporting Council for failing to provide reasonable assurance during two separate audits at retailer Sports Direct International.
Survey: Firms early to prep for SEC’s climate-related disclosure rule
Respondents to a Compliance Week/CohnReznick survey assessing readiness for the SEC’s climate-related disclosure mandate aren’t waiting to see how the proposed rule plays out before getting their compliance house in order.
Chinese companies facing HFCAA delisting seeking alternatives
Chinese businesses identified as noncompliant with the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act are trying a variety of strategies to circumvent or comply with the law before they are delisted from U.S. exchanges.
Survey: Inflation, climate risk top audit partner economic concerns for 2022
The economy, cybersecurity, climate change, and cryptocurrency are among top concerns for the year ahead expressed by U.S. public company audit partners as part of a new Center for Audit Quality survey.
Materiality, Scope 3 emissions elicit debate in SEC climate rule comments
Comment letters in response to the SEC’s climate-related disclosure rule have laid out opponents’ issues with the proposal, while supporters have used the process to buttress the agency’s case for implementing it.
Financial volatility, supply chain disruptions among PCAOB 2022 inspection focuses
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will pay increased attention to how auditors are addressing changing risk landscapes because of the current economic environment during its 2022 inspections.


