Evoqua Water Technologies agreed to pay $8.5 million as part of a nonprosecution agreement with the Department of Justice to settle admitted criminal charges related to fraudulent revenue recognition.
Accounting & Auditing
SEC chief accountant calls out audit leadership culture
Staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission have observed instances of audit firms setting poor examples for junior-level employees by failing to properly discipline senior leaders found to have breached ethical standards, according to Chief Accountant Paul Munter.
Crowe U.K. dinged $181K by FRC for Aseana Properties audit failures
Crowe U.K. was assessed a penalty of £144,000 (U.S. $181,000) by the U.K. Financial Reporting Council for failures in its audit of Aseana Properties Limited’s financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019.
PCAOB reestablishes its fundamentals with new standards
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board adopted two new standards that address key audit areas upon which it was relying on benchmarks established more than 20 years ago.
FAT Brands on defense over DOJ, SEC accounting misconduct allegations
Restaurant operator FAT Brands said it would contest charges announced by the Department of Justice regarding violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act related to personal loans made to executive officers.
FRC fines PwC, EY for London Capital & Finance audit failings
Big Four firms PwC and EY were each penalized by the Financial Reporting Council for alleged shortcomings during their respective audits at collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance.
‘Sham audit mill’: SEC fines, permanently suspends BF Borgers
BF Borgers was all but shuttered by the Securities and Exchange Commission after the agency accused the firm of massive fraud impacting more than 1,500 SEC filings audited over a 2 1/2-year span.
PCAOB removes redactions on 2022 KPMG inspection
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board published the full results of its 2022 inspection for Big Four firm KPMG after its initial report contained more than two dozen redactions.
Accountancy bodies urge ethical behavior amid exam cheating scandals
Trust in the integrity of corporate finance and auditing is vital, but repeated scandals over exam cheating at the largest multinational firms are denting faith in the system globally.
ADM CFO to depart amid accounting probes
Food processing company ADM announced Chief Financial Officer Vikram Luthar, who was placed on administrative leave in January amid a probe into the company’s accounting practices, will resign.
