The recent furor in the United Kingdom over the Post Office’s wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters for alleged fraud has put the government’s relationship with private contractors under the spotlight and raised questions about how companies could be held more accountable in future.
Europe
Posted inEurope
FINMA eyeing more power over banks. Will it make a difference?
Bonus clawbacks, more fines, and a senior management regime that clearly identifies individual executives’ responsibilities for key governance areas are all options being considered by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority in response to the collapse of Credit Suisse.
Posted inEurope
ICO seeking input on generative AI to inform guidance
The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office is seeking input from developers, users, and those interested in generative artificial intelligence to help inform policy and guidance regarding the technology.
Posted inEurope
FCA sets out data ambitions, challenges firms to keep pace
Experts expect improvements in the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority’s use of data and reporting means a heightened obligation for timely compliance by companies subject to its remit.
Posted inEurope
Amazon unit fined $35M under GDPR for employee productivity tracking
Amazon’s warehouse management arm in France was assessed a penalty of €32 million (U.S. $35 million) for violating the General Data Protection Regulation by excessively tracking the productivity of employees.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
FRC ups board responsibilities in corporate governance code revisions
The Financial Reporting Council held back on the latest round of updates to the U.K.’s corporate governance code, as the country remains wary of pushing away businesses and investors.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
Stiffer U.K. audit penalties posing more problems?
Legal experts are unconvinced record fines against audit firms imposed last year by the U.K. Financial Reporting Council will necessarily improve audit quality.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
Mixed reactions to new U.K. pensions code of practice
Lawyers and accountants in the United Kingdom have welcomed the publication of The Pensions Regulator’s new pensions code of practice but warned it might not improve the management of those that are not already well run.
Posted inEurope
EU nearing tighter AML rules for crypto, luxury traders
The European Union moved closer to finalizing rules that would expand current anti-money laundering and customer due diligence obligations to new sectors, in addition to granting greater powers to national financial intelligence units.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
U.K. push for more listings to lower bar on governance?
Moves by the U.K.’s financial regulatory body to encourage companies to list in London might fail to deliver or send mixed messages about the value placed on corporate governance, according to experts.