HMRC tells accountants it’s business as usual for routine tax planning June 8, 2016 The taxman has written to a leading accountancy firm to reassure it that it's business as usual for routine tax planning. Accountancy firm RSM, which has offices in the City, previously wrote in its weekly tax bulletin that it was concerned about a report that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) had published in May. The report [...]
Accountancy watchdog launches probe into Deloitte over Serco audit off back of fraud squad investigation June 8, 2016 The accountancy watchdog today launched an investigation into Deloitte over the audit of Serco Group, off the back of information uncovered by an ongoing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has said it will be investigating the big four firm in relation to the preparation, approval and audit of the outsourcing company’s [...]
How The Beatles sent Terra Firma’s Guy Hands back to court to confront Citigroup June 8, 2016 Those who have been walking by the Strand recently may have spotted a familiar face, as Guy Hands and his legal team have returned to court for the latest phase in the legal battle over his ill-fated EMI deal. Hands is suing Citigroup for £1.5bn worth of damages in the High Court over Terra Firma's – the private [...]
French court orders Societe Generale to pay Jerome Kerviel €450,000 for unfair dismissal June 7, 2016 Societe Generale has today been ordered to pay €450,000 (£350,171) to former employee Jerome Kerviel on the grounds the ex-trader was unfairly dismissed, according to various reports. Kerviel has previously been found guilty for breach of trust and fraud, with his unauthorised trades losing the bank €4.9bn in 2008 in an incident that is one of the largest of its kind. The French [...]
Tom Hayes’ crowdfunding campaign breaks £20,000 mark June 6, 2016 Tom Hayes' crowdfunding campaign is gaining pace, having recently broken the £20,000 mark. The former UBS and Citigroup trader has turned to Fundrazr in an attempt to raise £150,000 to pay towards his legal costs of appealing to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. At time of writing, the campaign had raised £21,110, having previously been stalled around the [...]
Former Deutsche Bank trader Christian Bittar given green light to pursue civil case against FCA June 6, 2016 A former Deutsche Bank trader has been given the go ahead to continue with a civil case against the City watchdog. Christian Bittar is suing over the manner he was depicted in a penalty notice issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which levied a fine on his former employers for its role in the rate rigging [...]
Shell mulls offshoring its legal eagles to cut costs June 6, 2016 Shell is considering offshoring its legal centre in a bid to cut costs and improve efficiencies, it was revealed today. "We are operating in the reality of a 'lower for longer' oil price environment and to remain competitive, Shell is taking essential steps towards building a more sustainable and resilient company," said Donny Ching, Shell's legal director. "Shell's [...]
Financial Reporting Council launches KPMG probe over additional services provided while it audited Ted Baker June 6, 2016 The accountancy watchdog has today announced an investigation into KPMG Audit over its handling of its additional services provided to Ted Baker. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has said it will be examining how the big four firm complied with ethical standards relating to providing non-audit services while it was auditing the retailer. The periods concerned [...]
Over half of City workers think they will have changed jobs by this time next year June 6, 2016 Cuts to bonuses and stagnant salaries are causing many workers in the Square Mile to consider jumping ship. As a result, more than half of City workers do not believe that they will be doing the same job in a year’s time, research released today indicates. The poll, conducted by recruitment firm Astbury Marsden, suggests that [...]
Why “failure to prevent” will fail to prevent fraud and money laundering June 4, 2016 Predictably, reaction to the Prime Minister’s proposal of a new failure to prevent economic crime offence has been mixed. The timing of recent announcement – in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal and just as Mr Cameron's anti-corruption summit kicked into gear – was not lost on some commentators. Others have welcomed the announcement, pointing to [...]
