Yesterday
PwC partners in Middle East accused of blocking first woman boss
PwC is facing a backlash from its own staff after two women were passed over for the UK firm’s top job, as Middle Eastern partners grow in strength.
- Updated
- Adam Mawardi
This Month
Let ASIC police big four conflicts: Samuel
Former ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel says the big four’s governance changes looked good on paper, but would not fundamentally change the culture of the firms.
- Maxim Shanahan and Ronald Mizen
Big four accountants could face partner limits in governance crackdown
The big four accounting firms could be forced to slash partner numbers and incorporate their consulting businesses under a crackdown on governance standards flagged as a possible response to the PwC tax leaks scandal.
- Updated
- Ronald Mizen and Edmund Tadros
PwC survives Macquarie audit review
PwC has audited the Millionaires’ Factory since 1993, and it is one of its most lucrative ASX contracts.
- Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Audit quality
Treasury questions the very nature of the big four consulting firms
Get ready for war as they fight back against suggestions they are too big, incapable of governing themselves and have compromised auditing roles.
- Edmund Tadros
April
KPMG increases working capital borrowings by almost $300m
KPMG increased its borrowings by almost $300 million over the past two financial years but booked revenue growth of more than $500 million.
- Maxim Shanahan
PwC set to become smallest big four firm
PwC has lost more than 200 partners in less than a year, with the once-ascendant firm expected to fall behind KPMG on partnership size and revenue.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- PwC tax scandal
Burrowes wants everyone to move on from PwC’s tax scandal
“We feel we’re in a good position now to start to turn to a new chapter, look to the future and drive the firm with a new strategy,” the PwC chief executive says.
- Ronald Mizen and Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- PwC tax scandal
Former PwC chief executive Kristin Stubbins starts new firm
The advisory giant’s former boss, and its most senior audit partner, is expected to launch the new business next month.
- Aaron Weinman
Scyne settles restraint case, as PwC tax partner jumps to KPMG
Connie Heaney will be free to continue at Downer EDI under the settlement, while a senior PwC tax partner has jumped ship to KPMG.
- Updated
- Maxim Shanahan
Big four consultants ‘commoditised’, says fast-growing boutique firm
Rennie Advisory has appointed former senior EY partner Tim Eddy as its new chairman, as small firms capitalise on client dissatisfaction with the big four.
- Maxim Shanahan
Consulting firms step up tough push to oust staff
McKinsey is in the middle of a brutal round of career reviews; consultants will all be graded this month and those deemed to be underperforming will be “counselled to leave”.
- Updated
- Stephen Foley and Simon Foy
BHP taps Deloitte for underpayments fix
The nation’s biggest company has brought in Deloitte to help track down former employees affected by a $434 million accounting glitch.
- Peter Ker
EY cuts 148 jobs as consulting downturn deepens
The firm says the redundancies are needed to protect its financial position, and has told the affected staff they have a week to find a new internal role or leave.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Opinion
- Big four accountants
Consulting clients look elsewhere as trust in big four plummets
Smaller firms have an opportunity to build trust with clients and take work off the previously dominant big four, whose reputation is in tatters.
- George Beaton
- Exclusive
- EY
EY to cut 100-plus staff amid advisory downturn
The big four firm will cut more than 100 roles next week, or about 1 per cent of its 10,000-strong workforce, due to the downturn in the consulting market.
- Edmund Tadros
March
KPMG hands CEO Yates another three years
The board of KPMG Australia has extended the leadership term of Andrew Yates to June 2027.
- Edmund Tadros
- Exclusive
- Tax avoidance
Client alleges ex-EY partner took secret payments on tax scheme
A wealthy client is suing the EY Australia partnership alleging a partner earned $700,000 in secret commissions as part of a failed tax loss scheme.
- Max Mason
Deloitte restructure ‘year in the making’
Deloitte Australia CEO Adam Powick says a global restructure will strip out duplicated roles and make it easier to respond to client needs.
- Edmund Tadros
- Updated
- Accounting
Court actions against Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC
The big four consulting firms face a range of court actions over their auditing and advisory work. The list was last updated on March 18, 2024.
- Updated
- Edmund Tadros and Hannah Wootton
