Latest
PwC sues ex-partner Paul McNab over tax leaks scandal
The firm is suing him back and claiming he was personally responsible for the massive financial damage the scandal has wrought on the accounting giant.
- 27 mins ago
- Edmund Tadros
Accountants ramp up offshoring to bring down costs
Up to a third of staff at some of the nation’s top firms work in countries such as India and the Philippines as leaders cut costs and search for hard-to-find skills.
- Edmund Tadros
The fastest-growing firms have one thing in common: AI
BlueRock’s Peter Lalor says the firm is using generative AI across the firm, while McGrathNicol’s Jason Preston is using the machine learning to identify patterns that humans would overlook.
- Edmund Tadros
The big winners as scandal forces big four into retreat
Mid-sized firms such as those run by Steve Meyn of PKF, Jamie O’Rourke of RSM and Annabelle Clare of Walshs had their best year on record as clients move away from out-of-favour big players.
- Edmund Tadros
Revealed: Australia’s best accounting firms in 2024
The Financial Review list shows that mid-tier accounting firms reached an unprecedented size as revenue at the big four consulting firms fell to a two-year low.
- Edmund Tadros
Data Trackers
Financial Review consulting salary guide 2022-23
The full guide to how much you can earn at Accenture, Deloitte, KPMG and PwC.
- Edmund Tadros
- Series
- PwC tax scandal
Inside the undoing of PwC
For the first time, the Financial Review tells the story from the perspective of the people inside PwC and the Tax Office.
Professional Moves
Seven PwC partners join MinterEllison
New partner Nicole Salimbeni said law firms make more natural homes for some advisers than big four consultancies.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- Legal industry
US law firms swoop on Sydney tax and deals partners
Senior transactions partners Aaron Kenaman and Jamie Palmer will join White & Case, as Jones Day picks up Baker McKenzie’s tax head.
- Maxim Shanahan
Ashurst, Freehills, Clayton Utz in hiring spree
Top-tier law firms are looking to capitalise on the weakness of the big four, opportunities in the energy sector and the high levels of insolvencies.
- Maxim Shanahan
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Top 100 Accounting Firms
Accounting firms bullish about the future
Automation technology and ever-growing demand for advice are keeping the top firms optimistic about the years ahead.
- Theo Konstantas
This Month
Who is Alan Jones’ lawyer?
Criminal solicitor Bryan Wrench is a regular fixture in the tabloid press, and has a long list of prominent clients.
- Maxim Shanahan
Nine partners jump ship from national law firm Hall & Wilcox
Private equity-backed UK firm DWF has raided Hall & Wilcox’s insurance group, adding to a period of instability in the niche practice area.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Analysis
- Legal industry
What does the Freehills merger mean for lawyers?
Herbert Smith Freehills’ UK lawyers will be celebrating the announcement of its US merger plans, but the benefits for Australian partners are less obvious.
- Maxim Shanahan
M&A deals to spike ahead of merger reforms, says Corrs
The new regime is likely to capture more deals and involve longer reviews, the law firm has warned.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Tracking and decoding corporate jargon
A tracker of our growing list of corporatespeak – and our suggestions for plain-language alternatives. Consider it your jargon dictionary.
- Edmund Tadros
US firms to reshape market: new DLA Piper head
Corporate partner Shane Bilardi will take over from Amber Matthews as DLA Piper’s local managing partner early next year.
- Maxim Shanahan
What the inquiry into the structure of the big four firms recommended
A summary of the key recommendations from the joint parliamentary inquiry into the structure of the big four consulting firms and what they mean for the sector.
- Edmund Tadros
- Updated
- Legal industry
Herbert Smith Freehills proposes merger with US firm
The top-tier firm’s last big change was when it merged with London’s Herbert Smith in 2012. Its rivals are also looking for American partners amid intense competition.
- Maxim Shanahan
- Exclusive
- PwC tax scandal
PwC Australia settles with three former partners for millions
The firm has entered into settlements worth millions with two partners forced to leave amid the tax leaks scandal and another former partner.
- Edmund Tadros
- Exclusive
- Courts
ATO cut a deal with developer accused of fraud. But the money vanished
The uncle of Real Housewives of Sydney star Nicole O’Neil struck a deal with the Tax Office to pay millions in bills and penalties. When the ATO went to get the money, it was gone.
- Max Mason
Judge’s ruling on law firm was plagiarised from submissions
In a ruling against one of Sydney’s most high-profile boutique law firms, a judge cribbed 82 paragraphs from submissions made by a plaintiff’s lawyers.
- Myriam Robin
Capping big four partnerships would ’cause great disruption’
Two conservative members of an inquiry committee that recommended capping accounting partnerships at 400 said the move would be an “extraordinary intervention” by the government.
- Edmund Tadros
PwC still not transparent enough on tax leaks: inquiry
A parliamentary inquiry has found PwC International and PwC Australia have engaged in an ongoing cover-up of the extent of the tax leaks scandal.
- Edmund Tadros
Big four partnerships should be capped at 400, inquiry finds
The major consulting firms could also be forced to separate the management of their audit and non-audit practices under recommended changes.
- Edmund Tadros
The law firms trawling through corporate scandals
Demand for law firm-led investigations has grown but concerns remain about their independence and probative value.
- Maxim Shanahan
Ex-lawyer reveals why internal PwC probe failed to find tax leak
PwC Australia’s former general counsel says her initial investigation into potential breaches of confidentiality by a former partner did not detect problems because partners gave her inadequate evidence to examine.
- Edmund Tadros
- Analysis
- Customer Champions
How we identified the 2024 Customer Champions
Submissions were evaluated across the three dimensions that define a Customer Champion – customer value, shareholder value and approach to doing business.
- Nigel Andrade, Enrico Rizzon and Michael Hone
- Exclusive
- Big four consultants
Deloitte board nominates Joanne Gorton as preferred CEO
The firm’s head of audit has been selected as the preferred candidate to replace chief executive Adam Powick.
- Edmund Tadros
PwC government work ban to last at least another six months
The Department of Finance has deferred a decision about whether the Australian firm can again bid for government work until the middle of next year.
- Edmund Tadros