This Month
Macquarie defends ex-KPMG director over coveted audit contract
The bank refuses to say whether board director Michelle Hinchliffe has recused herself from deliberations around its prized audit contract.
KPMG, EY frontrunners to snatch coveted Macquarie audit role from PwC
Working on the investment and banking giant’s books is one of the most complex jobs for an accounting firm, but one that promises a significant windfall.
June
PwC Australia’s profit slumps 17pc, inaugural audited accounts show
The firm is the first big four accounting group to publish an audited financial report, part of its reform process following the tax leaks scandal.
May
Can MinRes’ cleanskin chairman tame the Chris Ellison show?
Malcolm Bundey will have one of the biggest governance mop-up jobs in years, with the heavily indebted miner facing investigation by the corporate regulator.
April
EY Oceania to avoid merger in global restructure
The firm’s local division will continue to be led by chief executive David Larocca, but job cuts are expected amid a broader reorganisation of the business.
March
New Grant Thornton boss to strike at bigger rivals ‘while iron is hot’
Said Jahani wants to elevate the fast-growing firm’s market position, but is cautious on following his UK and US colleagues in taking private capital.
Alvarez & Marsal poaches Deloitte partner
The departure comes after the consultancy firm raided Deloitte’s partner ranks in early December to kick off its Australian restructuring unit.
KPMG to merge dozens of partnerships in overhaul of global structure
The effort to more closely integrate the businesses amounts to one of the biggest restructures of a big four network in years.
February
KPMG pulls DEI reports from website after Trump pressure
The big four firm in the United States has become the latest government contractor to ditch DEI targets.
‘Man in a hurry’: Luke Sayers’ bumpy road to the top of PwC
Before he became boss of the auditing and consulting giant, the ambitious partner was fined for behavioural breaches and apologised to a group of female partners for unspecified past behaviour.
Dozens of PwC China partners step aside after audit ban
The disclosure suggests the big four firm has lost state-owned and finance sector clients.
January
Disciplinary body drops investigation into former PwC tax partner
CA ANZ has discontinued an investigation into Wayne Plummer, but says other former partners are still being investigated.
December 2024
EY sues five partners who left for Alvarez & Marsal
The civil action comes as EY’s leadership asks at least eight partners to leave as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
What Defence spent on consultants could run submarine fleet for a year
What would Defence’s $811 million in spending on the big five consulting firms in 2022-23 buy? Turns out the answer is quite a lot.
PwC in talks to offload insolvency unit to Teneo
Insolvency teams have a long history of moving in and out of the big four firms as they become frustrated at being constantly conflicted out of work.
November 2024
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.
October 2024
EY to hold back some pay from US partners after tough year
The big four accounting firm tries to manage cash flow issues by deferring 2 per cent of annual compensation.
Lloyd’s of London tracking Monday office attendance
It comes amid growing concerns across businesses that workers are either flouting demands to come into the office more regularly or effectively extending the weekend.
September 2024
The most powerful people in the consulting sector in 2024
As the fallout from the PwC scandal still looms large, smaller operations are moving in on the big four’s turf.
Revealed: the former EY partner being sued by the ATO
Peter White allegedly took $700,000 in secret commissions while setting up illegal tax schemes for wealthy clients.