It was only a few weeks ago I was blogging about the the potential merger in Canada of BDO Dunwoody and Grant Thornton. They announced that they were in talks and conducting the necessary due diligence procedures to see if a merger would be good for the two firms and their clients. They announced todayContinue reading “BDO and Grant Thornton decide against merger”
Author Archives: Neil
Economist claims accountant obsolescence
An esteemed Princeton economist has predicted that accountants, lawyers and other highly educated and highly paid workers in the developed world will be made obsolete in the near future by lower cost alternatives in the developing world. From the best accountants and lawyers to the smartest derivatives traders to teachers and lecturers, many of today’sContinue reading “Economist claims accountant obsolescence”
Canadian government backs down on controversial budget move
In late March I talked about the Canadian Federal budget, which had been recently released, and how it included a measure to prevent companies from deducting interest on debt incurred to fund foreign operations. I couldn’t understand the logic of the move. It seemed strange for a conservative government normally known to be friendly toContinue reading “Canadian government backs down on controversial budget move”
Grant Thornton UK merges with RSM Robson Rhodes
Although they’re possibly (likely?) completely unrelated, the recent announcement in the UK that Grant Thornton would merge with RSM Robson Rhodes comes hot on the heels of the announcement in Canada that BDO Dunwoody and Grant Thornton here would enter into discussions on the possibility of merging. The partners of Grant Thornton UK LLP andContinue reading “Grant Thornton UK merges with RSM Robson Rhodes”
Hollinger audit committee had “no finance experts”
The Conrad Black trial has been good theatre, and the latest coming out of Chicago doesn’t disappoint. Testifying at the trial of former Hollinger chairman Conrad Black, a former member of the company’s audit committee has testified that it kept watch over company finances for four years without any financial experts. Economist Marie-Josee Kravis, satContinue reading “Hollinger audit committee had “no finance experts””