The Russian tax authority has accused PricewaterhouseCoopers of providing “false audits” to the former oil giant Yukos. I’m sure we’ll find out sooner or later whether these accusations have any merit, but for the time being any government institution in Russia is most definitely not getting the benefit of my doubt. Putin and his regimeContinue reading “PricewaterhouseCoopers accused of ‘false’ auditing for Yukos”
Category Archives: Auditing
Canadian bank “shakes” Enron related audit rules
From the (Toronto) Star: Banking authorities in Canada and the United States have lifted an enforcement action that they imposed on the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce three years ago over its involvement with Enron Corp. The action put restrictions on CIBC and required it – for the past three years – to pay forContinue reading “Canadian bank “shakes” Enron related audit rules”
MADD situation shows charities have many stakeholders
Recently, the findings from an investigation by the Toronto Star into charities have been released in the paper and they are not good for many charities, primarily MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Canada. The Star found that the charity spends only about 19 cents for every donor dollar on programs designed to help victims ofContinue reading “MADD situation shows charities have many stakeholders”
Shell and reporting sustainability
This piece in the Globe and Mail was interesting: Shell was early with “sustainability reporting†(their first annual sustainability report was published in 1998). They currently have a goal to have their (self-reported) greenhouse gas emissions 5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010, similar to the Kyoto Protocols. The story was about Shell’s CEOContinue reading “Shell and reporting sustainability”
Sharpening the axe in auditing
A post today at VeraSage provided a perfect metaphor for audit planning: Once upon a time, there were two lumberjacks who challenged each other to see which one could cut down more trees in a day. At daybreak, the first one began furiously chopping down trees. He worked up a sweat and by noon heContinue reading “Sharpening the axe in auditing”