Jim Armitage: An apology to a speedy and efficient financial regulator
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Your support makes all the difference.Outlook An apology is due.
I recently wrote a rather sarcastic article here about the sloth-like pace of action at the Financial Reporting Council. The accountancy regulator was, I suggested, rather tardy in deciding to launch an investigation into the activities of two ex-directors of the collapsed Torex Retail software company. This was because a full six and 11 months earlier, the pair had received stiff fraud sentences.
In the light of further information since that piece, I appreciate that I was being unreasonable.
The FRC yesterday handed down fines on Ernst & Young (or EY as it likes to be known these days) for its role in the scandalous collapse of the Farepak Christmas savings club. Farepak collapsed in 2006 – a full seven years ago. The Torex action was clearly FRC greased lightning.
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