Mazars agrees £2m settlement with accounting watchdog
Mazars fined and severely reprimanded by the FRC over its conduct and that its London managing partner Richard Karmel
MAZARS has been fined and severely reprimanded by the FRC over its conduct and that of its London managing partner Richard Karmel, over failings in advice provided to the trustee of the First Quench Pension Fund.
The firm has been fined £750,000 and must pay £1.12m in legal costs, while Karmel has been fined £50,000 and must pay £80,000 costs, in what is the biggest settlement in the accounting watchdog’s history.
In the FRC tribunal on 25 July 2014, Mazars and Karmel admitted that their conduct “fell significantly short of the standards reasonably to be expected of a member firm and member” of the ICAEW.
The failings were in relation to advice given to the trustee of the First Quench Pension Fund regarding the proposed replacement of First Quench Retailing as the sponsoring employer of the fund.
The misconduct, which the FRC accepted was neither dishonest nor deliberate, occurred between 5 August 2007 and 18 September 2007, in relation to the provision of a report to the trustee on the quality of the covenant of First Quench Retailing at 30 May 2007; a report to the trustee on the quality of the covenant of the new company assuming the transaction (i.e. the substitution) were to proceed; and a report to the trustee on the merits and risks of the transaction. This was presented as a report “on the benefits and risks of retaining First Quench Retailing Limited as the sponsoring employer and the benefits and risks of transferring to Newco”.
“We regret that our conduct fell below our usual high standards in relation to this 2007 advisory assignment. We are pleased that the FRC accepted that the misconduct was neither dishonest nor deliberate, that we took appropriate remedial steps relating to quality assurance, and that it did not cause any actual loss to the beneficiaries of the pension fund,” Mazars said in a statement.
Paul George, FRC executive director of conduct, said: “This outcome sends a clear message to all accountants and accountancy firms carrying out advisory work that not only do they have a responsibility to carry out their professional work diligently and in accordance with the applicable technical standards but that they must consider the different and opposing commercial interests of all those involved.
“Accountants must not allow undue influence of others to override their professional judgements and they must have a clear understanding of who their client actually is. The result in this case demonstrates our commitment to ensure the standards of the profession are upheld so that it can justifiably secure public confidence.”
Karmel, who qualified as an accountant in 1991, will remain with the firm.
First Quench Retailing entered administration in October 2009 putting its subsidiaries Threshers, Wine Rack and Victoria Wine in jeopardy.
How can Paul George claim: “…this case demonstrates (the FRC’s) commitment to ensure the standards of the profession are upheld so that it can justifiably secure public confidence.” It continues to permit the reporting of some holding gains as realised profits when they may never in fact be made!
How can the public have confidence in that? There is nothing truthful about it. It was not the outcome Sir David Tweedie wanted. Whenever we discussed the matter he assured me it would not last. Sadly he was unable to complete his mission because the G20 diverted his attention in the aftermath of the 2008 crash.
How can Paul George claim: “…this case demonstrates (the FRC’s) commitment to ensure the standards of the profession are upheld so that it can justifiably secure public confidence.” It continues to permit the reporting of some holding gains as realised profits when they may never in fact be made!
How can the public have confidence in that? There is nothing truthful about it. It was not the outcome Sir David Tweedie wanted. Whenever we discussed the matter he assured me it would not last. Sadly he was unable to complete his mission because the G20 diverted his attention in the aftermath of the 2008 crash.
We read about a big firm being fined or sued nearly every week. It makes me laugh when a spokesman says regretably this fell short of our normally high standards. What every bloody week? Some of us have longer term memories.
We read about a big firm being fined or sued nearly every week. It makes me laugh when a spokesman says regretably this fell short of our normally high standards. What every bloody week? Some of us have longer term memories.