Author: Caleb Newquist

Founding editor, Going Concern.

Barney Frank Doesn’t Legislate Accounting, He Only ‘Exerts Pressure’

bfrank.pngAs you may know, the mere thought of Congress legislating accounting rules makes us nauseous to the point of passing out. Barney Frank, in an attempt to alleviate this common malady among accountants, has been quoted by Web CPA saying that “We will never legislate accounting while I’m chairman [of the Financial Services Committee]”.


According to the piece, Barn says that when he, and the rest of the committee, whipped Bob Herz, FASB Chairman, into submission over changes in mark-to-market rules, this was not legislating, this was “exerting pressure”.

Depending on who you ask (ahem, Hank Paulson), exerting pressure could easily be confused with “threatening” and threatening is clearly how legislation gets done in this country, whether it’s got a signature on it or not. So call it what you like, Barney-boy, we’re on to your doublespeak .

Barney Frank: ‘We Will Never Legislate Accounting’ [Web CPA]

The Reason You’re in Therapy? Probably Those Auditors

frustration.jpgThe temptation to discuss the Big 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse here is obvious, as many of you toil for those firms.
In order to give the non-public number crunchers out there a chance to gnash some teeth, we are inviting those of you that work on the private side of the bean counting universe to vent your frustrations here with your public counterparts.
As we mentioned earlier, accelerated filers have the Q2 filing deadline on Monday so we know you’ve been up to your ass in auditors for some time now and we imagine your irritation levels are somewhere between googolplex and critical mass.
We’re looking for stupid auditor questions, awkward sexual advances by the engagement team’s intern, whatever you got. This is your chance, non-public accountants. Make haste before you’re beaten to the chance.

Nic Cage Can’t Afford Another Bangkok Dangerous

raising.arizona.073007.jpgNicolas Cage is keeping his reputation as a tax scofflaw intact, as he currently owes the IRS $6.2 million due to a lien the Service slapped on his house in New Orleans. Last September, Cage settled with the Service for the diabolical sum of $666,000 after he improperly deducted $3.3 million in personal expenses, including must-haves like limo service and a Gulfstream.
Our advice to Cage would be to seriously consider going full frontal in his next film, Bad Lieutenant, Port of New Orleans. If not out of pure artistic principal and respect for the original version, do it for the extra scratch, man. A johnson shot has got to be worth, what, a couple mil?
Nicolas Cage Hit with $6.2 Million Tax Lien [Web CPA]

SEC Filings: Q2 Homestretch

For those of you working on accelerated filers, you’re probably counting down the days hours until Monday’s deadline for the second quarter.
So, if you’ve already filed, make all the other workhorses out there jealous by telling us where you’re going to happy hour the rest of the week.
If you’re working down to the wire, let us know what color your sleeping bag is or where you’ll be ordering take out. Or maybe how many days you’ve been wearing the same shirt. Has anyone put in 40 hours this week yet? You get the idea. All right, now get back to it. Regulators are waiting…

Deloitte UK CEO Does All Right For Himself

john connolly.jpgApparently Deloitte was feeling a little left out of the populist outrage because after the news that Big D UK reported shrinking revenues yesterday, today we learn out that John Connolly, Big D CEO across the pond, earned £5.22 million this past year.
Not too shabby even though that’s a little less than his earnings last year of £5.69 million, according to the London Evening Standard.
Big John should probably send some biscuits over to the Royal Bank of Scotland for the payday as RBS paid Deloitte nearly £59 million this past year, up from the £31 million in the year prior. RBS has received billions of bailout funds from the UK government, so some crazy taxpayer wrath headed in the direction of Big D would not be outside the realm of possibility.
Deloitte boss rakes in £5.2m after the bailout of RBS [London Evening Standard]

Firm Watch: Ernst & Young

ernst_young.jpgRound two of our Firm Watch this week covers everybody’s favorite resident of Times Square, Ernst & Young. We’ll get started on E&Y’s trubs with the Schein lawsuit where the firm was recently found to be marginally negligent and were ordered to pay a smidge over $10 mil as a result. NBD really, as E&Y probably spends that much money screwing up the spelling of their name on cheesy coffee cups.
The more serious stuff on E&Y, after the jump


Here’s some major stuff that probably keeps some E&Y partners awake at night:
• Lehman Brothers – E&Y’s role in the collapse of Lehman Brothers has got little attention in the press, however, suits have already been filed by San Mateo County in California, the City of Long Beach, California and the Southern District of Texas. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to speculate that more suits are likely to be filed.
• Madoff Exposure – E&Y also has significant Madoff exposure, as the auditor of several feeder funds. D&O Diary has them listed as defendants in at least ten different lawsuits.
• Layoffs – There have lots of reports of layoffs at E&Y in the last month or so, many of which occurred in the tax practices in the Northeast, and many of those getting the axe were supposedly on visas. Real classy. This was a follow-up to layoffs that also went down in February. As if that’s not enough, there were also rumors of layoffs occurring monthly since September ’08 in the Detroit office. Plus, with lots comments about stealth layoffs at all levels, it sounds like it has been a bloodbath at E&Y.
So that seems to be the major stuff, from our view, for E&Y. Again, we want to know what we’re missing. We’re looking for tips and dirt on any of the things we discussed above and everything we didn’t mention. Email us at tips@goingconcern.com and we’ll get all your additional gripes on here.

Huron Book Cooking Lawsuits Likely to Be Filed this Week

Cooking the Books.jpgHuron Consulting, who cleaned house late on Friday and is restating three years of financial statements, is likely going to be named in a class-action lawsuit, according to Reuters.
Huron, who need we remind you, is not a CPA firm and does not perform attestation services, what with all those pesky independence rules and whatnot, has seen its stock price drop from just over $44 last week to hovering around $15.
More, after the jump


Huron was founded by two dozen Andersen partners, according to the report, including the resigning CEO, Gary Holdren. So, natch, these guys were probably viewed as having not so sterling reputations, and now, well, this is a little awkward.
It’s more than likely pretty much a certainty that this particular accounting mishap will bring more heat on auditors, in this case, P. Dubya, as management seems to be able to manipulate their reporting, regardless of what the auditors try to do.
We reached out to PwC on this story, who would not comment on client matters. We thinks this might become a PwC matter before long…If you’ve got any information on this story shoot it our way at tips@goingconcern.com.
In Huron scandal, shadows of Arthur Andersen [Reuters]

Preliminary Analytics | 08.04.09

300px-Toblerone-1.jpg• UBS CEO Expects Swiss Government to Sell Stake by Year-End – Does this mean that the Swiss are better at capitalism than the Americans? [WSJ]
• Geithner Vents at Regulators as Overhaul Stumbles – Sounds like someone needs a hug. Can anyone recommend a good shrink for T. Geith? [WSJ]
• Biggest Banks Come Up Short on List of Mortgage Modifications BofA. Citi. Meh. [Bloomberg]
• Bill Clinton Lands in North Korea, May Ease Tension – “Former President Bill Clinton arrived in North Korea on a surprise visit that may help defuse tension over the communist regime’s nuclear program and secure the release of two U.S. journalists sentenced in June to 12 years.” Arkansas moxie to the rescue. [Bloomberg]
• Sizzling summer for white shirts – So sayeth Charlie Tyrwhitt [BBC]
• Goldman Princes Told: Spend Like Paupers – Apparently, LB is concerned that pubic hangings may regain popularity. [New York Post]

Review Comments | 08.03.09

ruthie.jpg• Ruth Madoff Can’t Spend $100 Without Telling Trustee – Don’t forget to call before buying that Metrocard Ruthie. [Bloomberg]
• Investor Ross: ‘Washington Is The New Wall Street’ – Blasphemy. [NPR]
• BofA settles Merrill bonus case with SEC for $33 million – Classic case of not admitting or denying charges, just throwing money at the problem. End of story. [Reuters]
• A.I.G. Appoints a New Chief Executive – The self-loathing is contagious today. [DealBook]
• Antidepressant Use in U.S. Doubled Over Decade to 10% in 2005 – Depressing news. Where the hell is our Prozac? [Bloomberg]

Former Citi CFO Doesn’t Hate Life Enough, Takes Position with Bank of America

sallie krawcheck.jpgIn what appears to be serious case of self-loathing, former Citigroup CFO, Sallie Krawchek has just taken a position to run the global wealth and investment division at Bank of America.
It’s rumored that Krawchek left Citi because she and Vikram couldn’t play nice, so apparently she thinks that working for a rarely sober Ken Lewis will be a much more manageable.
Former Citi CFO takes Bank of America job [AP]

Deloitte UK Reports Shrinking Revenues

DTa.jpgBig D’s UK revenue was down 2% to £1.93 bil for the latest fiscal year, marking the first time a Big 4 firm has reported declining revenues in six years.
Partners are still doing okay though, as they will receive £601 million. That’s an average of £883,000 per partner. Not too shabby, even though that’s down over 7%.
Leaders within the firm are expecting another rough year ahead for the economy but are still planning for “growth not contraction”. We’re not sure how that fuzzy math will work but whatevs.
Oh, and little D’s, don’t worry, you got a shout-out from John Connolly the UK CEO: “our success will continue to be the product of our exceptionally talented people being relentlessly committed to our clients, to market leading, innovative service and to an obsession with quality”.
Relentlessly committed. Obsession with quality. Sounds like they must have re-instituted the tradition of shipping the criminals lesser performers down under.
Deloitte revenue drops in `extremely tough’ market [Accountancy Age]
Deloitte’s UK revenues shrink 2% [FT.com]

Barry Salzberg’s Imaginary Advice for the President on Healthcare

Barry Salzberg.jpgWe’re not going to debate about healthcare here because after about one-tenth of a nanosecond we’d consider jumping out the window. What we would like to discuss is Barry Salzberg, CEO of Deloitte-period, giving imaginary advice to the President on how to proceed with his strategy in getting support behind his reform efforts.
Check out some real advice, after the jump
Bar lays out his advice for B to the O in classic accountant fashion, ” I would counsel more patience.” and “Measured haste, you might call it. My advice to the president would be to find that balance of urgency and patience.” Haste. Balance. VOMIT. Wouldn’t you like to see one of these stoic Big 4 CEO’s just give completely batsh!t crazy advice on something, JUST ONCE?


Like if Salz advised that Obama’s strategy should consist of hosting Lebowski Fest at the White House. Bowling, white russians, chicks in viking costumes. That’ll get the people behind your plan Bam.
Measured haste. Pfffft. Is it any wonder everyone thinks accountants are boring? Feel free to discuss your favorite Big 4 CEO and all their words of wisdom they’re constantly bestowing upon you.