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A Massive Scandal, the Likes of Which the Accounting Profession Had Never Seen, Got KPMG to Consider Outside Directors

Lynne Doughtie KPMG

In an effusive, buzzy word salad published in Accounting Today, KPMG Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie announced that the firm would be adding independent directors to its board. Why, might you ask? I’ll let Lynne tell you unabated:

In today’s complex and fast-moving global business environment, successful organizations regularly reassess their mission and responsibilities to the markets they serve.

They raise a mirror to themselves — closely evaluating what they believe to be their proven tools — and determine if those tools remain fit for purpose. And leaders who steer these organizations — whether publicly traded companies or private partnerships — similarly must be willing to take a fresh look at the systems and structures they have in place to ensure their organizations are best positioned to thrive.

At KPMG, we embrace that responsibility. That’s largely why we’re now embarking on the important process of adding outside directors to our board. We regularly evaluate ways to improve how we manage our business to meet the expectations of our stakeholders, including the companies we serve and their boards and investors, the capital markets, our regulators and our people. In 2017, certain events, and the actions of a few former colleagues, caused us to take a deeper dive into examining our culture and values, and to assess with fresh eyes how we could improve and best position our more than 100 year-old firm for future success. What has emerged from that ongoing exercise is not surprising. We have been reminded of the cardinal rule in our business, namely that trust is paramount and, as such, must inform all that we do.

You may have missed it, but buried in that third paragraph, Doughtie used 10 words to summarize a small matter of six KPMG employees being fired for mishandling confidential PCAOB inspection information, four of whom face a slew of criminal charges. (Sidebar: The firm is paying the legal fees for three of the people charged.)

That’s what got the firm to do some soul-searching. I suppose this is the accounting firm equivalent of an alcoholic hitting rock bottom. “KPMG, you promised to be independent, objective, and to act with integrity, but then you got hammered, soiled yourself in front of everyone at the Christmas party, and then drove off and crashed into a parked cop car.”

But the most annoying thing about this essay isn’t Doughtie barely admitting that mistakes were made, but how much time she spends saying how awesome KPMG is:

We are a vibrant private partnership, deeply committed to our clients, to the public, to our communities, and to each other — and, because of the work that we do each day for the most important organizations in the world, we know that commitment is made stronger when informed not only by deep experience, but also by diverse perspectives. We know that we are best at what we do when we push ourselves to think innovatively and act boldly. We craft the smartest ideas and deliver the most effective solutions when we step outside our comfort zone and beyond what is familiar. And we provide the most fertile ground for our people to show up each day and be stewards in the workplace when we aim to eliminate groupthink and reward individual responsibility and accountability.

And that’s just one paragraph. To read the rest of it, you’d think KPMG had planned the invasion of Normandy.

Maybe it occurred to KPMG leadership that outside directors were a good idea before its partners got in trouble up to their eyeballs, but they were probably too busy peddling golf hats. Now that the firm actually has to salvage what’s left of its reputation, no one should be impressed by directors short of Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai, and the ghost of Nelson Mandela. Get on it, Lynne.

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10 thoughts on “A Massive Scandal, the Likes of Which the Accounting Profession Had Never Seen, Got KPMG to Consider Outside Directors

  1. I have worked in many countries across EMEA as a Big 4 partner, almost invariably the low baller in those countries is KPMG. With rotation working its way through the EU, taking over their audits is always interesting. The work that was done was tailored to the fee, I need not say more.

    1. They have the same reputation in the USA as well. That’s undoubtedly part of the background story for this whole PCAOB mess.

    1. Lynn looks so DYNAMIC that she could be a CHOSEN MARKET for a GT firm member looking to penetrate her with his WHOLE SELF engorged with his INSTINCT FOR GROWTH!!!!!!!

  2. Two thoughts…

    1. BOD meetings are essentially a giant circle jerk. I don’t see how having an outside board will solve any of KPMG’s problems, other than possibly helping to address the perception problem they have with idiots.

    2. While this may not be politically correct, should we discuss whether this has anything to do with a woman being KPMG’s CEO? Maybe women just aren’t up to the job? I’ve heard this same argument from Republicans about black people in the aftermath of Obama’s “terrible” presidency. (e.g. there probably won’t be another black president for generations, thanks to Obama)

    1. 2. Concern trolling – the action or practice of disingenuously expressing concern about an issue in order to undermine or derail genuine discussion.

    2. Your point 2 is very offensive. I will agree Obama was a terrible president, but it was not because he was black. He was just blinded by his ideology. There is a possibility he will be indicted but again, not because he was black, just highly unqualified.

    3. Because Deloitte US isn’t headed by a woman? And Deloitte global isn’t headed by an Indian?

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