{"id":2958,"date":"2009-03-25t14:12:15","date_gmt":"2009-03-25t19:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=2958"},"modified":"2009-03-31t12:31:20","modified_gmt":"2009-03-31t17:31:20","slug":"big-four-too-big-to-fail-ask-ifacs-bob-bunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2009\/03\/25\/big-four-too-big-to-fail-ask-ifacs-bob-bunting\/","title":{"rendered":"are the big four accounting firms too big to fail? ask ifac’s bob bunting"},"content":{"rendered":"

bunting tackles the hottest topics in talk to students. how would you grade him?
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

in a speech last week at loyola marymount university, bunting, new head of the international federation of accountants (ifac, in french), told accounting and auditing students they were needed now more than ever.<\/p>\n

in addressing the credit bust, he chiefly blamed “corporate governance failures.” and said the solution lies in new global-sized initiatives:<\/p>\n

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bunting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

what makes all of these problems so much worse, of course, is our global interconnectedness. there’s no such thing as a local meltdown anymore-and shockwaves don’t only emanate from the most powerful nations. who would have thought, for example, that banking failures in tiny iceland would be felt in russia, the uk, and scandinavia, and that they would put the life savings of thousands of retirees in <\/em>those countries at risk? this is only one example of how the interconnections that work so well in good times-as we sell, borrow, and do business with entities a continent away-can cause such havoc in bad times.<\/em><\/p>\n

suffice it to say that no national system of regulation can protect its citizens unless it is integrated into an equally rigorous international system.<\/em><\/p>\n

are the big four too big to fail? he said:<\/p>\n

plain and simply, the combination of unlimited audit firm liability in many countries coupled with limited choices of audit firms for the largest international corporations injects additional risk into the financial system. the majority of large global corporations use the big four accounting firms for auditing work. if one of the large firms should fail for any reason, and liability is the most likely possibility, the viability of the whole system would be placed in jeopardy. this concentration issue is thus one we must address.<\/em><\/p>\n

and<\/p>\n

putting the public interest first is a priority for our profession, but we must ensure that there are professional accountants who can carry out this responsibility.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

he also covers convergence and auditor rotation, among other hot topics.<\/p>\n

read the whole speech: <\/p>\n

restoring integrity in the global financial system<\/strong><\/p>\n

center for accounting ethics, governance & the public interest<\/strong><\/p>\n

robert bunting, president<\/strong><\/p>\n

international federation of accountants<\/strong><\/p>\n

march 18, 2009<\/strong><\/p>\n

introduction<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

good morning. i’d like to thank dr. kalbers and the center for accounting ethics, governance & the public interest for inviting me here today. i would also like to thank all of you for taking time from your busy schedules to hear what i have to say about restoring integrity to the global financial system, which, i’m sure you will agree, is in dire straits.<\/p>\n

before we get started, i would like to extend a particular welcome to the students in the audience. while it’s true that you’re inheriting a world that is in the worst financial shape that it has been in many decades, it’s a great time to be entering the accountancy profession.<\/p>\n

the importance of accounting and auditing is being reinforced as it never could be in times of plenty. for example, who in the accounting world ever would have thought that we would be asked to explain “fair value” to our non-accounting friends and even strangers who have a sudden interest in a financial reporting concept-let alone that they would be interested in our responses? this is, indeed, a rare time for the accountancy profession.<\/p>\n