Accounting firm networks

Ernst & Young is acquiring Riverview Law, a London-based provider of legal services, expanding the Big Four accounting firm’s global presence in the legal profession.

CountingWorks is an accounting professional marketplace for small businesses.

U.K. grocer J Sainsbury Plc named Martin Scicluna as its chairman, tapping a former senior executive at accounting firm Deloitte as it prepares to add Walmart Inc.’s Asda unit in a 7.3 billion-pound ($9.7 billion) deal.

The withheld information would have “materially impacted” the assessments had it been made available to the auditor, KPMG said in a letter to the fund.

The U.K. accounting watchdog is ramping up misconduct fines after being called useless and toothless by lawmakers irate at the failure of the accounting industry to prevent several high-profile corporate collapses.

The Financial Reporting Council's assessment is fueling calls to reform the industry, including dismantling the “Big Four” players.

It’s said auditors get off lightly when companies fail. Tell that to the PricewaterhouseCoopers partner who signed off on the accounts of failed British retailer BHS. He has just received a 325,000-pound ($434,000) fine and a record 15-year ban from audit work.

KPMG LLP’s South African unit sees 400 people leaving the embattled company as it closes some regional offices and focuses its operations on four cities across the country.

KPMG LLP is conducting an internal review into its audits of embattled Middle East buyout firm Abraaj Group following the alleged misuse of money, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

CPAmerica International is celebrating its 40th anniversary as the association continues to expand in the U.S. and reaches out abroad.