Audit

French technology consulting and outsourcing giant Cap Gemini refuted a report that it is mulling the sale of its North American business.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has barred Enron North America's former chief accounting officer from practicing before it for four years.

KPMG LLP has named Timothy R. Pearson, global managing partner and vice chair for marketing and communications, to the additional role of managing partner of the firm's Montvale national services center.

529 college savings plans continue to increase in popularity, as assets in the plans grew to an estimated $45.1 billion at the end of the third quarter, according to data released by the nonprofit College Savings Foundation.

As expected, the Securities and Exchange Commission this week postponed for a year the final phase-in period for rules that would shorten the amount of time that larger companies, known as "accelerated filers," have to file their quarterly and annual reports.

Executive compensation and internal audit compliance issues rank as the top concerns of corporate directors, according to a survey by the Columbia Business School Executive Education Division.

The Financial Planning Association has been awarded a $94,500 grant by the American Red Cross to support its pro bono September 11 Recovery Program.

Officials at the Public Company Oversight Board unveiled an aggressive agenda for the coming year that may result in as many as 11 new standards for auditors in areas ranging from corporate fraud detection and reporting to wrestling with related-party transactions.

Fannie Mae said that it won't file its third quarter earnings report with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the end of this week because its independent auditor, KPMG, wouldn't sign off on its financials until issues related to the SEC's investigation into the company's accounting are resolved.

As expected, the Securities and Exchange Commission this week postponed for a year the final phase-in period for rules that would shorten the amount of time that larger companies, known as "accelerated filers," have to file their quarterly and annual reports.

As expected, the Securities and Exchange Commission this week postponed for a year the final phase-in period for rules that would shorten the amount of time that larger companies, known as "accelerated filers," have to file their quarterly and annual reports.

As expected, the Securities and Exchange Commission this week postponed for a year the final phase-in period for rules that would shorten the amount of time that larger companies, known as "accelerated filers," have to file their quarterly and annual reports.

Annual Sarbanes-Oxley compliance costs averaged $16 million -- a jump of 77 percent from last year, according to a survey of corporate boards by RHR International and Directorship.

Deloitte ranks highest in satisfaction with tax firm performance among the Big Four, according to a study of tax firm performance by J.D. Power and Associates.

So much for a one-time project: Companies will spend an estimated $5.8 billion on meeting Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements in 2005, with more than a third planning to increase SOX spending next year, according to AMR Research.

Corporate governance software and services provider Axena Inc. has expanded into Europe.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is reaching out to smaller accounting firms and small public companies with a new initiative to provide information about the board's inspections process and the impact of new auditing standards.

Compliance software provider Axentis has named Ken Sexton as its chairman and chief executive.

Smaller companies could get a reprieve from the Securities and Exchange Commission on filing internal control documentation, according to published reports.

Randolph C. Blazer, the chairman and chief executive of BearingPoint, who led the former KPMG Consulting unit through its split with KPMG LLP and its transition to a public company, has resigned.