Hamilton-Wenham Public Library

The big four, the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly, Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

The big four

bibliography

1041250359

Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells

the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly

"With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army, the Big Four accounting firms are a keystone in global finance --but do they really provide stability and safety? Leading scholar Ian Gow and award-winning writer (and former KPMG director) Stuart Kells warn that a house of cards may be about to fall. Across the globe, the so-called Big Four accounting and audit firms - Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMG - are massively influential. Together, they earn more than $100 billion annually and employ almost one million people. In many profound ways, they have changed how we work, how we manage, how we invest and how we are governed. Stretching back centuries, their history is a fascinating story of wealth, power and luck. But today, the Big Four face an uncertain future - thanks to their push into China; their vulnerability to digital disruption and competition; and the hazards of providing traditional services in a new era of transparency. Surprisingly colorful and unquestionably authoritative, this account of the past, present and likely future of the Big Four is essential reading for anyone perplexed or fascinated by professional services, working in the industry, contemplating joining a professional services firm, or simply curious about the fate of the global economy"--, Provided by publisher

1. Introduction -- 2. Glory, not infamy. The Medici Bank as a precursor to the Big Four -- 3. Transported. How the Big Four began in the dangerous world of nineteenth-century accountancy -- 4. A curious match. The remarkable founders of the Big Four -- 5. Mere automata. Staking out the Big Four's Turf -- 6. An injudicious change. Adventures and misadventures in Big Four branding -- 7. Porn star. The culture of the Big Four -- 8. The most average guys in the room. Big Four professional values -- 9. Unqualified. Auditing as the foundation of the Big Four brands -- 10. Clean. The impairment of Big Four auditing -- 11. Get ready to dance. Conflicting interests in Big Four taxation services -- 12. One four ten. The Big Four in China -- 13. Disrupted. The obsolescence of Big Four technology -- 14. Conclusion

Curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly