Tesco’s Barnard Castle moment of truth
October 13, 2020
Tesco, like Dominic Cummings, has a home in Durham, but not in Barnard Castle. Also, like the No10 guru, Tesco has come in for a
Author: Simon Laffin
What’s behind the hedge?
July 14, 2020
If there’s one topic that is almost guaranteed to quieten a board meeting, it’s when the CFO starts proposing that the company takes out a
Are you rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic? Taking corporate risk management seriously
February 7, 2020
I travelled from Tashkent to Moscow on an Aeroflot Ilyushin 86 in the early 1980s. The seats were basic metal framed deckchairs, screwed to the
The Brydon Report – When looking backward should be the way forward
January 30, 2020
The much-awaited Brydon Report was published just before Christmas. It didn’t get much publicity, as the festive season proved more alluring than yet another long report and
Sexing up the statistics. Who needs facts?
October 23, 2019
“Want Higher Profits? Hire a Female CEO, CFO” The article headline caught my eye. Aren’t we all looking for a magic ingredient that can guarantee
Response to consultation on Market Study on Statutory Audit Services
August 28, 2019
I am responding to the request from the Government for views on the recommendations by the Competition and Markets Authority on the market for Statutory
The Baked Bean Audit
May 1, 2019
What if the government insisted that every time you bought a tin of Heinz baked beans, you had to buy at least half a tin
The audit punch-bag: Where is the voice of industry?
October 14, 2018
Storm clouds are gathering over the audit market. Government, politicians, media and regulators are all queueing up to condemn companies and auditors over the few,
Motherhood & apple pie – the latest corporate governance regulations for private companies
August 30, 2018
The FRC has set out new proposals for more corporate governance regulation (the Wates Report) for large private companies. This is my response to the
How a bow-tie can smarten up corporate risks
February 27, 2018
Imagine that you are worried about your infirm mother and want to make sure that you do everything to protect her. If you adopted typical