The Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board

AADB investigating accountants in connection with Presbyterian Mutual Society

AADB PN 14

05 August 2009

The Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board has launched an investigation under its Scheme for the accountancy profession into the conduct of Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) and of Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants in Northern Ireland as auditors to the Presbyterian Mutual Society Limited, in connection with events leading up to Presbyterian Mutual Society being placed into administration.

The scope of the investigation is as follows:

“The conduct of Members and a Member Firm in relation to the alleged failure by Presbyterian Mutual Society Limited to obtain the appropriate regulatory authorisation for the conduct of its business during the period from 2000 to 2008.”

The AADB’s decision to initiate an investigation was taken following the receipt of information from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and a reference from the Chartered Accountants Regulatory Board (CARB) on behalf of the ICAI.

Notes to Editors

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is the UK’s independent regulator responsible for promoting confidence in corporate reporting and governance. Its functions are exercised principally by its operating bodies (the Accounting Standards Board, the Auditing Practices Board, the Board for Actuarial Standards, the Financial Reporting Review Panel, the Professional Oversight Board and the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board) and by the FRC Board. The Committee on Corporate Governance assists the Board in its work on corporate governance.
The Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board ("AADB") is the independent, investigative and disciplinary body for accountants and actuaries in the UK. The AADB is responsible for operating and administering independent disciplinary schemes for these professions. The Accountancy Scheme covers Members of the following accountants' professional bodies:- the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The Actuarial Scheme covers Members of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland and the Institute of Actuaries (collectively referred to as the Actuarial Profession).
The focus of the AADB is on cases which raise important issues affecting the public interest; other disciplinary cases will continue to be dealt with by the relevant professional body. The purpose of an investigation is to determine whether there is evidence of misconduct on the part of Members or Member Firms of the professional bodies. An investigation does not always mean that an allegation has been made or that there is evidence of misconduct on the part of the Member or Member Firm involved.
Disciplinary complaints filed following an AADB investigation are heard by an independent Tribunal which will normally sit in public. If the Tribunal upholds a complaint, there is a wide range of sanctions which it can impose including an unlimited fine, exclusion from membership of a professional body covered by one of the Schemes and withdrawal of practising certificates or licenses.
All Press enquires should be directed to: Anna Colban, Secretary to the Board, on telephone: 020 7492 2451 or email: a.colban@frc.org.uk.