All articles by Neil Hodge – Page 3
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PremiumU.K. Post Office scandal sparks contractor accountability debate
The recent furor in the United Kingdom over the Post Office’s wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters for alleged fraud has put the government’s relationship with private contractors under the spotlight and raised questions about how companies could be held more accountable in future.
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PremiumStiffer U.K. audit penalties posing more problems?
Legal experts are unconvinced record fines against audit firms imposed last year by the U.K. Financial Reporting Council will necessarily improve audit quality.
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PremiumU.K. push for more listings to lower bar on governance?
Moves by the U.K.’s financial regulatory body to encourage companies to list in London might fail to deliver or send mixed messages about the value placed on corporate governance, according to experts.
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PremiumDisclosure rules not enough to curb U.K. salary gaps
The issue of “fat cat” pay awards was reignited in the United Kingdom after a think tank found a typical FTSE 100 CEO earned the average annual salary for a full-time worker after just four days into the new year.
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PremiumCompliance with CSRD, CS3D, national laws an EU balancing act
Companies could be in danger of failing to comply with a raft of social responsibility-minded legislation at the European Union and national level because they might mistakenly think duties on corporates overlap when they do not.
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PremiumShades of GDPR? Experts assess AI Act as global standard
As the European Union’s AI Act sets its sights on 2026 to take full effect, experts are concerned other key jurisdictions might introduce divergent legislation that treats artificial intelligence use differently, thus making it difficult for companies to ensure compliance.
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PremiumARGA future questioned as U.K. audit reform hits backburner
The U.K. Financial Reporting Council’s long-planned transition to become the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority appears to be taking place no time soon, leading some to question whether the change will happen at all.
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PremiumAssessing impact of court ruling on GDPR strict liability
The idea companies can be held “strictly liable” for violations of the European Union’s privacy rules was shot down, following a judgment from Europe’s top court relating to a case involving German property company Deutsche Wohnen.
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PremiumCompanies must hold insurers to account on AI use
Insurers embracing artificial intelligence-based technologies might pose serious risks to companies buying insurance if the risk data used to price their insurance premiums is used to train AI algorithms or shared on commonly used chatbots like ChatGPT.
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PremiumAll eyes on Companies House in U.K. corporate transparency efforts
The success of the U.K.’s latest legislative efforts to tackle financial crime depends on the capability of transforming what is often regarded as one of the country’s most passive regulators into a proactive—even aggressive—prosecuting authority.
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PremiumNo clear path for leniency for U.K. firms navigating Russian sanctions
U.K. companies might be wary of informing regulators they have potentially violated sanctions against Russia over fears they could be publicly criticized for even minor breaches.
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PremiumExperts: ICO apology to ex-CEO does not absolve NatWest of GDPR liability
Just because Alison Rose received a public apology from the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office regarding the suggestion she might have violated the General Data Protection Regulation doesn’t mean NatWest could avoid sanction.
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OpinionFCA’s Staley decision a bold move. Are more needed?
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority’s decision to ban Jes Staley, the former CEO of Barclays, for misrepresenting his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein has seemingly reaffirmed the notion that everyone—even the boss—is accountable for their actions.
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PremiumSupply chain due diligence must go beyond self-assessments
So many companies rely on suppliers to self-certify they comply with buyers’ codes of business conduct that the practice is “almost useless,” a panel of experts discussed at Compliance Week’s Europe conference in London.
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PremiumWirecard what happens when ‘those that are meant to check compliance don’t’
The Wirecard fraud highlights the result of regulators and auditors failing to act properly and underlines the importance of encouraging and protecting whistleblowers, said the reporter who exposed the firm in speaking at Compliance Week’s Europe conference in London.
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PremiumSocial risks prove tripping point in early CSRD compliance efforts
Companies are still struggling to report meaningfully on societal risks as part of their efforts to meet demands for better environmental, social, and governance disclosures, experts discussed at Compliance Week’s Europe conference in London.
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PremiumExperts: Copyright, IP concerns top of mind with AI use
Companies need to be aware of the legal risks and liabilities associated with their use of AI-based technologies, as technology firms are not the only ones in regulators’ sights, a panel of experts discussed at Compliance Week’s Europe conference in London.
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PremiumSpanish labor ministry continues working condition crusade with Big Four fines
Spain’s labor ministry fined the Big Four accountancy firms at least €1.4 million (U.S. $1.5 million) total for overworking and underpaying their respective employees, continuing a recent trend in the country of the government cracking down on apparent labor violations.
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PremiumU.K. financial regs pressure firms to step up D&I considerations
The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority set out proposals to ensure firms treat nonfinancial misconduct, such as bullying, racist behavior, and sexual harassment, as strictly as other regulatory offenses.
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PremiumNaming and shaming? Fair approach? Expert views mixed on OFSI’s Wise Payments case
The recent decision by the U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to disclose details of how Wise Payments failed to stop an individual from obtaining cash while subject to Russian sanctions has ignited debate about whether the agency is taking the right enforcement approach.