Accounting

The auditors of self-managed superannuation funds that clients of Melissa Caddick invested with the Sydney fraudster and her company Maliver have hit back at class action claims, saying the clients have themselves to blame for handing over “direct control” of their funds.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is facing a lawsuit by the executor of a deceased estate alleging the accounting firm gave negligent advice and acted with a conflict of interest while advising on tax liabilities for the deceased’s $100 million in assets.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has struck back at claims in a Fair Work suit brought by a graduate associate, denying liability for the alleged sexual harassment by the woman’s manager at multiple Sydney bars.

PricewaterhouseCoopers has hit back at an employment suit filed by a former senior associate, saying the decision to terminate her employment was “entirely unrelated” to complaints she made about a supervisor’s “repeated bullying”.

Scyne Advisory has resolved its case seeking to bar a former partner from working for the professional services arm of Downer EDI, in a confidential settlement the firm said acknowledged the need to protect information and uphold restraints.

A judge has retroactively validated the appointment of BDO as auditor for litigation funder Omni Bridgeway after EY resigned due to a class action conflict, saying the failure to seek shareholder approval for the appointment was not the result of a blatant disregard for its obligations. 

A former EY partner is trying again to keep their identity secret in proceedings brought by the Tax Office alleging they promoted tax exploitation schemes.

A client of EY has sued a former partner at the firm, accusing them of collecting $700,000 in secret payments as part of a tax loss scheme.

King & Wood Mallesons has settled a lawsuit by defunct stockbroker Halifax Investment Services alleging the firm and former auditor Bentleys failed to advise that it had to hold client funds used to trade on its online platform on trust.

A former senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers has sued the accounting giant alleging she was sacked after 16 years at the firm for making complaints about a supervisor’s “repeated bullying”.