Weekender Digest
WEEKLY EDITION BY MARINA MOUKA
Welcome to your latest Accountancy Age’s Weekend Digest, your go-to source for the week’s top insights and updates tailored for accountants.
◼ A £30m accounting error cuts forecasts and stalls Greggs’ CFO appointment as scrutiny intensifies.
◼ Following its Cinven acquisition, Grant Thornton outsources secretarial staff to India to streamline operations.
◼ The 2025 National Risk Assessment warns of growing risks in crypto, gambling, and fintech services.
TOP LONG WEEKEND READS
NEWS ANALYSIS
WHSmith’s board is backing chief executive Carl Cowling as it investigates £30m accounting errors that cut profit forecasts and wiped £600m off its value. The fallout has already spread beyond the retailer, with Greggs postponing the appointment of former WHSmith CFO Robert Moorhead until a Deloitte review concludes in November.
NEWS
Grant Thornton UK has cut a significant number of its secretarial staff, with many roles outsourced to its sister company in India. The move follows its sale to private equity group Cinven and reflects broader efforts to streamline operations and support digital transformation.
INSIGHTS
The 2025 National Risk Assessment confirms accountancy services remain at high risk of money laundering, but highlights a more complex threat environment. Fintech, cryptoassets and gambling have all risen in risk profile, while shifting lists of high-risk third countries demand closer monitoring. ICAEW says the findings are a critical tool for shaping risk-based AML controls.
MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER
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