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The Resource The big four : the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly, Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells

The big four : the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly, Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells

Creator
Author
Contributor
Summary
  • "With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army, the Big Four accounting firms are a keystone in global finance --but do they really provide stability and safety? Leading scholar Ian Gow and award-winning writer (and former KPMG director) Stuart Kells warn that a house of cards may be about to fall. Across the globe, the so-called Big Four accounting and audit firms - Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMG - are massively influential. Together, they earn more than $100 billion annually and employ almost one million people. In many profound ways, they have changed how we work, how we manage, how we invest and how we are governed. Stretching back centuries, their history is a fascinating story of wealth, power and luck. But today, the Big Four face an uncertain future - thanks to their push into China; their vulnerability to digital disruption and competition; and the hazards of providing traditional services in a new era of transparency. Surprisingly colorful and unquestionably authoritative, this account of the past, present and likely future of the Big Four is essential reading for anyone perplexed or fascinated by professional services, working in the industry, contemplating joining a professional services firm, or simply curious about the fate of the global economy"--
  • "With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army, the big four accounting firms are a keystone in global finance and corporate governance--but do they really provide stability and safety? Kells and Gows explore the history and troubled future of these firms to warn that a house of cards may about to be toppled"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First edition.
Extent
x, 260 pages
Contents
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Glory, not infamy. The Medici Bank as a precursor to the Big Four
  • 3. Transported. How the Big Four began in the dangerous world of nineteenth-century accountancy
  • 4. A curious match. The remarkable founders of the Big Four
  • 5. Mere automata. Staking out the Big Four's Turf
  • 6. An injudicious change. Adventures and misadventures in Big Four branding
  • 7. Porn star. The culture of the Big Four
  • 8. The most average guys in the room. Big Four professional values
  • 9. Unqualified. Auditing as the foundation of the Big Four brands
  • 10. Clean. The impairment of Big Four auditing
  • 11. Get ready to dance. Conflicting interests in Big Four taxation services
  • 12. One four ten. The Big Four in China
  • 13. Disrupted. The obsolescence of Big Four technology
  • 14. Conclusion
Isbn
9781523098019
Instance
Label
The big four : the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly
Title
The big four
Title remainder
the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly
Statement of responsibility
Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells
Title variation
Curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly
Creator
Contributor
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
  • "With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army, the Big Four accounting firms are a keystone in global finance --but do they really provide stability and safety? Leading scholar Ian Gow and award-winning writer (and former KPMG director) Stuart Kells warn that a house of cards may be about to fall. Across the globe, the so-called Big Four accounting and audit firms - Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, and KPMG - are massively influential. Together, they earn more than $100 billion annually and employ almost one million people. In many profound ways, they have changed how we work, how we manage, how we invest and how we are governed. Stretching back centuries, their history is a fascinating story of wealth, power and luck. But today, the Big Four face an uncertain future - thanks to their push into China; their vulnerability to digital disruption and competition; and the hazards of providing traditional services in a new era of transparency. Surprisingly colorful and unquestionably authoritative, this account of the past, present and likely future of the Big Four is essential reading for anyone perplexed or fascinated by professional services, working in the industry, contemplating joining a professional services firm, or simply curious about the fate of the global economy"--
  • "With staffs that are collectively larger than the Russian army, the big four accounting firms are a keystone in global finance and corporate governance--but do they really provide stability and safety? Kells and Gows explore the history and troubled future of these firms to warn that a house of cards may about to be toppled"--
Assigning source
  • Provided by publisher
  • Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Gow, Ian D
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
Kells, Stuart
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Accounting firms
  • Corporate governance
  • Accounting
Label
The big four : the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly, Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Glory, not infamy. The Medici Bank as a precursor to the Big Four -- 3. Transported. How the Big Four began in the dangerous world of nineteenth-century accountancy -- 4. A curious match. The remarkable founders of the Big Four -- 5. Mere automata. Staking out the Big Four's Turf -- 6. An injudicious change. Adventures and misadventures in Big Four branding -- 7. Porn star. The culture of the Big Four -- 8. The most average guys in the room. Big Four professional values -- 9. Unqualified. Auditing as the foundation of the Big Four brands -- 10. Clean. The impairment of Big Four auditing -- 11. Get ready to dance. Conflicting interests in Big Four taxation services -- 12. One four ten. The Big Four in China -- 13. Disrupted. The obsolescence of Big Four technology -- 14. Conclusion
Control code
on1041250359
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
x, 260 pages
Isbn
9781523098019
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1041250359
Label
The big four : the curious past and perilous future of the global accounting monopoly, Ian D. Gow, Stuart Kells
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Glory, not infamy. The Medici Bank as a precursor to the Big Four -- 3. Transported. How the Big Four began in the dangerous world of nineteenth-century accountancy -- 4. A curious match. The remarkable founders of the Big Four -- 5. Mere automata. Staking out the Big Four's Turf -- 6. An injudicious change. Adventures and misadventures in Big Four branding -- 7. Porn star. The culture of the Big Four -- 8. The most average guys in the room. Big Four professional values -- 9. Unqualified. Auditing as the foundation of the Big Four brands -- 10. Clean. The impairment of Big Four auditing -- 11. Get ready to dance. Conflicting interests in Big Four taxation services -- 12. One four ten. The Big Four in China -- 13. Disrupted. The obsolescence of Big Four technology -- 14. Conclusion
Control code
on1041250359
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First edition.
Extent
x, 260 pages
Isbn
9781523098019
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
System control number
(OCoLC)1041250359

Subject

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