StephenFoleyFT
banner
stephenfoleyft.bsky.social
StephenFoleyFT
@stephenfoleyft.bsky.social
US accounting editor, Financial Times
www.ft.com/stephen-foley
Follow me on LinkedIn. Pausing posts on other social media sites for the time being.
www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-f...
www.linkedin.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The law firm that represented Sam Bankman-Fried and Ghislaine Maxwell bids to become one of the first in the U.S. to take private equity investment. Scoop with @kayewiggins.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/9487...
Law firm Cohen & Gresser in talks to sell stake to private equity
New York firm that represented Sam Bankman-Fried and Ghislaine Maxwell would be among first to bring in investors
www.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:40 PM
PwC has flagged the WHSmith profit overstatement to the UK’s accounting watchdog, which is now weighing whether to launch an investigation of the auditor.
www.ft.com/content/acbf...
PwC flagged WHSmith profit overstatement to accounting watchdog
UK Financial Reporting Council weighing opening probe into Big Four firm
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Will private equity be able to buy big US law firms, and who will be the first to sell? The boss of a top 20 law firm tells the FT: “We are constantly approached and we always listen to new ideas.”

www.ft.com/content/3a9d...
US law firm McDermott Will & Schulte weighs sector’s first private equity tie-up
Novel restructuring by one of the country’s biggest legal practices could test ethics rules
www.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:43 PM
There's always a rap video!

Absolute must-read here on how a flashy Utah leasing firm came to be lending billions to First Brands, full of astonishing detail:

www.ft.com/content/f0ae...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfZG...
Onset Closers
YouTube video by Onset Financial
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Does $56,968mn round to $56.9bn or $57.0bn? Asking for an accounting firm.
www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-r...
www.pwc.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
RSM creates US-UK accounting tie-up. . . and says other firms in network can join.

Story w/ @elleshevakissin. Read our exclusive interview with the CEOs below. www.ft.com/content/91ba...
RSM creates US-UK accounting tie-up and says other firms in network can join
Transatlantic partnership pitched as alternative to bringing in private equity capital
www.ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
BDO chief pledges to fight ‘falsehoods’ on First Brands work, says auditor may face years of scrutiny but will take ‘decisive action to protect our reputation’ www.ft.com/content/9b61...
BDO chief pledges fight over ‘falsehoods’ on First Brands work
Firm leader says auditor may face years of scrutiny and will take ‘decisive action to protect our reputation’
www.ft.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Does the fact that Netflix shares went down 6% tonight and not on August 13, when the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled on the tax matter in dispute, imply that the company's disclosures were incomplete or not understood by investors?
www.ft.com/content/3fba...
Netflix shares drop as Brazil tax dispute hits profits
Streamer reports strong revenue growth because of success of films such as ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
www.ft.com
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Deloitte to pay $34mn over audit work on US nuclear fiasco

Former shareholders in South Carolina utility said firm failed to spot red flags and allowed management to hide mounting issues
www.ft.com/content/f9fc...
Deloitte to pay $34mn over audit work on US nuclear fiasco
Former shareholders in utility said Big Four firm failed to spot red flags and allowed management to hide mounting issues
www.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private credit
www.ft.com/content/8373...
The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private credit
Patrick James borrowed billions — even after presiding over a string of failed businesses
www.ft.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) said it was pausing donations until authorities clarified the “applicable laws and rules” related to the foreign funding of US NGOs.
www.ft.com/content/b87f...
Chris Hohn’s foundation blames ‘policy environment’ as it stops giving to US charities
Billionaire hedge fund manager’s CIFF has focused donations on issues such as climate change
www.ft.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by StephenFoleyFT
EY narrows US leadership race to three candidates on.ft.com/3IVouKi
EY narrows US leadership race to three candidates
Big Four accountancy firm tries to move past turmoil triggered by abandoned split
on.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM
“The future of consulting is going to be a hybrid of people plus software — like, a lot of software.”

Consultancies must become software companies to survive AI boom, says IBM executive
www.ft.com/content/8535...
Consultancies must become software companies to survive AI boom, IBM executive says
Industry hopes artificial intelligence implementation will reverse two-year period of sluggish growth
www.ft.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Big 4 getting a reprieve on both sides of the Atlantic, it seems.

www.ft.com/content/e0ce...
UK accounting watchdog to ease its probes of audit firms
FRC’s proposals follow sustained complaints from the industry about lengthy investigations
www.ft.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Deloitte’s global revenue growth picks up despite sluggish performance in Europe www.ft.com/content/77f7...
Deloitte’s global revenue growth picks up despite sluggish performance in Europe
Big Four accounting firm reports robust demand for its advice to companies on strategy
www.ft.com
October 1, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Deloitte’s UK business just reported its first decline in annual revenue in 15 years, but partner payouts increased as the firm cut costs.

www.ft.com/content/d3aa...
Deloitte UK’s revenues fall for first time in 15 years
But partners’ payouts rise to £1.05mn each as the Big Four accounting firm embarks on cost cutting
www.ft.com
September 29, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Grant Thornton’s private equity-backed US business has agreed to buy sister firms in France, Spain and Belgium, dealing a blow to its UK rival in their battle to consolidate the world’s seventh largest accounting network.

www.ft.com/content/63fa...
Grant Thornton US buys sister firms in France, Spain and Belgium
PE-backed North American business beats UK rival to consolidate global accounting network
www.ft.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“We are exiting on a compressed timeline people where reskilling, based on our experience, is not a viable path for the skills we need.”
$ACN
Accenture cuts workforce by 11,000, targets staff that cannot be retrained for age of AI
www.ft.com/content/a74f...
Accenture to ‘exit’ staff that cannot be retrained for age of AI
Group details $865mn restructuring programme and outlook reflecting sluggish corporate demand for consulting projects
www.ft.com
September 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
BCG to train staff on ‘humanitarian principles’ after Gaza outcry www.ft.com/content/a02f...
BCG to train staff on ‘humanitarian principles’ after Gaza outcry
Consulting group revamps internal processes after condemnation for work on Palestinian relocation proposal
www.ft.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"Make IPOs great again." And make the plaintiffs bar sweat.

SEC allows public companies to block investors from class-action lawsuits.
www.ft.com/content/5a41...
SEC allows public companies to block investors from class-action lawsuits
Chair Paul Atkins pledges to ‘make IPOs great again’ as US regulator fulfils deregulation drive
www.ft.com
September 17, 2025 at 9:54 PM
PwC’s Middle Eastern growth engine has stalled, according to figures just out in the UK

www.ft.com/content/4846...
PwC UK cuts jobs as revenue growth slows sharply
Big Four firm forced to take ‘tough decision to reduce roles in some areas’ amid slowdown following pandemic-era boom
www.ft.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
"Aspiration’s failure is the result of loose underwriting standards colliding with the celebrity affinity for social justice efforts, creating conditions for a financial debacle."
Story by @sindap.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/ec3e...
Aspiration Partners’ collapse leaves trail of losses from Hollywood to Wall Street
Fintech lured investors with progressive causes but now faces scrutiny over payments to basketball star
www.ft.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Grant Thornton Germany picks UK over US as accounting network consolidation accelerates

www.ft.com/content/4f44...
Cinven takes majority stake in Grant Thornton Germany
Deal comes less than a year after private equity group bought into accounting network’s UK business
www.ft.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM