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Hold Steady: Genius Act means more work but for which audit firms?
The Genius Act and Bitcoin treasury schemes, combined with fewer obstacles for listing crypto plays of all kinds, equals a windfall for auditors of all…
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Francine McKenna
1
Stablecoins, Stollers, and shared auditors (again)
New timely work at Chicago Booth Review, the Stoller brothers are on fire, and recidivist lawbreakers Berkshire Hathaway and Union Pacific do some major…
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Francine McKenna
1
Auditors as whistleblowers: When it does, and does not, happen
Recent news reports and a blockbuster legal exposé from a veteran EY partner got me thinking: Is it possible there are more public accounting firm…
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Francine McKenna
Tesla's net $23.7 billion stock grant: legal loopholes, accounting twists, and the Tornetta appeal
A deep dive into the unusual 2025 CEO award, its Nasdaq compliance questions, conflicted board dynamics, and how an appeal could trigger - or erase …
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Francine McKenna
 and 
Olga Usvyatsky
More Big 4 stories: HPE, Juniper, Autonomy, Kraft Heinz, Berkshire, Docusign
It's a summer full of repeats, wrangling, regrets, sins, restatements, and reversals.
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Francine McKenna

July 2025

Ringing the bell: Personal news, news of Big 4 clients, a BDO near miss, and the PCAOB
Today I'm bringing you a round-up of news you can use while floating in the pool or lying around on your deck. Here comes August!
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Francine McKenna
2
Crossing t's: Does Form AP quality signal audit quality?
This is a joint data analysis between The Dig and Deep Quarry that looks into the question of whether firms that repeatedly fall down on Form AP signal…
 • 
Francine McKenna
 and 
Olga Usvyatsky
2
Blast from the past: BBVA and KPMG
When I saw that BBVA wants to buy Banco de Sabadell, the first thing I did was check who the auditor is. There are only so many to go around!
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Francine McKenna
Shell games over the real story of an audit partner rotation violation
I can't get a straight answer from Shell plc or EY UK over what really happened with EY's unexpected admission of a significant auditor independence…
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Francine McKenna
Holiday interlude: Sample some of my most read newsletters
I am on a writing holiday this week. While I rest and recharge I'll post some of my most popular newsletters, out from behind the paywall. And a special…
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Francine McKenna

June 2025

© 2025 Francine McKenna
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