Peter Thiel Is A Trump Supporter, Convention Speaker; But Why?
By Francine • Jul 25th, 2016Peter Thiel gave a closing night speech, and endorsement of Donald Trump, at the Republican convention last week.
Archive for the ‘You Can Quote Me On That’ Category
@MarketWatch: Interactive Brokers Weathers Brexit Well
By Francine • Jun 28th, 2016When I saw, as I was monitoring Twitter late Thursday night, that “Go” would prevail over “Remain” I came into work on Friday morning with a different idea for a story about Interactive Broker than I had originally planned.
Appeals Court says SAIC must face CityTime fraud case
By Francine • Apr 5th, 2016An Appeals Court said there’s enough to proceed on allegations SAIC recklessly disregarded its obligation to disclose potential liability for the CityTime fraud in its March 2011 10K.
Three Accounting-Related Stories At MarketWatch
By Francine • Feb 15th, 2016At MarketWatch I am fortunate that I am not expected to write a story every day, although that’s fine if something comes up like an SEC enforcement order or a spectacular corporate scandal. I am encouraged, instead, to come up with original analysis of important stories in financial regulation and legislation. We want to add […]
The SEC vs. The PCAOB and Jim Doty: Impasse or Détente?
By Francine • Jan 18th, 2016Jim Doty’s term as chairman of the PCAOB, the audit regulator, expired in October. All summer since I arrived in Washington D.C., leading up to that date and since, there’s been speculation about whether or not SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White would reappoint him to the job.
The Case of Valeant; Not Over By a Long Shot
By Francine • Nov 2nd, 2015Now that Valeant has cut off the gangrenous Philidor arm, we may never know the true extent of any accounting manipulation or fraud. And then again it may all come out when the rest of the organization is scrutinized. I’d say be prepared for big inventory writeoffs, or maybe even a restatement.
McKenna Interviewed On KPMG And FIFA By The Bottom Line Canada
By Francine • Oct 19th, 2015I was interviewed by The Bottom Line magazine in Canada back in June on KPMG’s role as auditor of FIFA.
New At Forbes Online: The Precarious Financial Position Of The New York Times
By Francine • Nov 11th, 2014Update: This column was linked to by the NYT Public Editor! I published some New York Times numbers over at Forbes.com, “Time Is Running Short For The New York Times”, in anticipation of the company’s 3Q earnings announcement on October 30.
The Full Service Firm: McKenna Comments For Canada’s The Bottom Line On Legal Services
By Francine • Nov 1st, 2014I’m quoted extensively in an October 2014 The Bottom Line piece on the Big Four expansion into full-fledged legal services.
SEC’s Final Pay Rules Coming Any Day: Will They Be Enough To Level Playing Field?
By Francine • Jul 6th, 2014Senator Robert Menéndez [D-NJ], author of the Dodd-Frank pay ratio disclosure rule, didn’t take “not yet” for an answer when SEC Chair Mary Jo White testified before the Senate Banking Committee in late July a year ago. Menendez told White: “I’ve been waiting for several years now.” (Me, too!)
Francine McKenna (@retheauditors) is the Transparency Reporter at MarketWatch.com, a Dow Jones publication, where her work is also featured frequently in the Wall Street Journal. McKenna had more than twenty-five years of experience in consulting and professional services including tenure at two Big 4 firms, both in the US and abroad before becoming a journalist. Look for her prior columns, 