A major shake-up of the accountancy sector is underway as BDO has confirmed it is in advanced merger discussions with Moore Stephens to create an accounting firm with a particular focus on entrepreneurial, fast growing businesses and high net worth individuals, and which will overtake Grant Thornton to become the UK’s fifth largest firm 

The Investment Association (IA) says FTSE 350 companies need to do more to respond to concerns over executive pay rates, or face further shareholder rebellions on remuneration, and has published new guidelines for best practice

South East-based accountancy firm Kreston Reeves has reported an 11% increase in fee income, with revenue of £37.38m for the financial year ending 31 May 2018, up from £33.78m the previous year

The Tokyo Stock Exchang  has announced the removal of Japanese car giant Nissan chairman, Carlos Ghosn, over concerns about alleged ‘acts of misconduct’ relating to his pay and benefits

Grant Thornton has announced that Dave Dunckley, previously head of mid-market clients, has been confirmed as the firms CEO elect, subject to regulatory approval

Patisserie Valerie has appointed Stephen Francis as its chief executive officer with immediate effect following Paul May’s resignation, which comes only weeks after shareholders approved a rescue deal for the café chain

JL Advisory, which provides financial modelling services for public and private sector clients throughout the UK, has joined forces with accountancy firm Dow Schofield Watts as part of its growth plans

There remain five all-male boards in the FTSE 350, and companies need to do more if they are to hit the government’s target of a third of women in senior leadership positions by 2020, according to the annual update from the Hampton-Alexander review

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in accounting firms prioritising human skills over technical knowledge when recruiting candidates, according to research from Reed Finance

From 1 April 2019 the name of all charity trustees will have to be displayed to the public on the charity register, unless a dispensation has been granted

The top-20 accounting firm has entered into a strategic testing partnership with Inflo, a specialist in artificial intelligence and machine learning, in order to improve the technical offering for clients

Blick Rothenberg, part of Cogital Group, is expanding with the acquisition of accounting firm Hazlems Fenton LLP, which primarily deals with entrepreneurial and owner-managed businesses