The Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board has decided to launch an investigation under its Scheme for the accountancy profession into the conduct of a Member of the ICAEW and of HWCA Limited, the former auditors of Worthington Nicholls Group Plc until 4 December 2007.

The scope of the investigation shall be as follows:

“The conduct of Members and Member Firms in relation to:

1. The preparation, approval and audit of the financial statements of Worthington Nicholls Group plc for the period ended 30th September 2006; and
2. The preparation and approval of the documents in support of the admission of Worthington Nicholls Group Plc on 6th June 2006 to the Alternative Investment Market, and the preparation, approval and audit of the financial information included therein; and
3. The preparation and approval of the interim financial statements of Worthington Nicholls plc for the six months ended 31st March 2007.”

This decision was taken following consultation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW).

1. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is the UK’s independent regulator responsible for promoting confidence in corporate reporting and governance. Its functions are exercised principally by its operating boards (the Accounting Standards Board, the Auditing Practices Board, the Board for Actuarial Standards, the Financial Reporting Review Panel, the Professional Oversight Board and the Accountancy & Actuarial Discipline Board). The Committee on Corporate Governance, whose members are drawn from the Board of the FRC, assists it in its work on corporate governance.
2. The Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board ("AADB") is the independent, investigative and disciplinary body for accountants and actuaries in the UK. The AADB is responsible for operating and administering independent disciplinary schemes for these professions. The Accountancy Scheme covers Members of the following accountants' professional bodies:- the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. The Actuarial Scheme covers Members of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland and the Institute of Actuaries.
3. The focus of the AADB is on cases which raise important issues affecting the public interest; other disciplinary cases will continue to be dealt with by the relevant professional body. The purpose of an investigation is to determine whether there is evidence of misconduct on the part of Members or Member Firms of the professional bodies. An investigation does not always mean that an allegation has been made or that there is evidence of misconduct on the part of the Member or Member Firm involved.
4. Disciplinary complaints filed following an AADB investigation are heard by an independent Tribunal which will normally sit in public. If the Tribunal upholds a complaint, there is a wide range of sanctions which it can impose including an unlimited fine, exclusion from membership of a professional body covered by one of the Schemes and withdrawal of practising certificates or licenses.
5. All Press enquires should be directed to: Anna Colban, Secretary to the Board, on telephone: 020 7492 2451 or email: a.colban@frc.org.uk.