FT seeks an accounting correspondent

The Financial Times has an opening for an accountancy correspondent to join the London Newsroom.

The role of accountancy correspondent has grown in scope and profile in recent years as the world’s biggest accounting firms revisit their business models in response to regulatory pressure and the rapid growth of their consulting divisions.

At the same time, financial reporting and corporate governance have come under greater scrutiny. False accounting has been a major factor in a string of corporate scandals, including the collapses of Wirecard and NMC Health. Governments are planning to shake up  the sector.

This job involves covering not only the Big Four accountancy firms and their smaller competitors but also the regulators tasked with holding them to account, as well as the investors and politicians demanding higher standards.

High inflation and interest rates are placing financial pressure on companies, creating a potential increase in work for firms with corporate restructuring and insolvency expertise.

The accountancy correspondent will be expected to work closely with colleagues from across the newsroom and, in particular, the US Accounting Editor.

Key duties: 

• Lead coverage of the global accountancy sector as the industry’s main players restructure in response to rapid growth in the consulting market, high-profile auditing scandals and calls for reform
• Bring in high-profile scoops about the Big Four – Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC – and their mid-tier rivals, on issues such as: work won and lost, behavior and culture, financial performance, strategic changes, regulatory interventions, leadership changes and M&A
• Report on changes to accounting and financial reporting regulation, government scrutiny of the sector, and industry lobbying efforts
• Break news on regulatory sanctions and legal actions involving accountancy firms and investigate errors, misconduct and wrongdoing
• Break news on other large consulting firms, including McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain and Accenture
• Be the first to report on the roles of accountancy firms and their boutique rivals in corporate administrations and insolvencies
• Analyse the changing business models of accountancy groups and their positions in wider society, including financial markets

Please submit your application by the end of the day, 8th June 2023. 

To apply, go here.