Deloitte’s role under scanner
Consultants accused of hiding details of Standard Chartered’s dealings in Iran
Allegations that a banking unit of Standard Chartered Plc schemed with Iran to conceal billions of dollars in transactions have dragged Deloitte into the spotlight in another hit to the global accounting and consulting firm.
The New York State Department of Financial Services, in a case involving US anti-money laundering laws, on Monday said Deloitte LLP consultants hid details from regulators about Standard Chartered Bank’s transactions with Iranian clients.
The bank’s actions “left the US financial system vulnerable to terrorists, weapons deal- ers, drug kingpins and corrupt regimes,” Benjamin Lawsky, superintendent of the department, said in an order made public on Monday.
Defence
Deloitte said in a statement: “Deloitte Financial Advisory Services performed its role as independent consultant properly and had no knowledge of any alleged misconduct by bank employees. Allegations otherwise are unsupported by the facts.”
The New York Department of Financial Services regulates New York banks and New York branches of foreign banks. It said Standard Chartered’s licence to operate in the state of New York may be revoked.
The allegations are the latest in a string of setbacks for the US arm of Deloitte, the world’s second-largest accounting and consulting firm.
Late last year,
Deloitte’s US arm came under scrutiny from a member of Congress after audit industry regulators unsealed parts of a report criticising quality controls at Deloitte’s corporate auditing business. Deloitte said at the time that it had made investments to improve its audit practice.
Deloitte consultants separately had overseen a review of HSBC banking transactions after that bank was cited for multiple anti-money laundering failures. A Deloitte spokesman said in July that Deloitte’s “work for HSBC was rigorous and thorough.” It declined further comment on client work.
Deloitte is one of the “Big Four” consulting and accounting firms, which also include Ernst & Young, KPMG and PwC. Together, the firms audit the books of most of the world’s largest corporations. Deloitte also has a thriving consulting and advisory business.