Gavin Hinks

They were carrying the can for the damaging effects of the crunch and having to resign in droves.

We have a new phase on our hands at the moments – accountants facing criminal charges for their actions.

OK, it’s not here in the UK, but events in the US will act as a warning for many. Allen Stanford gave himself up to the FBI but two of his accountants are already facing charges for their part. The chief financial officer, James Davis, is already facing fraud charges, though he is cooperating with the authorities. In the Madoff

Ponzi scheme, the auditor is up on charges.

It doesn’t say very much for accountants except that, if you want to pull off a big fraud, you need them to manage, even help design the scheme.

It’s in stark contrast to the other trend of the recession – that being the emergence of the essential nature of finance directors and accountants to keep a lid on the things. That’s the legitimate activity of the company, I mean. Managing cash flow, holding spending down maintaining up to the minute information so that everyone on the board knows exactly where the company is. He or she is a guardian, an essential part of the effort to survive the recession.

But then a few bad eggs come along and spoil it for everyone. The fact is, though, the bad eggs are the reason the authorities believe accountants are so important in spotting and reporting financial crime. That’s why the pressure will always be on them.

The Serious Fraud Office, for instance, is having a close look at hedge funds. Who’d be surprised if they wanted to speak to the accountants concerned.

Gavin Hinks is editor of Accountancy Age