BRIEFS: Fraud fear

Fraud fear

The Auditing Practices Board is calling for a public debate on the issue of directors and auditors making written comments on the effectiveness of a company's internal financial controls. The call comes as the board - in a move unrelated to the Barings collapse - publishes guidance to auditors on how they report directors' disclosures in annual reports under the requirements of the Cadbury code of best practice in corporate governance. It reflects growing concern about the effectiveness of fraud controls within companies.