Nor does the issue help the reputation of the accountancy profession, whose auditing before and during the global financial crisis has come into question.

BBC: KPMG quits audit roles over insider trading allegations

On Friday, listeners will be hoping that Mr Berardino, whose company failed to uncover a slew of hidden debts while auditing bankrupt energy trading giant Enron, will explain how the accountancy profession aims to reassure investors that its audits can be relied on.

BBC: US Secretary of State Colin Powell