$8.5mn fine for Deloitte, PwC and EY after the discovery of employees cheating internal training exams, including ethics tests
27/06/2025
The US audit regulator has fined the Dutch arms of Deloitte, PwC, and EY $8.5mn million after finding “hundreds” of staff cheated on internal training exams, including ethics tests, in the latest scandal at the Big Four accounting firms.
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board said
- Staff, partners, and even some members of the firm’s senior leadership had improperly shared answers or
- Otherwise, collaborated on the tests needed to satisfy internal training and professional education requirements.
The PCAOB's investigation, conducted alongside the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), revealed that the cheating occurred over five years from 2018 to 2022.
The exams covered various topics, including ethics, professional independence, and audit requirements.
The fines are part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of the auditing profession and ensure that auditors adhere to high ethical standards.
This scandal is part of a series of similar issues at major accounting firms, highlighting the need for stricter oversight and better internal controls.
Sources
- Big Four: US fines Deloitte, PwC and EY over exam cheating https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/taxes/big-four-us-fines-deloitte-pwc-and-ey-over-exam-cheating/ar-AA1Hs6jN
- Dutch accountants fined millions by US regulator for exam fraud https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/06/dutch-accountants-fined-millions-by-us-regulator-for-exam-fraud/
- PCAOB fines Dutch Big Four member firms for exam misconduct https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-fines-deloitte-pwc-ey-netherlands-member-firms-for-exam-misconduct
- PCAOB Imposes Fines Totalling $8.5 Million on Netherlands Member Firms https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-imposes-fines-totaling--8.5-million-on-netherlands-member-firms-of-deloitte--pwc--and-ey-after-widespread-exam-misconduct
- https://www.ft.com/content/aa27c970-94c4-463b-a7af-18cacd7cf5e3
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