Lack of Independence
CA ANZ Tribunal found Stephen Cornelius Parsons a Partner and Karen Marina Eaton an employee guilty of lack of independence. Eaton as Treasurer and Public Officer for a Incorporated Association was employed by the Auditing Firm. Parsons was the Auditor and failed to declare the Treasurers association with the Auditing Firm to the Client as did Eaton. As a result Eaton as Public Officer made annual returns/summaries to the Governing Body and NSW Registry that falsely claimed independence. This occurred over a period of 8 years. CA ANZ Tribunal initially ordered that Parsons be reported to Tax Practitioners Board and ASIC. This was overturned on appeal. The Tribunal also ordered a review of the Company. Advice from Sydney Ethics Centre and TPB is that once one partner was found guilty all were guilty. It is our understanding this opinion is based on the failure to ensure due diligence in the firms dealings with the Client and failing to exercise their duty of care to the Client and its Members. A number of qualified and totally independent persons/bodies have advised that as I and my wife Shirley have been vilified, threatened, defamed, bullied and intimidated as a result of us blowing the whistle on Eaton and her employers for what we believe constitutes professional misconduct that we should report all Partners, Department Heads and Eaton to ASIC. The Tribunal's Rulings can be viewed on CA ANZ's website and are available to the public.