Perhaps what needs to be considered is that when one employs a...

Perhaps what needs to be considered is that when one employs a "professional" organisation, one expects them to act with a level of professional integrity.

Lets face it, professionals are a law unto themselves, the only thing governing their behaviour is their own peer group. It is up to the professional association to maintain their standards.

One would have to suggest that before anyone within SMN is held to blame, the audit firm has failed in their obligation to supply a professional service by causing an international public company to be suspended due to their own actions (or inaction). The UK Chartered Auditors' Institute should therefore be suspending their licence to operate as independent auditors - they have forgone the right to operate due to their poor governance.

I understand Ross's comment about being "unimpressed".