The Big Four are the four largest professional services networks in the world:Deloitte,EY,KPMG,and PwC. They are the four largest global accounting networks as measured by revenue. The four are often grouped because they are comparable in size relative to the rest of the market,both in terms of revenue and workforce;they are considered equal in their ability to provide a wide scope of professional services to their clients;and,among those looking to start a career in professional services,particularly accounting,they are considered equally attractive networks to work in,because of the frequency with which these firms engage with Fortune 500 companies.
PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited is a multinational professional services brand of firms,operating as partnerships under the PwC brand. It is the second-largest professional services network in the world and is considered one of the Big Four accounting firms,along with Deloitte,EY,and KPMG.
The comptroller and auditor general (C&AG) in the United Kingdom is the government official responsible for supervising the quality of public accounting and financial reporting. The C&AG is an officer of the House of Commons who is the head of the National Audit Office,the body that scrutinises central government expenditure.
In many states with political systems derived from the Westminster system,a consolidated fund or consolidated revenue fund is the main bank account of the government. General taxation is taxation paid into the consolidated fund,and general spending is paid out of the consolidated fund.
The National Audit Office (NAO) is an independent Parliamentary body in the United Kingdom which is responsible for auditing central government departments,government agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The NAO also carries out value for money (VFM) audits into the administration of public policy.
In the United Kingdom,life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited,in contrast to hereditary peers. Life peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister. With the exception of the Dukedom of Edinburgh awarded for life to Prince Edward in 2023,all life peerages conferred since 2009 have been created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 with the rank of baron and entitle their holders to sit and vote in the House of Lords,presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship. The legitimate children of a life peer appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958 are entitled to style themselves with the prefix "The Honourable",although they cannot inherit the peerage itself. Prior to 2009,life peers of baronial rank could also be so created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 for senior judges.
Angus JohnMacdonald,Baron Macdonald of Tradeston,is a Scottish television executive,life peer and former Labour member of the House of Lords.
Robert Haldane Smith,Baron Smith of Kelvin,is a British businessman and former Governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Smith was knighted in 1999,appointed to the House of Lords as an independent crossbench peer in 2008,and appointed Knight of the Thistle in the 2014 New Year Honours. He was also appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2016.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) is an independent advisory non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom with oversight of some aspects of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It has two roles:
Augustine Thomas O'Donnell,Baron O'Donnell,is a former British senior civil servant and economist,who between 2005 and 2011 served as the Cabinet Secretary,the highest official in the British Civil Service.
Nicholas Ian Macpherson,Baron Macpherson of Earl's Court,is a former senior British civil servant. He served as the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury from 2005 to 2016.
Sir John Bryant Bourn was a British auditor who was the Comptroller and Auditor General and therefore a head of the National Audit Office.
Sir John Christopher Sainty,KCB,FSA is a retired British parliamentary official who was Clerk of the Parliaments from 1983 to 1990.
Amyas is a surname and male forename thought to be derived either from the Latin verb amare or the French city of Amiens.
Henry Alexander Benson,Baron Benson GBE was a British accountant best known as a partner of Coopers &Lybrand,an advisor to the Bank of England,his work organising the accountancy profession as president of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England &Wales and for the part he played in various Royal Commissions.
Sir Henry Noel Bunbury was a British civil servant and accountant.
The 1893 Birthday Honours were appointments by Queen Victoria to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The Queen,and were published in the London Gazette on 2 June 1893 and in The Times on 3 June 1893.
Sir Charles Lister Ryan was a British civil servant. He served as Comptroller and Auditor-General of the Exchequer from 1888 until his retirement in 1896.
Malcolm Ian Offord,Baron Offord of Garvel,is a Scottish financier and Conservative Party politician in the House of Lords. He currently serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports.
As part of the British honours system,Special Honours are issued at the Monarch's pleasure at any given time. The Special Honours refer to the awards made within royal prerogative,operational honours,political honours and other honours awarded outside the New Years Honours and Birthday Honours.
Life peer 