News brief: EY settles “romantic relationship” and “improperly close friendship” cases over audit independence rules violation charges

EY has settled with the USA Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a case in which one of its then partners violated independence rules when she engaged in a “romantic relationship” with the financial executive of EY’s client. In addition, another EY auditor is said to have violated the rules when he built an “improperly close friendship” with the CFO of another EY’s firm.