Accountancy partner fined by disciplinary body

A PARTNER at Armstrong Watson’s Yorkshire offices has been hit with a disciplinary order by the Insolvency Service, leading to a review of procedures at the firm.

Mike Kienlen, Armstrong Watson’s eastern regional head and head of corporate recovery and insolvency was fined £1,500 following an investigation from the Insolvency Practitioners Association.

The order was made following a complaint from a member of a company for which Mr Kienlen was a liquidator.

The Insolvency Service said he had failed to justify the costs paid to his own firm, paid a creditor without sight of sufficient supporting evidence to do so and then failed to properly address the complainant’s enquiries in a timely manner.

The investigation found he had breached Statement of Insolvency Practice 9 and the Ethics Code for Insolvency Practitioners, and he was ordered to pay a fine of £1,500 as well as costs.

Armstrong Watson said that the IPA had found some procedural errors and that it was “an isolated incident” which led to a review of systems and procedures at the business to ensure compliance and correct documentation.

Armstrong Watson managing partner Paul Dickson said: “The IPA did not find any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of anyone involved in this case.

“We have also tightened up the complaints procedure for any complaints that are made in relation to insolvency matters, so that they are dealt independently by the firm’s senior partner, who is not involved in insolvency-related matters.”