Then, five years later, the group succeeded in forcing regulators to dilute proposed restrictions on accountants.

"The real challenge has been to wear away the reliance on undergraduate-level accountants and persuade our managers to look at broader talents," he said.

Rather than growing the company, they have wasted resources on accountants and lawyers in a protracted campaign to inflict injury to our reputations.

They're spending on paper, microchips, and accountants, and that's money that doesn't go into patient care.

Bankruptcy proceedings also involve lots of spending on lawyers and accountants, and they distract managers from running the business.

At best they waste resources on lawyers and accountants designing complicated but economically meaningless arrangements.

"Investors shouldn't rely only on accountants and regulators," he said.

The spokesman said that the commission was trying to impose "a new and unrealistic obligation on independent accountants."

Many small businesses rely on accountants to pay as little tax as possible.

The consequent pressure on auditors and accountants - the guardians of a company's numbers - is intense.