Whilst us accountants may rely on technology, software and intensive training to produce
results for clients, the human element cannot (and should never) be detached from our work.
Unfortunately for clothing retailer SuperGroup, owner of the Superdry brand, the intervention of
a human led to “arithmetic errors” in its forecasting, resulting in a £2.5m shortfall in its wholesale
business and forcing them to issue a second profit warning in 2012.
A routine audit spotted the error and hearts, careers and shares were seen spiraling downwards
together.
