Scandal-struck Adecco’s rival temporary agencies are reassuring investors that accounting problems are not widespread in the industry.

Swiss-based Adecco is expected to reveal details about the “material weaknesses” in its bookkeeping in its North American subsidiary.

Rumours suggest Adecco had been including temp revenues it had not yet received in its accounts.

Mike Van Handel, chief financial officer of Manpower, told the FT it was unlikely that other recruitment agencies had been prematurely recognising revenues from temp placements.

He explained: “The moment we pay the temp is when we trigger the billing and the revenue recognition, which is in keeping with the accounting principle of matching revenues and costs.

“The risk is of course that the client disputes the invoice, but there are controls to cover this situation and it is very rare.”