Soyoung Ho

For the third year in a row, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Investor Advisory Group (IAG) is inviting the public to send in nominations for the best critical audit matters (CAMs) or key audit matters (KAMs) in audit reports included in 2025 Form 10-Ks for domestic companies and Form 20-Fs for foreign private issuers.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will, for the first time, issue a public consultation document to seek input on its standard-setting agenda.

In a move intended to carry out SEC Chairman Paul Atkins' agenda to "Make IPOs Great Again," the agency proposed rule changes that would exempt many more public companies from the requirements under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to obtain an auditor's attestation on management's assessment of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR).

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chief Accountant Kurt Hohl, speaking at a conference, once again sought to set the record straight about what the commission intends to do with auditor independence rules, addressing what he described as inaccurate media reports claiming that the agency will relax these requirements.

The PCAOB is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to its QC 1000 standard, including the removal of the external quality control function and design-only requirements, in response to concerns from audit firms about compliance burdens.

Public company accountants and auditors have been using artificial intelligence (AI) for financial reporting matters largely without new regulatory requirements.

Former PCAOB board member Christina Ho is calling for major reforms to the audit regulator, citing governance failures, unchecked spending, and misplaced enforcement priorities stemming from its unique structure. She proposes transferring PCAOB oversight to the SEC or implementing administrative changes to improve accountability, standard-setting, and inspection efficiency.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) issued a request for public comment on June 23, 2026, seeking input on its standard-setting and research agendas.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins said that a major policy shift implemented last year — in which the staff stopped responding to companies' no-action requests during the proxy season — did not result in the disruptions that some had predicted.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will hold a public meeting on July 20, 2026, to consider issuing a proposed strategic plan for 2026-2030.