Information for Public Companies 

The PCAOB mission is to oversee the auditors of public companies. Although the Board has no authority over public companies, PCAOB work has important implications for public companies and their audit committees.

The PCAOB is funded primarily by assessments collected from public companies and other issuers, whether they are located inside or outside of the United States.

Below are links to resources and information that may be of interest to public companies and their audit committees.

Reports

• Information For Audit Committees About the PCAOB Inspection Process (Aug. 1, 2012)  

Registered Accounting Firms

Find information about accounting firms registered with the PCAOB.

• Registered Accounting Firms
• Firm Inspection Reports
• Search Firm Filings
• Disciplinary Orders
• Firms that Failed to Address Quality Control Criticisms Satisfactorily

Trends and Emerging Issues in Auditing

• Board Public Reports
• Staff Audit Practice Alerts
• Featured Issue: Fair Value
• Featured Issue: Internal Control
• Featured Issue: International Oversight
• Featured Issue: Small Business

Standing Advisory Group

• SAG members, meetings, and nominations

Forum on Auditing in the Small Business Environment

The PCAOB holds meetings throughout the country for registered accounting firms in the small business community to learn more about the work of the PCAOB and to give feedback directly to Board Members. The program focuses on the PCAOB inspection process and the impact of new auditing standards.

• Forum on Auditing in the Small Business Environment

Standard Setting and Rulemaking: Open for Comment

• Submit and read comments on PCAOB proposals open for comment
• Rulemaking Docket
• The Standard-Setting Process

Accounting Support Fee

The primary source of funding for PCAOB operations is the yearly Accounting Support Fee that is paid by U.S. public companies and other issuers whose financial statements must be audited by PCAOB-registered firms. Each year’s Accounting Support Fee is equal to the PCAOB budget for that year, which is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), minus the amount of registration and related annual fees paid by registered public accounting firms, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Each issuer pays a share of the Accounting Support Fee that is based on the issuer’s U.S. equity market capitalization. An issuer’s failure to pay its allocated share of the Accounting Support Fee constitutes a violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is reported to the SEC.

• Accounting Support Fee
• Issuers with No Outstanding Past-Due Share of the Accounting Support Fee
• FAQ: The Accounting Support Fee and the Funding Process
• W-9 form - PCAOB
• W-9 form - FASB
• Funding Rules

Speeches & Statements on the PCAOB and Public Company Audit Committees

• Remarks to the Association of Audit Committee Members Annual Meeting, by Mark W. Olson, PCAOB Chairman (May 21, 2008)
• "Confronting the Change in the World of Financial Reporting," Baruch College Fifth Annual Financial Reporting Conference, by Charles D. Niemeier, PCAOB Board Member (May 4, 2006)
• "The Work of the PCAOB: Why Should Public Companies Care?" Milwaukee Chapter, the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, by Daniel L. Goelzer, PCAOB Board Member (Oct. 31, 2003)