Deborah Smith

In this role, she is responsible for providing strategic leadership and overseeing transformation efforts for the Office of Human Resources, which includes workforce planning, business process innovation, operational efficiency, change readiness, and effective resource allocation. She oversees the Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Talent Management, Workday Technology, Employee Experience, Performance Management, Learning & Development, and Employee Relations, Policy, and Compliance functional areas.  

Before being named Acting Chief Human Resources Officer in May 2026, Ms. Smith served as Acting Deputy Director, HR Delivery in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. In that capacity, she partnered closely with the CHRO, Board Members, and Division/Office Leaders to ensure organizational alignment between PCAOB’s human capital priorities and Office of Human Resources operations as well as provided day-to-day operational leadership and oversight of Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, and Workday Technology functional areas. 

Ms. Smith joined the PCAOB in February 2022 as Assistant Director, Talent Acquisition within the Office of Human Resources. She successfully led efforts to develop and deliver strategic programs to attract and retain top talent and enhance our talent brand in support of our PCAOB investor protection mission. 

Prior to the PCAOB, Ms. Smith held numerous operational leadership positions in top professional services organizations, including as Principal and Chief Growth Officer for a global accounting and consulting firm, HR/Talent leader of a global forensic accounting firm focused on regulatory compliance, litigation, and multi-jurisdictional investigations, and Leadership Development/Change Enablement leader for a global engineering organization. 

Ms. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University and earned an executive leadership program certificate from University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.