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SubscribeThe PCAOB inspects registered public accounting firms to assess compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the rules of the Board, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and professional standards, in connection with the firm's performance
of audits, issuance of audit reports, and related matters involving U.S. public companies, other issuers, and broker-dealers.
Our inspections are designed to review portions of a firm’s issuer audits and evaluate elements of a firm’s quality control system. The process aims to drive improvement in the quality of audit services through a focus on effective prevention, detection, and deterrence of audit and quality control deficiencies—and oversight of firms’ remediation of identified deficiencies.
Firm Inspection Reports
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act authorizes the PCAOB to inspect registered firms for the purpose of assessing compliance with certain laws, rules, and professional standards in connection with a firm's audit work for public company and broker-dealer clients. The PCAOB provides each firm with issuer audit clients inspected with a report, which summarizes any deficiencies identified through the inspections process. Each year, we publish a summary report that provides information on the inspections conducted of firms with broker-dealer clients.
PCAOB Inspections Procedures and Process
The Inspections Procedures page covers how we conduct our inspections, as well as our process for reviewing selected firms’ audit work and quality control systems, our post-inspection activities, and detailed inspection procedures by year. The Basics of Inspections page offers greater detail on our inspections, including answers to common questions such as how audits are selected and what an inspection may entail.
New Charts Help Stakeholders Understand and Compare Inspection Results
PCAOB website visitors now can easily visualize trends for firms inspected annually in the PCAOB’s Global Network Firms (GNF) and Non-Affiliate Firms (NAF) inspection categories.
Recent Updates
See all updates >In a new staff report, the PCAOB’s staff has outlined 2025 inspection priorities, with a focus on driving improvements in audit quality.
Inspections
A new PCAOB staff report on audit firm culture offers considerations for firms looking to improve audit quality.
Inspections