Board to Continue Forums on Auditing in the Small Business Environment in 2006

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced the continuation in 2006 of its Forums on Auditing in the Small Business Environment. These forums, which began in 2004, are designed to help share important information concerning the PCAOB with registered public accounting firms and public companies operating in the small business community.

Held in 10 cities throughout the country in 2004 and 2005, the forums enabled Board members and staff to meet with more than 1,000 representatives of small companies and small registered public accounting firms to provide insight to the work of the PCAOB, including the inspections process and the impact of new auditing standards. The feedback received from these forums assists the PCAOB in understanding and considering the unique needs and challenges of the small business community.

During the 2006 series, small registered public accounting firms will be invited to attend a one-day session in one of eight major cities throughout the country. During these sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the Board’s work and also earn continuing professional education credits. In addition, in four of these cities, directors and financial executive officers of small public companies will be invited to participate in a separate event to be held the following day that will address PCAOB issues affecting smaller public companies. While there is no fee charged to participants for these events, pre-registration is required.

The 2006 schedule is as follows:

• Santa Monica, California - January 23, 24
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida - February 27, 28
• San Antonio, Texas - May 2, 3
• Seattle, Washington - June 21
• Boston, Massachusetts - September 8
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - October 16
• New York, New York - November 6, 7
• Chicago, Illinois - December 7

The program is limited to those groups in the small business community who are most directly affected by the Board’s oversight responsibilities. The goal of such a format is to ensure that there is ample opportunity for discussion of PCAOB issues facing small business communities among representatives of this sector and Board members and its staff.

More information, including the forum agenda, is available at www.pcaobus.org. For forum registration questions please call (202) 207-9061 or email.