Board to Continue Forums on Auditing in the Small Business Environment in 2007

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced the continuation in 2007 of its Forums on Auditing in the Small Business Environment. These forums are designed to help share important information concerning the PCAOB with registered public accounting firms and public companies operating in the small business community.

The PCAOB began a pilot program of small business forums in November 2004 and continued the sessions in 2005 and 2006 in cities across the country. To date, the forums have enabled Board members and staff to meet with more than 1,600 representatives of small registered public accounting firms and small public companies to provide insight to the work of the PCAOB, particularly 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 2007 series, small registered public accounting firms will be invited to attend a one-day session in one of eight major cities throughout the country. Although similar in nature to last year’s forums, the PCAOB plans to make significant changes to the program to address emerging issues. Attendees will continue to have the opportunity to learn about the Board’s work and also earn continuing professional education credits. In addition, in three 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 2007 schedule is as follows:

• Santa Monica, California – January 23
• Houston, Texas – April 23
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida – June 1
• San Francisco, California – June 27, 28
• Atlanta, Georgia – September 10, 11
• New York, New York – October 22, 23
• Chicago, Illinois – November 9
• Washington, DC – December 4

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 in the Events section. For forum registration questions please call (202) 207-9061 or email [email protected].