Chair Williams To Host Chicago Forum for Auditors of Small Businesses and Auditors of Broker-Dealers

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) announced today that PCAOB Chair Erica Y. Williams will host an in-person forum on auditing in the small business environment and on auditing broker-dealers in Chicago on April 3, 2025. The one-day event – part of a series of 2025 forums – will take place at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile hotel.

“Smaller audit firms play an essential role in America’s economy, markets, and system of investor protection,” said Chair Williams. “We are pleased to continue this forum series, which has proven to be an excellent way for our Board Members and staff to engage with smaller firms directly about audit quality and their unique needs and challenges.”

Tailored to PCAOB-registered firms auditing smaller public companies or broker-dealers, the forums provide a unique opportunity for auditors to interact with representatives from the PCAOB and other regulators.

In addition to remarks from Chair Williams, the forum agenda includes the following:

• Presentations by PCAOB staff from the Office of the Chief Auditor, the Division of Registration and Inspections, and the Division of Enforcement and Investigations;
• Presentation of illustrative examples related to audit risks associated with revenue, the auditor’s responsibility to identify and communicate critical audit matters to investors, heightened risk of fraud, and the importance of journal entry testing; and
• Presentations by staff of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Registration Required for April 3 Chicago Forum; CPE Available

There is no fee to attend the Chicago forum, but advance registration is required and can be completed here. The event will also be livestreamed, and, as with previous forums, recordings will be made available on the PCAOB’s website. In-person attendees can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits.

Forum attendees are encouraged to submit questions in advance via email. There also will be an opportunity to submit questions during the forum.

Visit the PCAOB’s Information for Smaller Firms page – which the PCAOB launched in January as part of its ongoing efforts to support smaller audit firms – to find resources including publications, videos, and a sign-up form for the Communications to Small Audit Firm Practitioners mailing list.

*****

About the PCAOB

The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.