PCAOB Shares Perspectives From 2024 Conversations With Audit Committee Chairs

Today the PCAOB released a new staff Spotlight publication, “2024 Conversations With Audit Committee Chairs(PDF).”

Every year, the PCAOB staff interviews a number of audit committee chairs of the U.S. public companies and broker-dealers whose audits are reviewed during PCAOB inspections. Interacting with audit committee chairs provides critical viewpoints for PCAOB staff to consider in planning inspection activities.

This Spotlight presents high-level observations and takeaways from the 272 interviews that staff conducted with audit committee chairs in 2024. Topics covered include – among others – factors affecting relationships with the audit firm, the economic environment affecting the audit, and the use of emerging technologies in the audit.

The Spotlight also provides answers to questions that audit committee chairs regularly raise in their conversations with the PCAOB, such as:

• How are audits selected for review?
• What does an inspection entail?
• Does the PCAOB have educational training or events for audit committee members?

Visit the PCAOB’s Information for Audit Committees page to sign up for updates and to find more resources aimed at helping audit committees understand the PCAOB's activities and observations. 

*****

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.