PCAOB to Host Virtual Roundtable on NOCLAR Proposal, Reopen Comment Period Until March 18

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) staff will host a public virtual roundtable regarding the proposal to amend PCAOB auditing standards related to the auditor’s responsibility for considering a company’s noncompliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR) on March 6, 2024, at 9:30 a.m ET.

In light of the roundtable, the Board is reopening the comment period beginning today through March 18, 2024.

On June 6, 2023, the PCAOB issued for public comment a proposal that would amend PCAOB auditing standards related to the auditor’s responsibility for considering a company’s NOCLAR, including fraud. If adopted, the proposal would strengthen auditor requirements to identify, evaluate, and communicate possible or actual noncompliance with laws and regulations. The previous public comment period closed August 7, 2023, and all comments are available on the PCAOB website.

Virtual Roundtable

The objective of the roundtable is to obtain additional insight from commenters, stakeholders, and experts as the PCAOB’s staff works toward a final recommendation to the Board.

Topics

The roundtable will include three panels focused on the proposal’s requirements relating to auditors’ identification of laws and regulations and assessment of those laws and regulations, as well as costs and benefits of the proposal.

A briefing paper on the roundtable includes specific questions to be discussed and additional background.

Participants

The roundtable will be co-chaired by Barbara Vanich, the PCAOB’s Chief Auditor and Director of its Office of the Chief Auditor (OCA), and Dr. Martin C. Schmalz, the PCAOB’s Chief Economist and Director of its Office of Economic and Risk Analysis (OERA). Panelists will include commenters with diverse viewpoints, including those representing investors, auditors, issuers, and audit committees; subject matter experts in the fields of economics, corporate and securities law, and auditing; and commenters and experts who serve on the PCAOB’s advisory groups.

Watch

The public may join the meeting in watch-only or listen-only mode using the following information.

• Join by Webex link:
  PCAOB Roundtable – March 6, 2024

  When you join the meeting, if you would like to connect your audio via phone, you can receive a call back by providing your phone number in the prompt. You can also join by audio only by calling one of the dial-in numbers in the "Join by phone" section below and entering the access code and password.

• Join by Webex number:
  Webex number: 2305 065 0133
  Webex password: fpC39GxsK8f
• Join by phone:
  Call either of the numbers below and enter the access code and password, each followed by #.
  U.S. toll-free: 1-844-621-3956
  U.S. toll: 1-415-655-0001
  Access code: 230 506 50133
  Webex password: 37239497

Public Comment Period

The comment period is now open through March 18, 2024.

Commenters are encouraged to specifically consider the questions and topics included in the roundtable briefing paper, and commenters are welcome to address any aspect of the proposal. Commenters are asked to provide reasoning and relevant data supporting their views.

The public can learn more about submitting comments on proposed PCAOB rules at the Open for Public Comment page. For more information regarding the PCAOB’s standard-setting activities, visit our Standard-Setting, Research, and Rulemaking Projects page.

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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.

Contact

PCAOB Office of Communications and Engagement
[email protected]