Investor Advisories and Bulletins

The PCAOB’s Office of the Investor Advocate is issuing Investor Advisories to provide investors and other market participants with important information about the PCAOB’s oversight of audits and related engagements of public companies and certain SEC-registered brokers and dealers and observations where investors may mistakenly believe the PCAOB has regulatory oversight.

These advisories and bulletins represent the views of PCAOB Office of the Investor Advocate staff and not necessarily those of the Board. It is not a rule, policy, or statement of the Board.

Investor Bulletin: What Is the PCAOB’s Office of the Investor Advocate? 

The PCAOB’s Office of the Investor Advocate is led by the PCAOB Investor Advocate to ensure that investors’ voices are heard at the highest level of the organization. The office enhances the PCAOB's engagement with investors and investor advocates and helps to incorporate their perspectives into the PCAOB’s activities. 

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin: Commemorating the PCAOB’s Office of the Investor Advocate’s One-Year Anniversary

February 2024 marked the one-year anniversary of the Board’s creation of the Office of the Investor Advocate at the PCAOB. In its first year, the office has focused on engaging with investors and investor advocates to enhance their understanding of the PCAOB and its work, on elevating a broad range of investors’ voices within the PCAOB, and on supporting the PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group in advising the Board.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin: Opportunity To Comment on Proposal To Protect Investors From False or Misleading Statements About PCAOB Registration and Oversight

The PCAOB’s Office of the Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to comment on the proposal regarding false or misleading statements concerning PCAOB registration and oversight.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin: Opportunity to Comment on Proposal to Strengthen Accountability for Contributing to an Audit Firm’s Violations

The PCAOB Office of the Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to comment on the PCAOB’s proposed amendments to PCAOB Rule 3502 governing contributory liability.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin: Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Updates to PCAOB Standards Addressing the Use of Data Analytics by Auditors

The PCAOB Office of the Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to comment on a PCAOB proposal to revise certain auditing standards to specifically address the growing use of data analysis in the audit. Investors have pointed to the use of data analytics as an area of concern and one that updated PCAOB standards could benefit.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin: Opportunity to Comment on PCAOB Proposal on Noncompliance With Laws and Regulations

The PCAOB Office of the Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to comment on the proposed standard addressing an auditor’s responsibility related to a company’s noncompliance with laws and regulations.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Bulletin - Opportunity to Comment on Proposed Standard Addressing Core Auditing Principles and Responsibilities

The PCAOB Office of Investor Advocate is alerting investors to the opportunity to comment on the PCAOB’s proposed auditing standard, AS 1000, General Responsibilities of the Auditor in Conducting an Audit.

Read the Bulletin

Investor Advisory - Exercise Caution With Third-Party Verification/Proof of Reserve Reports (March 8, 2023)

Proof of reserve reports are inherently limited, and customers should exercise extreme caution when relying on them to conclude that there are sufficient assets to meet customer liabilities.

Read the Advisory