Cornerstone Research Report: SEC and PCAOB Enforcement Actions Involving Accountants Decline to Less Than $3.3 Million

Final actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board involving accountants fell sharply in 2018, according to a new Cornerstone Research report released on 1 May.

There were 45 enforcement actions against accountants—defined as certified public accountants employed by SEC registrants, auditors, and audit firms in the United States—finalized in 2018, compared to 75 in 2017.

The report, Regulatory Actions Involving Accountants, found that the 13 PCAOB enforcement actions in 2018 were 63% lower than the 35 actions in 2017, when the PCAOB experienced its most active enforcement year. The number of finalized PCAOB actions was the lowest since 2013 and only about 40% of the 2015–2017 average of 32 actions. Audits of brokers and dealers represented 46% of PCAOB actions in 2018.

SEC enforcement actions also declined, with the 32 actions marking a 20% drop from the 40 actions finalized in 2017. This decrease can be attributed to fewer SEC enforcement actions in the first half of the year, as there was a significant uptick in the number of actions finalized in the second half of 2018.

“The dramatic decline in the number of final enforcement actions corresponds with significant changes in PCAOB leadership,” said Elaine Harwood, a Cornerstone Research vice president and head of the firm’s accounting practice. “At the same time, a marked increase in the number of actions finalized by the SEC in the second half of the year may suggest increased enforcement activity involving accountants in the future.”

In addition to bars, suspensions, and other nonmonetary sanctions, monetary settlements in final SEC and PCAOB actions were imposed against 32 of the 67 individual and audit firm respondents (48%), but totaled less than $3.3 million.
Additionally, the majority of SEC and PCAOB actions finalized in 2013–2017 have resulted in a state follow-on action against at least one individual or firm respondent. While the majority of state follow-on actions are completed within two years of a final SEC or PCAOB action, one in four take longer than two years to complete.

About Cornerstone Research

Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex litigation and regulatory proceedings. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent faculty and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. Cornerstone Research has earned a reputation for consistent high quality and effectiveness by delivering rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis for 30 years. The firm has 700 staff and offices in Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington. See Cornerstone Research’s website for more information about the firm’s capabilities in economic and financial consulting and expert testimonyhttp://www.cornerstone.com Twitter: @Cornerstone_Res

Image: Unsplash

Share this article:

About B2B Global Team

B2B Global Team is a collective of journalists and researchers covering the issues of B2B management, leadership and innovations in different sectors of economy.

View all posts by B2B Global Team →