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Enhancing public trust in the capital markets by promoting high-quality financial reporting.

<p>The Center for Audit Quality</p>

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Discover the latest insights, resources, and standards in auditing and accounting at the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) website. Access valuable guidance, research, and tools to enhance your expertise and stay informed in the ever-evolving auditing landscape. 

Hosted by Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the Center for Audit Quality, Capital Markets Pulse dives into the latest key matters related to the capital markets featuring experts from across the corporate reporting world.

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Hosted by Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the Center for Audit Quality, Capital Markets Pulse dives into the latest key matters related to the capital markets featuring experts from across the corporate reporting world.

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Podcast | Capital Markets Pulse, Episode 10: Sam Ross

Auditors

Policymakers

Investors

Audit Quality

Blog Post

Podcast

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Thomas Makenzie

KPMG US and Global Audit Chief Technology Officer 

AI and GenAI are transforming the landscape of financial reporting, driving innovation and improvements in quality and efficiency. In the next three years, 100% of US financial reporting leaders report they will be either piloting or using AI in financial...

AI and GenAI are transforming the landscape of financial reporting, driving innovation and improvements in quality and efficiency. In the next three years, 100% of US financial reporting leaders report they will be either piloting or using AI in financial reporting, according to a recent KPMG <a href="https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/ai-in-financial-reporting-kpmg-2024.html">survey on AI in financial reporting</a>.

As companies engage more with AI and GenAI capabilities in this 'AI era,' they will face new opportunities, risks and challenges. Financial reporting leaders are focused on navigating these risks by becoming AI-ready and expect their external auditor to not only use AI and GenAI in the audit, but also use professional judgement to evaluate control environments.

In fact, 83% of financial reporting leaders believe it is important for auditors to utilize AI in performing their analysis, prioritizing risk and anomaly identification, data analysis and quality management, and risk mitigation and real-time auditing.
<h3><strong>Enhancing audit quality with AI </strong></h3>
At KPMG, we are accelerating our use of AI in the audit, anchored by our Trusted AI framework, to continue enhancing quality and uncovering deeper insights for audit committees and management.

Last year, we deployed KPMG Audit Chat, our proprietary GenAI tool built on Azure OpenAI service, which includes a library of use cases. Audit Chat now <a href="https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-audit-chat-new-capabilities-2024.html">helps auditors consult our methodology and the standards, review documentation and more</a>.

Today, we’ve <a href="https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-ai-integration-clara-2024.html">embedded our GenAI assistant directly into KPMG Clara</a>, our global smart audit platform, for 90,000 auditors around the globe. Like an additional team member, this capability can interact directly with audit engagement documentation and our audit methodology to help auditors refine risk assessments, develop substantive testing procedures and enhance audit documentation.

Additionally, we are using directed AI and machine learning to conduct transaction scoring through our global alliance with MindBridge. With KPMG Clara Transaction Scoring, our teams are able to perform analyses over 100% of transactional populations, delivering audit evidence and identifying outliers over both general ledger and subledger populations. Transaction Scoring also enables our teams to refine risk assessments and unlock deeper, data-driven insights for audit committees and management teams.

AI is freeing up resources for our auditors to spend more time on the areas of highest risk, sector-specific risks and challenges – to the benefit of both stakeholders and the capital markets.

[custom_quote text="AI is freeing up resources for our auditors to spend more time on the areas of highest risk, sector-specific risks and challenges."]
<h3><strong>Protecting the capital markets with trust</strong></h3>
Our focus areas align with the demands of audit committees and management teams. Our research finds that companies across the US are eager to realize the benefits of an AI-enabled financial reporting process.

Among financial reporting leaders, the top expected benefits of AI in the next three years include real-time insights into risks, fraud and control weaknesses (73%), increased data accuracy and reliability (67%) and lower costs (62%). In addition, 60% expect greater ability to predict trends and impacts.

Importantly, our Trusted AI approach ensures we are deploying AI in the audit with a human-in-the-loop mindset to maintain quality and accuracy. Our teams are trained on how to effectively use AI as an enabler, ensuring our professionals are critically engaging outputs and exercising professional skepticism.
<h3><strong>Empowering our professionals with AI </strong></h3>
AI will augment, not replace, the role of the auditor, and the audit will always be people-driven. Our methodology, audit standards, industry dynamics and a business’s particular risks are integrated through human judgment and decision.

We believe AI will pull more people into the profession. By reducing manual work, people are free to focus on more strategic, higher-level thinking. Moreover, as the role of the auditor expands to protect the capital markets, the mission and purpose that drives our profession today will only increase.

[custom_quote text="AI will augment, not replace, the role of the auditor, and the audit will always be people-driven."]
<h3><strong>Looking ahead </strong></h3>
The use of AI and GenAI is becoming ubiquitous, with 58% of financial reporting leaders seeing GenAI as the number one technology priority in the next year.

At KPMG, where we are today is just the tip of the iceberg. As our technology teams and auditors gain more experience with GenAI, we expect to accelerate innovation across our audits.

More broadly, the benefits of AI will only grow as firms continue investing in and deploying new capabilities, and in the future, these trends will fundamentally shape the competitive positioning of finance functions in business strategy. At the same time, auditors will have the opportunity to become consistent collaborators with organizations as they embrace AI as a business enabler and navigate the increasingly dynamic, digitally connected market.

Transforming the audit experience with AI

Emerging Reporting Areas

Vice President, Professional Practice and Anti-Fraud Initiatives

Dennis J. McGowan, CPA is the Vice President, Professional Practice and Anti-Fraud Initiatives at the Center for Audit Quality. In this role he leads regulatory and policy strategies that foster high-quality performance by public company auditors.

His duties include leading a team of audit executives to advance technical and policy-oriented projects to identify, develop, and seek consensus on issues affecting the public company auditing profession. McGowan is also responsible for overseeing the CAQ’s anti-fraud initiatives. This includes engaging with senior leaders across the financial reporting ecosystem, drafting comment letter responses to regulators, developing thought leadership publications, and responding to technical inquiries.

Dennis serves as a Board Member of Annapolis Pride, an organization dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in Annapolis. Before joining the CAQ, he spent a decade at PwC, where he specialized in auditing clients in the financial services industry.

Dennis is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania, and he holds a BS in Business Administration from La Salle University.

Dennis McGowan, CPA

In light of ongoing discussions around the critical audit matters (CAMs) communicated in PCAOB audit reports, the CAQ sought to better understand investors' understanding and use of CAMs. The results, institutional investors surveyed regularly use CAMs in their decision-making processes.
The...

In light of ongoing discussions around the critical audit matters (CAMs) communicated in PCAOB audit reports, <a href="http://thecaq.org/critical-audit-matters-survey-research-findings-q3-survey">the CAQ sought to better understand</a> investors' understanding and use of CAMs. The results, institutional investors surveyed regularly use CAMs in their decision-making processes.
<h3><strong>The Big Picture:</strong> <strong>What Are Critical Audit Matters (CAMs)?</strong></h3>
Taking a step back, CAMs are by definition any matter arising from the audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee. The matter must also be one that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex auditor judgment. CAMs enable auditors to communicate in their auditor’s report those matters that were especially challenging, subjective, or complex during the audit of a company’s financial statements.

Communicating CAMs in the auditor’s report enables auditors to communicate directly with the user of the report, and can bridge the information gap between auditors and investors, providing investors with more information about the audit, likely in areas that would be of particular interest to them.

[custom_quote text="CAMs enable auditors to communicate in their auditor’s report those matters that were especially challenging, subjective, or complex during the audit of a company’s financial statements."]
<h3><strong>Zooming In: Investors’ Use of CAMs:</strong></h3>
After five years of auditor reporting that includes CAMs, there is some debate over the success of the new model, but <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/critical-audit-matters-survey-research-findings-q3-survey">recent CAQ research</a> appears to indicate that some benefits have been achieved.

Our survey found that investor respondents had strong positive feedback regarding CAMs.
<ul>
 	<li>Nearly all (93%) investors surveyed indicated that they read the CAMs section in 10-Ks of companies they invest in or are researching, and 78% indicated that they do so often.</li>
 	<li>92% of respondents indicated that they use CAMs in their investment decision-making process</li>
 	<li>93% said that, considering all the sources of information available to them, CAMs play a very important (53%) or somewhat important (40%) role in their analysis of potential investments.</li>
 	<li>Additionally, nine in ten investors stated that they are very satisfied (48%) or somewhat satisfied (42%) with the quality and clarity of CAMs disclosed in most audit reports, with only 2% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction.</li>
</ul>
Of the small number that expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and clarity of CAMs, they indicated that the language used to describe CAMs is not clear or overly complicated.

While satisfaction levels were high according to the survey, investor respondents did have some suggestions for ways in which CAMs could be improved.

More than half (58%) of investors surveyed indicated that they prefer to see more CAMs identified in an auditor’s report; and when asked what changes to CAMs would benefit their investment decisions, approximately half of respondents shared that both increasing the number of CAMs (52%) and increasing the detail provided in CAMs (51%) would be beneficial. Twenty-five percent of respondents also felt that requiring CAMs related to specific audit areas would be advantageous, but there was no consensus regarding the specific areas in which required subject matter specific CAMs were desired.

When asked to rank which information related to CAMs respondents do or would find most important to their investment decisions, the most selected responses were the inherent risk associated with the CAM (50% of respondents ranked as 1 or 2) and the topic/area of the CAM (46% of respondents ranked as 1 or 2). This feedback was interesting, as the topic area of the CAM is something that is currently required to be disclosed, but the inherent risk associated with the CAM is not required and is not frequently included in auditor’s reports today.

The results of our survey suggest that CAMs are understood and provide value to investors. As one investor wrote, “I find audit transparency critical to assessing a company’s financial health. CAMs can reveal the most complex or judgmental areas of an audit, which helps me identify potential risk points.”

While CAMs will continue to evolve to meet investors’ information needs, it is gratifying to see evidence that the efforts of standard setters and auditors to increase transparency around the audit process with the communication of CAMs is benefiting the capital markets.

[custom_quote text="I find audit transparency critical to assessing a company’s financial health. CAMs can reveal the most complex or judgmental areas of an audit, which helps me identify potential risk points."]
<h3></h3>

Unveiling the Value of Critical Audit Matters (CAMs) for Investors

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Sproul, Becky 2020 (1)

Becky Sproul

Talent and Culture Officer – Audit, KPMG US

I’m Becky Sproul, Audit Talent and Culture Officer at KPMG US and I’m sharing how my background has shaped who I am today, personally and professionally. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanic...

I’m Becky Sproul, Audit Talent and Culture Officer at KPMG US and I’m sharing how my background has shaped who I am today, personally and professionally. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans while reflecting on the profound impact of our diverse backgrounds. As a first-generation Cuban American, I am grateful for my family's support in shaping the leader I am today, instilling me with strong values and fueling my passion for diversity and inclusion.
<h3><strong>Shaping leadership through family support
</strong></h3>
My cultural background has significantly influenced my educational and career journey, grounding me in the values of hard work, perseverance and family support. These values have been instrumental in my accounting career, where attention to detail is crucial for precision and accuracy. Moreover, my family's strong work ethic and the emphasis on integrity have become essential qualities in my professional life.

These factors have driven me to pursue higher education and excel in my accounting career, while also instilling in me a deep sense of responsibility to give back and create opportunities for others.

[custom_quote text="My family's strong work ethic and the emphasis on integrity have become essential qualities in my professional life."]
<h3><strong>Giving back to the Hispanic community
</strong></h3>
<img class=" wp-image-15450 alignright" src="https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024_09_AiA_Becky-Sproul.png" alt="" width="300" height="188" />In my accounting career, I have actively given back to the Hispanic community. I serve as an audit committee member for the United Way of Miami-Dade and as a board member of The PhD Project. I am also a member of the Business Dean’s Council at Florida International University. Through these roles, I am able to leverage my accounting skills to support organizations dedicated to serving and uplifting the Hispanic community.

I have experienced several proud moments in my career that have brought me immense joy. Being featured on ALPFA Inc's Latinas to Watch List has highlighted the impact I have made as a Latina professional. Additionally, my active involvement in the Hispanic/Latino Network (Somos KPMG) and the KPMG Network of Women has allowed me to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of diverse professionals. This reinforces the importance of representation and leadership within the Hispanic community.

[custom_quote text="Being featured on ALPFA Inc's Latinas to Watch List has highlighted the impact I have made as a Latina professional."]
<h3><strong>Overcoming challenges
</strong></h3>
Although I have achieved career success through conventional means, I have encountered challenges in balancing my cultural identity with the expectations and norms of a corporate environment. In addition, I found that at certain stages of my career, there was a lack of representation and role models that shared my background. However, through determination and perseverance, I have overcome biases and demonstrated my capabilities. These experiences have taught me the significance of resilience and self-advocacy in attaining success.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, let's embrace diversity in our communities and workplaces, working together to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Let's uplift and empower one another, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans every day, not just during this month.

[custom_quote text="Let's embrace diversity in our communities and workplaces, working together to create a more inclusive and equitable society."]

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing Diversity, Leadership and Community

Hosted by Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the Center for Audit Quality, Capital Markets Pulse dives into the latest key matters related to the capital markets featuring experts from across the corporate reporting world.

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Podcast | Capital Markets Pulse, Episode 9: Paul Munter

Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 7
Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from...

<h4>Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 7</h4>
<em>Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from leaders in the financial reporting ecosystem alongside resources developed to aid audit committees and public company board members. Stay tuned to this page for information about topics, participants, and how to register for upcoming webinars.</em>

<img class=" wp-image-12997 alignnone" src="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAQ_NACD_400x150.png" alt="CAQ NACD" width="200" height="75" />

In our initial AI 101 for Audit Committees <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/artificial-intelligence-ai-101-for-audit-committees">webinar</a>, we tackled how recent advancements, powered by the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, has captured the attention of corporate leaders around the world.  Corporate boards are focusing on better understanding the technology and establishing guardrails to ensure risks of information security, data quality, hallucinations, and other areas are appropriately managed.

Now, in the second of a 2-part series, speakers <a href="https://www.ey.com/en_us/people/richard-jackson">Richard Jackson</a> (Global Artificial Intelligence Assurance Leader, EY) and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrncirik/">Cory Hrncirik</a> (Modern Finance Lead, Microsoft) join us again with <a href="https://www.nacdonline.org/philadelphia/philadelphia-leadership/tom-petro/">Tom Petro</a> (Managing Partner, Capital Partners &amp; Audit Committee Member) to discuss how things have evolved in just the past 8 months.

We’ll discuss the evolving role of the audit committee, including oversight of both management and the external auditor. We’ll dive into such questions as:
<ul>
 	<li>Does the company have the requisite expertise to select, develop, deploy, and monitor genAI technologies?</li>
 	<li>Who (individual or group) in the company is responsible for oversight of the use of genAI?</li>
 	<li>Does the company have a process to track and monitor the use of genAI throughout the company, including use by third-party service providers?</li>
 	<li>What is the auditor’s understanding of the financial reporting implications of the company’s use of genAI technologies?</li>
 	<li>Does the company’s use of genAI technologies have a significant impact on the planned audit scope?</li>
 	<li>Has the auditor identified any fraud risks related to the company’s use of genAI technologies? How has the auditor addressed such risks in the audit?</li>
</ul>
<strong><em>Note</em></strong><em>: CPE available only to participants who joined the live webcast. </em>

<em>See the CAQ’s resources for more information: <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/caq_auditing-in-the-age-of-generative-ai__2024-04.pdf">Auditing in the Age of Generative AI</a> and  <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/ac-oversight-in-the-age-of-genai">Audit Committee Oversight in the Age of Generative AI</a>.</em>

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 101 For Audit Committees - Part II

Audit Committee

Webinar

Event

This hour-long webcast will showcase emerging issues facing public companies and their auditors. It will feature Christine Gunia, Director of the PCAOB’s Division of Registration and Inspections, and representatives from the public company auditing profession. Panelists will discuss PCAOB inspection...

This hour-long webcast will showcase emerging issues facing public companies and their auditors. It will feature Christine Gunia, Director of the PCAOB’s Division of Registration and Inspections, and representatives from the public company auditing profession. Panelists will discuss PCAOB inspection findings and areas of focus as well as audit firm best practices.

<em><strong>Note</strong>: CPE available only to participants who joined the live webcast.</em>

Audit Insider Webinar | October 2024

Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 6
Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from...

<h4>Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 6</h4>
<em>Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from leaders in the financial reporting ecosystem alongside resources developed to aid audit committees and public company board members. Stay tuned to this page for information about topics, participants, and how to register for upcoming webinars.</em>

<img class=" wp-image-12997 alignnone" src="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAQ_NACD_400x150.png" alt="CAQ NACD" width="200" height="75" />

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is essential for audit committee members, offering insights into identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that impact organizational objectives. Join the CAQ, NACD and our panel of experts for a discussion on how audit committees can fulfill their oversight responsibilities related to ERM through the lens of frameworks, regulatory expectations, and best practices for effective risk oversight. Participants will learn how to enhance risk reporting, improve decision-making, and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

<em><strong>Note</strong>: CPE available only to participants who joined the live webcast.</em>

Enterprise Risk Management for Audit Committees

This hour-long webcast will showcase regulatory and practice developments of interest to public companies and their auditors. Panelists include staff from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance and the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. Panelists...

This hour-long webcast will showcase regulatory and practice developments of interest to public companies and their auditors. Panelists include staff from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance and the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. Panelists will discuss comments issued on SEC filings and lessons learned from the 2023 reporting cycle. Panelists will also discuss the role of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, including the resources they offer small businesses and the firms that serve them.

<em><strong>Note</strong>: CPE available only to participants who joined the live webcast.</em>

Audit Insider Webinar | July 2024

Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 5
Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from...

<h4>Audit Committee Effectiveness: A Webinar Series | Episode 5</h4>
<em>Welcome to Audit Committee Effectiveness: a webinar series brought to you by the Center for Audit Quality and the National Association of Corporate Directors. The series explores key takeaways and insights from leaders in the financial reporting ecosystem alongside resources developed to aid audit committees and public company board members. Stay tuned to this page for information about topics, participants, and how to register for upcoming webinars.</em>

<img class=" wp-image-12997 alignnone" src="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CAQ_NACD_400x150.png" alt="CAQ NACD" width="200" height="75" />

Join us for a discussion about the <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/audit-committee-practices-report-2024">third edition of the Audit Committee Practices Report</a>, a collaboration between Deloitte’s Center for Board Effectiveness and the Center for Audit Quality. Based on survey findings, this webinar offers audit committee members and those who work with them an opportunity to hear about committee priorities, challenges, and opportunities, as well as leading practices around audit committee effectiveness.

<em><strong>Note</strong>: CPE available only to participants who joined the live webcast.</em>

2024 Audit Committee Practices Report Webinar

Washington, DC (November 18, 2024) – Today, the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) and Ideagen Audit Analytics – an Ideagen Solution, released the 11th iteration of the annual Audit Committee Transparency Barometer Report. The report, which has been conducted annually...

<strong>Washington, DC (November 18, 2024) – </strong>Today, the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) and Ideagen Audit Analytics – an Ideagen Solution, released the 11th iteration of the annual Audit Committee Transparency Barometer Report. The report, which has been conducted annually since 2014, analyzes audit committee disclosures of companies in the S&amp;P 1500.

Given audit committees face emerging risks and new areas of oversight responsibility, investors are interested in understanding the board’s composition and expertise. This years’ Barometer shows that disclosures related to expanded disclosure areas – particularly around audit committee oversight of and expertise in cybersecurity and ESG – have increased. Tracked for the first time, this year’s report also found that most boards are disclosing a skills matrix.

“The Transparency Barometer continues to provide insights into the deliberations of audit committees and how they exercise their expanding responsibilities,” said Michael Nohrden Vice President of Strategy for Ideagen. “It serves as an important tool for boards and the public to track and compare audit committee disclosures in the S&amp;P 1500.”

However, the report identifies several disclosure areas that have plateaued. These results demonstrate a continued opportunity for audit committees to enhance their disclosures on key matters to effectively tell their story.

“We continue to hear from investors that they would like more information – not boilerplate disclosures – around audit committees’ important responsibilities and processes,” said Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO, CAQ. “While we are pleased to see that audit committees are increasingly disclosing information about new oversight areas and their expertise, we hope they will take a fresh look and consider further enhancing their disclosures to ‘tell their story’ and the important work they do.”

Some key toplines of the report include:
<ul>
 	<li>The majority of S&amp;P 500 companies (85%) and S&amp;P midcap companies (75%) disclosed the board of directors’ skills matrix.</li>
 	<li>64% of S&amp;P 500 boards disclosed the audit committee is responsible for cybersecurity oversight while 34% of S&amp;P 500 boards disclosed the audit committee is responsible for oversight of ESG information.</li>
 	<li>60% of S&amp;P 500 boards disclosed they have a cybersecurity expert compared with 51% in 2023. ESG or sustainability expertise on the boards of S&amp;P 500 companies also increased by five percentage points since 2023 to 59%.</li>
 	<li>A plateau in disclosure rates was observed across several measures, including considerations in appointing or (re) appointing the external auditor, considerations of the length of tenure, and considerations around how the audit committee evaluates audit fees in relation to audit quality.</li>
</ul>
The full report is available to read <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/audit-committee-transparency-barometer">HERE</a>.

###

<strong>About the Center for Audit Quality</strong>

The CAQ champions the public interest in the capital markets by:
<ul>
 	<li>Elevating the quality, credibility, and transparency of public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Advancing critical issues affecting public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Driving innovation in assurance; and</li>
 	<li>Providing a collaborative forum for capital market stakeholders to address evolving needs and challenges.</li>
</ul>
As the voice of the public company audit profession, we work to instill trust in corporate reporting and the integrity of the auditing process, ultimately empowering investors, companies, and society as a whole.

<strong>About <u>Ideagen </u>Audit Analytics</strong><strong> – An Ideagen Solution</strong>

<u>Ideagen </u>Audit Analytics is an independent research provider that enables the accounting, legal, and investment communities to analyze auditor market intelligence, public company disclosure trends, and risk indicators. For more information, email <a href="mailto:info@auditanalytics.com">info@auditanalytics.com</a> or call 508-476-7007.

Annual Audit Committee Disclosure Barometer Finds Increase in Disclosure of Areas of Oversight and Expertise

Washington DC, October 30, 2024 – Going into 2025, a potential recession, ongoing inflation, and geopolitical instability are just some of the top concerns of audit partners and the companies they audit, according to the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ)...

<strong>Washington DC, October 30, 2024</strong> – Going into 2025, a potential recession, ongoing inflation, and geopolitical instability are just some of the top concerns of audit partners and the companies they audit, according to the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) most recent Audit Partner Pulse survey. The Audit Partner survey provides independent and objective perspectives on a range of topics, including economic risks and business transformation.

“Public company auditors are in every public company, of every size, in every industry, in the U.S.,” said Julie Bell Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, CAQ. “This breadth and depth provides public company audit partners with unique insights into how America’s businesses operate.”

Below are key findings from their observations.

<strong>Partners Neutral on the Economy Despite Perceived Risks </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>A potential recession is the largest economic risk factor audit partners foresee over the next 12 months, followed by regulations and geopolitical instability.</li>
 	<li>Despite the risks, audit partners' outlook for the U.S. economy over the next 12 months is trending neutral.</li>
 	<li>Auditors are less positive about inflation, with the majority believing it will continue to impact businesses in their primary industry sector for the next six to 12 months.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Businesses are Concerned for the U.S. Election </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>According to the audit partners, most businesses are concerned about the potential impact of the U.S. election on their financial performance over the next 12 months (65%).</li>
 	<li>Despite this, most public companies are not adjusting their business strategies and do not foresee direct disruptions to their business are a result of the election.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Labor Strategies Signal Mixed News for Workers </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>Audit partners report a significant shift in labor priorities, with labor shortages dropping down considerably among their list of economic risks.</li>
 	<li>According to the audit partners, upskilling employees is the top human capital action they are observing among companies in their industry sectors (66%).</li>
 	<li>However, this is closely followed by reducing headcount (59%) and decreasing workplace flexibility (51%).</li>
</ul>
<strong>Technology Shifts in AI and Cryptocurrency:  </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>The shift in labor strategies may be influenced by public companies' use of technology. According to the audit partners, process automation (62%), customer service (52%) and predictive analysis (34%) are all areas they see companies increasing their utilization of artificial intelligence (AI).</li>
 	<li>While the audit partners reported an increase in the use of AI, organizations appear to be losing interest in cryptocurrency, with most (83%) reporting that organizations in their industry sector have no exposure to it.</li>
</ul>
Download the report, <a href="http://www.thecaq.org/audit-partner-pulse-survey"><em>Fall 2024 CAQ Audit Partner Survey</em></a>, to access the full survey results.

<strong>About the Center for Audit Quality</strong>

The CAQ champions the public interest in the capital markets by:
<ul>
 	<li>Elevating the quality, credibility, and transparency of public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Advancing critical issues affecting public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Driving innovation in assurance; and</li>
 	<li>Providing a collaborative forum for capital market stakeholders to address evolving needs and challenges.</li>
 	<li>As the voice of the public company audit profession, we work to instill trust in corporate reporting and the integrity of the auditing process, ultimately empowering investors, companies, and society as a whole.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Contact:</strong>

Brad Jacklin

Director of Communications

Bjacklin@thecaq.org

(202) 494-9560

Audit Partners’ 2025 Economic Outlook Highlights Recession, U.S. Election Concerns

Press Releases

Company Management

Washington DC, September 26, 2024 – Kathleen Casey, Senior Advisor at Patomak Global Partners, a leading strategy, risk management, and compliance consultancy, joined the CAQ's Governing Board, effective September 26, 2024.

Casey brings decades of financial policy experience, previously serving as...

<strong>Washington DC, September 26, 2024</strong> – Kathleen Casey, Senior Advisor at Patomak Global Partners, a leading strategy, risk management, and compliance consultancy, joined the CAQ's Governing Board, effective September 26, 2024.

Casey brings decades of financial policy experience, previously serving as an SEC Commissioner from 2006 to 2011, where she acted as the SEC’s principal representative in multilateral and bilateral regulatory dialogues, the G-20 Financial Stability Board, and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). Casey focuses on financial markets policy, regulatory compliance and risk management, corporate governance, international regulatory developments, and enforcement in her current role.

“We’re pleased to welcome Kathy to the Board,” said Julie Bell Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, CAQ. “Her financial policy expertise will be invaluable to the CAQ and the public company audit profession as we navigate new standards and regulations that are arising as a result of the evolving corporate reporting landscape.”

“I’m pleased to join CAQ’s Governing Board and support their important efforts to advance the CAQ’s public interest objectives of enhancing the quality, credibility and transparency of public company audits,” said Casey. “I look forward to working with the Board to address topics vital to audit quality and the future of the profession."

The CAQ’s Governing Board is comprised of a variety of leaders representing the financial reporting ecosystem, including chief executive officers from some of the largest public company audit firms, the American Institute of CPAs, as well as independent board members from stakeholder communities.

+++

<strong>About the Center for Audit Quality
</strong>The CAQ champions the public interest in the capital markets by:
<ul>
 	<li>Elevating the quality, credibility, and transparency of public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Advancing critical issues affecting public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Driving innovation in assurance; and</li>
 	<li>Providing a collaborative forum for capital market stakeholders to address evolving needs and challenges.</li>
</ul>
As the voice of the public company audit profession, we work to instill trust in corporate reporting and the integrity of the auditing process, ultimately empowering investors, companies, and society as a whole.

<strong>Contact:</strong>
Brad Jacklin
Director of Communications
Bjacklin@thecaq.org
(202)-494-9560

Patomak Global Partners’ Kathleen Casey Joins CAQ Governing Board

Washington DC, June 17, 2024 – The CAQ Governing Board elected Brian Becker, Managing Partner and CEO, RSM US LLP (RSM), as the new Vice Chairman of the Governing Board, effective June 14, 2024.

Becker oversees the firm’s strategy and operations...

<strong>Washington DC</strong>, <strong>June 17, 2024</strong> – The CAQ Governing Board elected Brian Becker, Managing Partner and CEO, RSM US LLP (RSM), as the new Vice Chairman of the Governing Board, effective June 14, 2024.

Becker oversees the firm’s strategy and operations across four countries—the United States, Canada, El Salvador and India. Becker is driving RSM to become a digital firm and is committed to advancing the firm’s inclusive culture, as well as to continuing its longstanding history of stewardship.

“With his extensive experience and long-standing dedication to the profession, Brian will be essential to the CAQ as we work to instill trust in corporate reporting and the integrity of the auditing process,” said Julie Bell Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Audit Quality.

“In this time of accelerating change for the auditing profession, the CAQ’s mission of enhancing trust and transparency is more important than ever,” said Becker. “I look forward to continuing to serve on the Board in the role of Vice Chair as we address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Becker succeeds Wayne Berson, Chief Executive Officer, BDO USA and Chairman, BDO International. “I also want to extend our gratitude to Wayne for his time and energy as Vice Chair of our Governing Board since 2019. With his vision and leadership, Wayne has been an essential driver of our goals and commitment to strengthening the work of public company auditors,” said Lindsay.

The CAQ’s Governing Board is comprised of a variety of leaders representing the financial reporting ecosystem, including chief executive officers from some of the largest public company audit firms, the American Institute of CPAs, as well as independent board members from investor, board member and issuer communities.

<strong>About the Center for Audit Quality
</strong>
The CAQ champions the public interest in the capital markets by:
<ul>
 	<li>Elevating the quality, credibility, and transparency of public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Advancing critical issues affecting public company audits;</li>
 	<li>Driving innovation in assurance; and</li>
 	<li>Providing a collaborative forum for capital market stakeholders to address evolving needs and challenges.</li>
</ul>
As the voice of the public company audit profession, we work to instill trust in corporate reporting and the integrity of the auditing process, ultimately empowering investors, companies, and society as a whole.

<strong>Contact:</strong>
Brad Jacklin
Director of Communications
Bjacklin@thecaq.org
(202)-494-9560

RSM CEO Brian Becker Elected as New Vice Chair of CAQ Governing Board

Preparers/Issuers

Washington DC, April 2, 2024 – Paul Knopp, KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO, has been elected Chair of the CAQ’s Governing Board, effective April 1, 2024.

The CAQ’s Governing Board is comprised of a variety of leaders representing the financial reporting...

<strong>Washington DC, April 2, 2024 – </strong>Paul Knopp, KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO, has been elected Chair of the CAQ’s Governing Board, effective April 1, 2024.

The CAQ’s Governing Board is comprised of a variety of leaders representing the financial reporting ecosystem, including chief executive officers from some of the largest public company audit firms, the American Institute of CPAs, as well as independent board members from investor, board member and issuer communities. The Governing Board oversees the CAQ’s strategic agenda and activities.

“The financial reporting landscape is constantly evolving, creating new challenges and opportunities for the public company audit profession,” said Julie Bell Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, CAQ. “With his extensive experience serving large, multinational clients as an audit partner and his leadership and long-standing dedication to the profession as the Chair and CEO at KPMG,  Paul will be essential to the CAQ as we fulfill our mission of supporting high-quality financial reporting, convening capital market stakeholders to advance discussions on audit quality issues and championing policies and standards that bolster and support audits.”

“With rapidly emerging technologies such as generative AI, new corporate reporting areas including new climate disclosure rules and a need to strengthen the talent pipeline for the future, now is a transformative time for the public company audit profession,” said Knopp. “I look forward to supporting the CAQ in executing their strategic agenda and supporting the profession as it embraces the future of financial reporting while maintaining a laser focus on investor protection through high-quality audits.”

Knopp succeeds Tim Ryan, US Senior Partner at PwC. “Tim has been instrumental in leading the CAQ to help address some of the most important issues impacting our profession, from the talent pipeline to helping the profession lead the way in emerging areas of corporate reporting like climate and cybersecurity,” said Lindsay.

<strong>About the Center for Audit Quality</strong>

The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is a nonpartisan public policy organization serving as the voice of US public company auditors and matters related to the audits of public companies. The CAQ promotes high-quality performance by US public company auditors; convenes capital market stakeholders to advance the discussion of critical issues affecting audit quality, US public company reporting, and investor trust in the capital markets; and using independent research and analyses, champions policies and standards that bolster and support the effectiveness and responsiveness of US public company auditors and audits to dynamic market conditions.

KPMG U.S. Chair and CEO Paul Knopp to Helm CAQ’s Governing Board

Beginning in 2014, the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ), together with Audit Analytics – an Ideagen solution, has annually analyzed public company audit committee disclosures of companies in the Standard &amp; Poor’s (S&amp;P) Composite 1500 (S&amp;P 1500), which is comprised...

2024 Audit Committee Transparency Barometer

Publications

On November 5, 2024, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) updated their standard setting and rulemaking agendas. This comment letter is in response to proposed projects. Read the full comment letter here....

On November 5, 2024, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) updated their standard setting and rulemaking agendas. This comment letter is in response to proposed projects. Read the full comment letter <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CAQ_PCAOB_Comment-Letter_Dockets-41_51_55.pdf">here</a>.

CAQ Comment Letter in Response to PCAOB Updates to Standard-Setting and Rulemaking Agendas

Comment Letter

As part of the Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) ongoing effort to keep members and stakeholders informed on significant public policy and accounting matters, we are pleased to offer the Public Policy and Technical Alert (PPTA). Each month, the PPTA...

Public Policy and Technical Alert | October 2024

Newsletter

PPTA

Welcome to another edition of Capital Markets Pulse, a monthly newsletter from the Center for Audit Quality that brings you insights, resources, and tools on the latest issues impacting the capital markets

It’s a significant week in Washington as we are...

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-13866" src="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Header_JBL_1200x400_600x200_FINAL_Website.png" alt="Capital Markets Pulse with Julie Bell Lindsay" width="650" height="163" />

<strong>Welcome to another edition of Capital Markets Pulse</strong>, a monthly newsletter from the Center for Audit Quality that brings you insights, resources, and tools on the latest issues impacting the capital markets

It’s a significant week in Washington as we are just a few days out from knowing the outcome of the US election (we hope). To that end, the CAQ recently released our annual Audit Partner Survey to better understand how businesses are preparing for the election and taking its potential impact into account in their business strategies. Read on for these results and other audit partner insights on the economy in 2025.

I also recently had a great conversation with Sam Ross, the Founder of AssuranceMark, the Investors Consortium for Assurance, on several topics, including the value of assurance in our markets. The perspectives we discussed on these topics were shared during an investor-auditor dialogue the CAQ hosts periodically with AssuranceMark on various topics of mutual interest to investors and public company auditors.

The past several weeks have featured many notable updates for the public company audit profession. On the regulatory front, the SEC approved a significant PCAOB standard on firm systems of quality control, while the IAASB approved its final standard on sustainability assurance. The PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group (IAG) also held a public meeting, topics of which included private equity and accounting firm structures.

Finally, the AICPA announced a successor to Barry Melancon, the long-standing CEO of the AICPA. The CAQ has worked closely with Barry over the years on key issues impacting the public company audit profession. We’re grateful for his many years of service to the profession.

I am incredibly proud of the work the CAQ team does on behalf of public company audit firms and the capital markets. Read on for what’s on my radar.

<em>Please note that these perspectives are my own. If this email was forwarded to you, <a href="https://go.thecaq.org/l/834983/2020-04-22/fskb">subscribe here</a> so that you never miss a public company auditing update. </em> ​​​
<h2>CAQ Updates</h2>
<h3><strong>Latest Audit Partner Survey Reveals Recession Concerns, Labor Shifts </strong></h3>
The CAQ has released the results of our latest biannual audit partner survey, which provides independent and objective perspectives on a range of topics, including economic risks and business transformation. Going into 2025, a potential recession, ongoing inflation, and geopolitical instability are just some of the top concerns of audit partners and the companies they audit.

Below are a few key findings:

<strong>Partners Neutral on the Economy Despite Perceived Risks  </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>A potential recession is the largest economic risk factor audit partners foresee over the next 12 months, followed by regulations and geopolitical instability.</li>
 	<li>Despite the risks, audit partners' outlook for the US economy over the next 12 months is trending neutral.</li>
 	<li>Auditors are less positive about inflation, with the majority believing it will continue to impact businesses in their primary industry sector for the next six to 12 months.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Businesses are Concerned About Potential Election Impact </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>According to the audit partners, most businesses are concerned about the potential impact of the US election on their financial performance over the next 12 months (65%).</li>
 	<li>​​​​​Despite this, most public companies are not adjusting their business strategies and do not foresee direct disruptions to their business are a result of the election.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Labor Strategies Signal Mixed News for Workers  </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>Audit partners report a significant shift in labor priorities, with labor shortages dropping down considerably among their list of economic risks.</li>
 	<li>According to the audit partners, upskilling employees is the top human capital action they are observing among companies in their industry sectors (66%).</li>
 	<li>However, this is closely followed by reducing headcount (59%) and decreasing workplace flexibility (51%).</li>
</ul>
<strong>Technology Shifts in AI and Cryptocurrency  </strong>
<ul>
 	<li>The shift in labor strategies may be influenced by public companies' use of technology. According to the audit partners, process automation (62%), customer service (52%) and predictive analysis (34%) are all areas they see companies increasing their utilization of artificial intelligence (AI).</li>
 	<li>​​​​While the audit partners reported an increase in the use of AI, organizations appear to be losing interest in cryptocurrency, with most (83%) reporting that organizations in their industry sector have no exposure to it.</li>
</ul>
Download the report, <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/audit-partner-pulse-survey"><em>Fall 2024 CAQ Audit Partner Survey</em></a>, to access the full survey results.
<h3><strong>Accounting+ Launches “The Bottom Line” Podcast </strong></h3>
Accounting+ has launched a new podcast hosted by two college accounting students that features real-world accountants in conversation about everything students need to know to level up in their career journey. Tune in to the first two episodes:
<ul>
 	<li><strong><a href="https://www.joinaccountingplus.com/podcast">Episode 1: Intro to Accounting: Could it Be for Me?</a></strong>
<ul>
 	<li>In this episode, the hosts discuss the benefits, necessary skills, and common misconceptions about the accounting field.</li>
</ul>
</li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.joinaccountingplus.com/podcast"><strong>Episode 2: Accounting Skills to Uplift Your Community</strong></a>
<ul>
 	<li>In this episode, the hosts discuss how accounting skills play a critical role in supporting social impact and sustaining communities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>CAQ Attends EVERFI’s IMPACT Summit</strong></h3>
In September, the CAQ attended EVERFI from Blackbaud’s Impact Summit where our VP of Talent and Operations, Liz Barentzen, discussed with Ellen Patterson, EVERFI’s CEO, how in this ever-evolving global economy, fostering a diverse talent pipeline is crucial for innovation and progress.

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://go.thecaq.org/l/834983/2024-10-31/3np42w/834983/17303849315IF98S59/Ellen_and_Liz_1.jpeg" width="400" height="267" />

<strong>ICYMI: </strong>In September we issued our 2023-2024 School Year Impact Report. Highlights include:
<ul>
 	<li>During the 2023-2024 school year, Accounting Careers: Limitless Opportunities reached over 80,000 learners from all 50 states.</li>
 	<li>After the course, 70% of students said accounting skills are very or extremely valuable compared to 57% of students before the course.</li>
 	<li>Widespread adoption of the program by educators, with 5,600 educators incorporating program materials into their instruction.</li>
</ul>
Read the full report <a href="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CAQ-EVERFI-IMPACT-REPORT_FINAL_2024.pdf">here</a>.
<h3><strong>CAQ Observes Hispanic Heritage Month with KPMG’s Becky Sproul</strong></h3>
In a new Audit in Action blog, KPMG US’s Audit Talent and Culture Officer, Becky Sproul, shares how her background as a Cuban American has shaped who she is personally and professionally. She reflects on Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Read the blog: <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/celebrating-hispanic-heritage-month">Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing Diversity, Leadership and Community</a>.

&nbsp;

<img class="wp-image-14496 aligncenter" src="https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Header_JBL_1200x400_600x200_PODCAST_V2.png" alt="" width="600" height="150" />
<h2>Discussing Investor Perspectives on the Value of Assurance, Audit Committee Oversight, and the Final SEC Climate Rule</h2>
In the latest episode of Capital Markets Pulse, I met with Sam Ross, Founder of AssuranceMark, the Investors Consortium for Assurance, to discuss investor perspectives and expectations regarding the value of assurance, audit committee oversight and disclosures, and the final SEC climate rule.

The following are a few highlights from Sam during our discussion:
<ul>
 	<li><strong>On a finding from the CAQ’s research describing assurance as an “outdated tool”: </strong>As you said, your survey found 43% of institutional investors said that this sentiment resonated with them. You asked if this aligned. No, it did not. Investors during the roundtable expressed surprise at the idea of the audit being outdated…there was acknowledgement that there has been audit failures over the years and there is more work to do on audit quality and financial statements generally. Those kinds of issues popping up in the press can degrade confidence.</li>
 	<li><strong>On skepticism about the value of assurance: </strong>What we heard is that auditors need to show they’re working effectively to address the weaknesses that have been exposed. They need to show that they can really get a handle on setting the right incentives to serve markets and they have to reduce deficiency rates and establish cultures that demonstrably challenge poor reporting, aggressive reporting, aggressive estimates, weak controls over the preparation of data investors use and other problems. They need to be seen as standing for transparency.</li>
 	<li><strong>On the role of the audit committee: </strong>The key here too is transparency. What I find very important about the audit committee is investors see them as the committee representing the company and its relationship with the capital markets and investors. Audit committees do have a role in overseeing financial management and overseeing the development of financial reporting. That’s critical to investors because that financial reporting is the communication to investors. But investors also see the audit committees’ role as building trust in overall communication to the capital markets…they want to see that the audit committee is on top of all the different risks and statements that the company makes on various topics throughout the year. They want to see that the audit committee therefore is championing high-quality audits.</li>
</ul>
Listen to the <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/podcast-capital-markets-pulse-episode-10">podcast here</a>.

Be sure to subscribe to the latest episodes on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0Eom56jIKUbXXufaJ98yBX">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capital-markets-pulse/id1690673211">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8yMTkyMjg2LnJzcw==">Google Podcasts</a>, or <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a9d37ab7-2e09-4ce9-93a5-bc0399d25fae">Amazon Music</a>.

&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-13867" src="https://thecaq.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Header_JBL_1200x400_600x200_RADAR-1024x256.png" alt="On my radar" width="600" height="150" />
<h2>Profession Updates</h2>
<h3><strong>PCAOB’s September IAG Meeting Focuses on Audit Committee Engagement, Critical Audit Matters</strong></h3>
In late September, the PCAOB’s Investor Advisory Group (IAG) held <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/comment-letter-pcaob-fem-and-frp-supplemental-data-from-ac-members-and-investors">a day-long meeting</a> with several panels focused on areas of investor interest such as audit committee engagement, private equity and firm structure, cybersecurity and critical audit matters (CAMs).

The panel on audit committee and investor engagement specifically focused on company and audit committee responses to the PCAOB’s <a href="https://pcaobus.org/oversight/standards/standard-setting-research-projects/firm-and-engagement-metrics"><em>Firm and Engagement Metrics</em></a> proposal. Theo Bunting, a member of the CAQ’s Audit Committee Council, shared insights from the <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/comment-letter-pcaob-fem-and-frp-supplemental-data-from-ac-members-and-investors">CAQ’s research</a> on how investors and audit committees can better engage.

During the panel on critical audit matters (CAMs), which is on the PCAOB’s research agenda, the PCAOB cited <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/caq_cams-survey-research-findings-q3-survey_2024-07.pdf">CAQ research</a> demonstrating investor support for this information. Specifically, the survey found that ninety-two percent of investors said they use CAMs, while a combined 90% responded they are very or somewhat satisfied with the quality and clarity of CAMs.

The full event can be <a href="https://pcaobus.org/news-events/events/event-details/pcaob-investor-advisory-group-meeting-september-2024">watched here</a>.
<h3><strong>SEC Approves Quality Control Standard</strong></h3>
The SEC recently <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024-119">approved</a> the PCAOB’s QC 1000, <em>A Firm’s System of Quality Control</em>. The standard modernizes the existing standard and will require all PCAOB-registered public accounting firms to identify specific risks to audit quality and design a quality control system that includes appropriate responses to guard against those risks.  The standard was supported by SEC Commissioners, including <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/gensler-statement-qc1000-090924">Chair Gary Gensler </a>and Commissioners <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/lizarraga-statement-qc1000-090924">Jaime Lizárraga</a> and <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/crenshaw-statement-qc1000-090924">Caroline Crenshaw</a>, who all highlighted how the adoption of QC 1000 will help audit firms design and implement more effective systems. The other commissioners, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/peirce-statement-qc1000-090924">Hester Peirce</a> and <a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/speeches-statements/uyeda-statement-qc1000-090924">Mark Uyeda</a>, did not support adoption, both expressing concerns that more feedback and engagement were needed prior to adopting a final standard.

PCAOB Chair Erica Williams <a href="https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/chair-williams-statement-on-sec-approval-of-new-pcaob-quality-control-standard">expressed her gratitude</a> to the PCAOB for adopting the standard, stating, “the new standard represents a major step forward for the Board’s strategic goal to modernize standards, given that the PCAOB’s current QC standards were developed and issued by the accounting profession before the PCAOB was established in 2002.”

Leading up to the SEC’s approval, the CAQ encouraged the PCAOB to move forward expeditiously with updating the US quality control standard to, in part, bring it up to date with the international standard. However, in our <a href="https://www.thecaq.org/comment-letter-sec-qc-1000-a-firms-system-of-quality-control-and-other-amendments-to-pcaob-standards-rules-and-forms">comment letter</a> to the SEC we expressed specific concerns about the External Quality Control Function (EQCF) aspect of the PCAOB’s final standard. QC 1000 will take effect on Dec. 15, 2025.
<h3><strong>IAASB Approves Sustainability Assurance Standard</strong></h3>
In September, the IAASB approved International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000, <em>General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements</em>. The standard will replace ISAE 3000 (Revised), currently <a href="https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/dec/aicpa-comments-on-proposed-standard-sustainability-assurance.html">used by 99% </a>of the world’s largest audit firms, as the global framework for providing assurance of sustainability disclosures.

The standard-setting body expects to "share final language before the end of the month and formally publish by the end of the year".

Remaining on the IAASB’s agenda in the near term is finalizing its fraud and going concern standards – also both on the PCAOB’s standard setting agenda.
<h3><strong>Firms Announce Support for Alternative Pathways to CPA Licensure</strong></h3>
Over the past month, several firms, including KPMG, EY, PwC and Deloitte have indicated their support for alternative pathways to CPA licensure, including a 120-credit hour alternative (with two years of experience) and “automatic” mobility. KPMG’s CEO, Paul Knopp, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/3f1db452-afaa-465e-beb0-666045f8e73e">said of the decision</a>, “I can’t over-emphasize, it’s not just the Big Four. We need more accountants in corporations and outside of the Big Four. The industry that we are in is systemically important to the functioning of the capital markets.”

<a href="https://www.thecaq.org/increasing-diversity-in-the-accounting-profession-pipeline">CAQ research</a> demonstrates that the existing licensure model is a barrier to students in pursuing a career in accounting, particularly for students of color. We are pleased to see public company audit firms’ and other stakeholders, <a href="https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2024/jul/pipeline-plan-of-action-read-the-accounting-talent-strategy-report.html">including the AICPA</a>, exploring avenues that can make the profession more attainable for students.
<h3><strong>AICPA Announces Barry Melancon’s Successor </strong></h3>
The AICPA recently <a href="https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2024/oct/mark-koziel-to-become-ceo-of-the-association-of-international-certified-professional-accountants.html#:~:text=The%20appointment%20comes%20after%20a,2025%2C%20after%20a%20transition%20period.">announced</a> that Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, will helm AICPA &amp; CIMA as the CEO starting January 1, 2025. Mark will be the successor to Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the longest-serving CEO in AICPA history.

&nbsp;

<hr />

<h3 style="text-align: center;">Julie Bell Lindsay</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Chief Executive Officer, CAQ</em></p>

Capital Markets Pulse | October 2024

Auditor Independence

The Center for Audit Quality’s (CAQ) Audit Partner Pulse Survey, now in its third year, asked audit partners at the country’s leading public company audit firms about their views on the current business environment in the United States. Topics covered...

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