Accounting Regulator Had Climate of Fear and Distrust, Report Says

Link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/accounting-regulator-had-climate-of-fear-and-distrust-report-says-11624918488

Excerpt:

The January report by former SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt lays bare deep divisions within the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which oversees the audits of companies valued in total at trillions of dollars.

It also alleges organizational dysfunction. There were no records documenting the rationale for several staff firings, and confusion about the roles of the PCAOB’s board members has “created some dysfunctional behavior” by them, the report found.

Current SEC Chairman Gary Gensler this month ousted William Duhnke as PCAOB chairman and is replacing the rest of the five-member board.

A PCAOB spokeswoman didn’t return a request for comment. An SEC spokesman declined to comment. Mr. Duhnke said he hasn’t seen the report and cannot comment on it.

Author(s): Jean Eaglesham, Dave Michaels

Publication Date: 28 June 2021

Publication Site: WSJ