Auditor enforcement cases fell sharply in 2025 as their US regulator prepared for new leadership and an agenda reset.
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board brought 37 auditor disciplinary actions last year while the financial penalties it imposed plunged by half to around $17.6 million, according to a Cornerstone Research report released Wednesday. The watchdog finalized the majority of those cases before former PCAOB Chair Erica Williams was forced out last July and replaced by an acting chair, the research found.
In comparison, the board brought 51 actions ...