15 USC 7214 - Inspections of registered public accounting firms

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 28, 2024

§ 7214.

Inspections of registered public accounting firms

(a)

In general

(1)

Inspections generally

(2)

Inspections of audit reports for brokers and dealers

(A)

The Board may, by rule, conduct and require a program of inspection in accordance with paragraph (1), on a basis to be determined by the Board, of registered public accounting firms that provide one or more audit reports for a broker or dealer. The Board, in establishing such a program, may allow for differentiation among classes of brokers and dealers, as appropriate.

(B)

If the Board determines to establish a program of inspection pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Board shall consider in establishing any inspection schedules whether differing schedules would be appropriate with respect to registered public accounting firms that issue audit reports only for one or more brokers or dealers that do not receive, handle, or hold customer securities or cash or are not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

(C)

Any rules of the Board pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to prior approval by the Commission pursuant to section 7217(b) of this title before the rules become effective, including an opportunity for public notice and comment.

(D)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 7212 of this title, a public accounting firm shall not be required to register with the Board if the public accounting firm is exempt from the inspection program which may be established by the Board under subparagraph (A).

(b)

Inspection frequency

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), inspections required by this section shall be conducted—

(A)

annually with respect to each registered public accounting firm that regularly provides audit reports for more than 100 issuers; and

(B)

not less frequently than once every 3 years with respect to each registered public accounting firm that regularly provides audit reports for 100 or fewer issuers.

(2)

Adjustments to schedules

(c)

Procedures

The Board shall, in each inspection under this section, and in accordance with its rules for such inspections—

(1)

identify any act or practice or omission to act by the registered public accounting firm, or by any associated person thereof, revealed by such inspection that may be in violation of this Act, the rules of the Board, the rules of the Commission, the firm’s own quality control policies, or professional standards;

(2)

report any such act, practice, or omission, if appropriate, to the Commission and each appropriate State regulatory authority; and

(3)

begin a formal investigation or take disciplinary action, if appropriate, with respect to any such violation, in accordance with this Act and the rules of the Board.

(d)

Conduct of inspections

In conducting an inspection of a registered public accounting firm under this section, the Board shall—

(1)

inspect and review selected audit and review engagements of the firm (which may include audit engagements that are the subject of ongoing litigation or other controversy between the firm and 1 or more third parties), performed at various offices and by various associated persons of the firm, as selected by the Board;

(2)

evaluate the sufficiency of the quality control system of the firm, and the manner of the documentation and communication of that system by the firm; and

(3)

perform such other testing of the audit, supervisory, and quality control procedures of the firm as are necessary or appropriate in light of the purpose of the inspection and the responsibilities of the Board.

(e)

Record retention

(f)

Procedures for review

(g)

Report

A written report of the findings of the Board for each inspection under this section, subject to subsection (h), shall be—

(1)

transmitted, in appropriate detail, to the Commission and each appropriate State regulatory authority, accompanied by any letter or comments by the Board or the inspector, and any letter of response from the registered public accounting firm; and

(2)

made available in appropriate detail to the public (subject to section 7215(b)(5)(A) of this title, and to the protection of such confidential and proprietary information as the Board may determine to be appropriate, or as may be required by law), except that no portions of the inspection report that deal with criticisms of or potential defects in the quality control systems of the firm under inspection shall be made public if those criticisms or defects are addressed by the firm, to the satisfaction of the Board, not later than 12 months after the date of the inspection report.

(h)

Interim Commission review

(1)

Reviewable matters

A registered public accounting firm may seek review by the Commission, pursuant to such rules as the Commission shall promulgate, if the firm—

(A)

has provided the Board with a response, pursuant to rules issued by the Board under subsection (f), to the substance of particular items in a draft inspection report, and disagrees with the assessments contained in any final report prepared by the Board following such response; or

(B)

disagrees with the determination of the Board that criticisms or defects identified in an inspection report have not been addressed to the satisfaction of the Board within 12 months of the date of the inspection report, for purposes of subsection (g)(2).

(2)

Treatment of review

(3)

Timing

(i)

Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections

(1)

Definitions

In this subsection—

(A)

the term “covered issuer” means an issuer that is required to file reports under section 78m or 78o(d) of this title; and

(B)

the term “non-inspection year” means, with respect to a covered issuer, a year—

(i)

during which the Commission identifies the covered issuer under paragraph (2)(A) with respect to every report described in subparagraph (A) filed by the covered issuer during that year; and

(ii)

that begins after December 18, 2020.

(2)

Disclosure to Commission

The Commission shall—

(A)

identify each covered issuer that, with respect to the preparation of the audit report on the financial statement of the covered issuer that is included in a report described in paragraph (1)(A) filed by the covered issuer, retains a registered public accounting firm that has a branch or office that—

(i)

is located in a foreign jurisdiction; and

(ii)

the Board is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, as determined by the Board; and

(B)

require each covered issuer identified under subparagraph (A) to, in accordance with the rules issued by the Commission under paragraph (4), submit to the Commission documentation that establishes that the covered issuer is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in the foreign jurisdiction described in subparagraph (A)(i).

(3)

Trading prohibition after 2 years of non-inspections

(A)

In general

If the Commission determines that a covered issuer has 2 consecutive non-inspection years, the Commission shall prohibit the securities of the covered issuer from being traded—

(i)

on a national securities exchange; or

(ii)

through any other method that is within the jurisdiction of the Commission to regulate, including through the method of trading that is commonly referred to as the “over-the-counter” trading of securities.

(B)

Removal of initial prohibition

(C)

Recurrence of non-inspection years

If, after the Commission ends a prohibition under subparagraph (B) or (D) with respect to a covered issuer, the Commission determines that the covered issuer has a non-inspection year, the Commission shall prohibit the securities of the covered issuer from being traded—

(i)

on a national securities exchange; or

(ii)

(D)

Removal of subsequent prohibition

(4)

Rules

(Pub. L. 107–204, title I, § 104, July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 757; Pub. L. 111–203, title IX, § 982(e)(1), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1929; Pub. L. 116–222, § 2, Dec. 18, 2020, 134 Stat. 1063; Pub. L. 117–328, div. AA, title III, § 301, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5536.)

cite as: 15 USC 7214