[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 114 (Thursday, June 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33487-33490]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13274]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Draft Report Addendum of the Advisory Committee on the Auditing 
Profession

AGENCY: Office of the Undersecretary for Domestic Finance, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession is 
publishing a Draft Report Addendum and soliciting public comment.

DATES: Comments should be received on or before July 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the Advisory Committee by any 
of the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Department's Internet submission form (http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/comments); or

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Advisory Committee on 
the Auditing Profession, Office of Financial Institutions Policy, Room 
1418, Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20220.
    In general, the Department will post all comments on its Web site 
(http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/comments) without 
change, including any business or personal information provided such as 
names, addresses, e-mail addresses, or telephone numbers. The 
Department will also make such comments available for public inspection 
and copying in the Department's Library, Room 1428, Main Department 
Building, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220, on 
official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern 
Time. You can make an appointment to inspect comments by telephoning 
(202) 622-0990. All comments, including attachments and other 
supporting materials, received are part of the public record and 
subject to public disclosure. You should submit only information that 
you wish to make available publicly.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen E. Jaconi, Senior Policy 
Advisor to the Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, Department of the 
Treasury, Main Department Building, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20220, at (202) 927-6618.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: At the request of the two Co-Chairs of the 
Department of the Treasury's Advisory Committee on the Auditing 
Profession, the Department is publishing this notice soliciting public 
comment on the Advisory Committee's Draft Report Addendum. The text of 
this Draft Report Addendum is found in the appendix to this notice and 
may be found on the Web page of the Advisory Committee at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/index.shtml. The Draft 
Report Addendum seeks comments on a variety of issues impacting the 
sustainability of a strong and vibrant public company auditing 
profession. All interested parties are invited to submit their comments 
in the manner described above.

    Dated: June 6, 2008.
Taiya Smith,
Executive Secretary.

Appendix: Advisory Committee on the Auditing Profession

Draft Report Addendum--June 3, 2008

The Department of the Treasury

Addendum to VI. Firm Structure and Finances

Auditor's Report

    Recommendation: Urge the PCAOB to undertake a standard-setting 
initiative to consider improvements to the auditor's reporting 
model.

[[Page 33488]]

    The auditor's report is the primary means by which the auditor 
communicates to the users of financial statements regarding its 
audit of financial statements. The standard auditor's report, not 
much altered since the 1930s,\1\ identifies the financial statements 
audited, the scope and nature of the audit, the general 
responsibilities of the auditor and management, and the auditor's 
opinion.\2\ In addition, for companies subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act's internal control requirements, the auditor's report includes 
an attestation as to internal control over financial reporting.\3\ 
The auditor's opinion on the financial statements states whether 
these statements present fairly, in all material respects, a 
company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows 
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.\4\
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    \1\ For a historical analysis of the evolution of the auditor's 
report, see George Cochrane, The Auditor's Report: Its Evolution in 
the U.S.A., in Perspectives in Auditing 16 (D.R. Carmichael and John 
J. Willingham 2d. ed. 1975).
    \2\ Reports on Audited Financial Statements, Interim Auditing 
Standard AU Section 508.08 (Pub. Company Accounting Oversight Bd. 
2002).
    \3\ An Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting That 
Is Integrated with an Audit of Financial Statements, Auditing 
Standard No. 5, para. 85 (Pub. Company Accounting Oversight Bd. 
2007).
    \4\ Reports on Audited Financial Statements, Interim Auditing 
Standard AU Section 508.07-.08 (Pub. Company Accounting Oversight 
Bd. 2002).
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    Many consider the auditor's reporting model a pass/fail model 
because the auditor opines whether the statements are fairly 
presented (pass) or not (fail).\5\ Some believe this pass/fail model 
with its standardized wording does not adequately reflect the amount 
of auditor work and judgment.
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    \5\ Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing Advisory 
Group Meeting Briefing Paper: Auditor's Reporting Model 3 (Feb. 16, 
2005).
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    Over thirty years ago, the Commission on Auditors' 
Responsibilities (Cohen Commission) made a simple observation: ``For 
the largest corporations in the country, an audit may involve scores 
of auditors and tens of thousands of hours of work for which the 
client may pay millions of dollars. Nevertheless, the auditor's 
standard report compresses that considerable expenditure of skilled 
effort into a relatively few words and paragraphs.'' \6\ The Cohen 
Commission then called for an expansion of the auditor's report to 
include a report not merely on the financial statements, but 
covering the entire audit function.\7\ The Cohen Commission reasoned 
that this new more comprehensive information would benefit users, 
but also clarify the role and, consequently, the legal standing of 
the auditor in relation to the audit.\8\
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    \6\ Commission on Auditors' Responsibilities, Report, 
Conclusions, and Recommendations 71 (1978).
    \7\ Commission on Auditors' Responsibilities, Report, 
Conclusions, and Recommendations 75 (1978).
    \8\ Commission on Auditors' Responsibilities, Report, 
Conclusions, and Recommendations 75-76 (1978).
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    In 1987, the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial 
Reporting (Treadway Commission) recommended that the standard 
auditor's report more clearly identify the auditor's 
responsibilities, the degree to which users can rely on the audit, 
and the limitations on the audit process.\9\ The Treadway Commission 
aimed to reaffirm that management has ``primary responsibility for 
financial statements'' and to caution users of financial statements 
from placing more than ``reasonable'' assurance on the audit 
process.
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    \9\ National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Report, Report 
of the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting (Oct. 
1987).
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    More recently, the American Assembly called for differing 
attestation standards for different parts of the financial 
statements, depending on the amount of uncertainty and judgment 
required in making certain determinations.\10\ In addition, a 
February 2008 CFA Institute survey indicated that 80% of its member 
respondents believe that the auditor's report should provide 
specific information about how the auditor reached its opinion.\11\ 
A majority of survey respondents thought it was very important to 
have the auditors identify key risk areas, significant changes in 
risk exposures, and amounts either involving a high degree of 
uncertainty in measurement and significant assumptions or requiring 
a higher level of professional judgment.\12\
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    \10\ American Assembly, The Future of the Accounting Profession 
12-13 (Nov. 13-15, 2003); American Assembly, The Future of the 
Accounting Profession: Auditor Concentration 21 (May 23, 2005).
    \11\ CFA Institute, February 2008 Monthly Question Results (Feb. 
2008), available at http://www.cfainstitute.org/memresources/monthlyquestion/2008/february.html.
    \12\ CFA Institute, February 2008 Monthly Question Results (Feb. 
2008), available at http://www.cfainstitute.org/memresources/monthlyquestion/2008/february.html.
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    In 2005, the PCAOB's Standing Advisory Group (SAG), which 
advises the PCAOB on the establishment of auditing and related 
professional practice standards, considered whether the auditor's 
report should include more information relating to the auditor's 
judgments regarding financial reporting quality.\13\ The SAG also 
considered whether required auditor communications to audit 
committees, such as the auditor's judgments about accounting 
principles \14\ and critical accounting policies and practices,\15\ 
should be incorporated into the auditor's report.\16\ The PCAOB has 
not yet taken up a standard-setting initiative regarding the 
auditor's report.
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    \13\ Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing 
Advisory Group Meeting: Auditor's Reporting Model (Feb. 16, 2005).
    \14\ For this requirement, see Communications with Audit 
Committees, Interim Auditing Standard AU Section 380.11 (Public 
Company Accounting Oversight Bd. 2002).
    \15\ For this requirement, see Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 15 U.S.C. 
Sec.  78j-1 (2002).
    \16\ Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing 
Advisory Group Meeting: Auditor's Reporting Model 4-5 (Feb. 16, 
2005).
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    Foreign jurisdictions are also currently considering changes to 
their auditor's reports. For instance, the European Commission under 
the Eighth Directive is authorized to develop its own ``European 
Audit Report'' or adopt the International Federation of Accountants' 
International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board's recently 
revised auditor's report standard.\17\ In December 2007, the Audit 
Practices Board, a part of the United Kingdom's Financial Reporting 
Council, issued a Discussion Paper seeking comment on potentially 
altering the auditor's report.\18\ Currently in Germany, public 
companies are generally required to issue a long-form auditor's 
report, discussing matters such as the company's economic position 
and trend of business operations and the nature and scope of the 
auditor's procedures. The Committee is cognizant that this debate 
over such disclosures is unfolding in a litigation environment 
different from that in the United States.
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    \17\ Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the 
Council Art. 28 (May 17, 2006); Auditing Practices Board, Discussion 
Paper--The Auditor's Report: A Time for Change? 6 (Dec. 2007).
    \18\ Auditing Practices Board, Discussion Paper--The Auditor's 
Report: A Time for Change? (Dec. 2007).
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    This Committee has also heard testimony regarding expanding the 
auditor's report.\19\ One witness noted that some institutional 
investors believe an expanded auditor's report would enhance 
investor confidence in financial reporting and recommended exploring 
a more ``narrative'' report in areas, such as ``estimates, 
judgments, sufficiency of evidence and uncertainties.'' \20\
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    \19\ 19 See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Dec. 3, 2007) (Written 
Submission of Dennis M. Nally, Chairman and Senior Partner, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 7), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/12032007/Nally120307.pdf 
(supporting the Committee's considering whether to change the 
auditor's report's content given single financial reporting 
standards, more cohesive global auditing standards, and trends, like 
fair value measurement); Record of Proceedings (Dec. 3, 2007) (Oral 
Remarks of Ashwinpaul C. Sondhi, President, A. C. Sondhi & 
Associates, LLC, 255-57), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/agendas/minutes-12-3-07.pdf; Record of 
Proceedings (Dec. 3, 2007) (Oral Remarks of James S. Turley, 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ernst & Young LLP, 253-54), 
available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/agendas/minutes-12-3-07.pdf.
    \20\ Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written Submission of 
Richard Fleck, Global Relationship Partner, Herbert Smith LLP, 17, 
21), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Fleck02042008.pdf.
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    The Committee notes that the increasing complexity of global 
business operations are compelling a growing use of judgments and 
estimates, including those related to fair value measurements, and 
also contributing to greater complexity in financial reporting. The 
Committee believes this complexity supports improving the content of 
the auditor's report beyond the current pass/fail model to include a 
more relevant discussion about the audit of the financial 
statements. While there is not yet agreement as to precisely what 
additional information is sought by and would be useful to investors 
and other users of financial statements, the Committee concludes 
that an improved auditor's report would likely lead to more relevant 
information for users of financial statements and, in line with

[[Page 33489]]

Recommendation 1(b) in Chapter VI of this Report, would clarify the 
role of the auditor in the financial statement audit.
    The Committee therefore recommends that the PCAOB address these 
issues, both long-debated and increasingly important given the use 
of judgments and estimates, by undertaking a standard-setting 
initiative to consider improvements to the auditor's reporting 
model. With regards to this initiative, the PCAOB should consult 
with investors, other financial statement users, auditing firms, 
public companies, academics, other market participants, and other 
state, federal, and foreign regulators. In view of the desirability 
of improving the quality of financial reporting and auditing on a 
global basis, the PCAOB should also consider the developments in 
foreign jurisdictions that improve the quality and content of the 
auditor's report and should consult with international regulatory 
bodies as appropriate. The PCAOB should also take cognizance of the 
proposal's potential legal ramifications, if any, to auditors.

Engagement Partner Signature

    SEC regulations require that the auditor's report be signed.\21\ 
Under current requirements, the auditor's report signature block 
shows the auditing firm's name, not the engagement partner's. In 
2005, the PCAOB's SAG considered whether the audit partner and a 
concurring partner should sign the auditor's report in their own 
names.\22\ Advocates believe that such signatures will foster 
greater accountability of the individuals signing the auditor's 
report, although they note there is no intention to increase or 
decrease the liability or responsibilities of the engagement 
partner. These supporters analogize the signatures to the chief 
executive officer and chief financial officer certifications under 
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and directors' signatures on 
public company annual reports. The signature will also enhance the 
status of the engagement partner, putting the partner on the same 
level as the chief executive officer and chief financial officer. 
Opponents of such signatures argue that the auditing firm operates 
as a team and takes responsibility for the audit, but not individual 
partners.
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    \21\ SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 2-02a.
    \22\ Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Standing 
Advisory Group Meeting: Auditor's Reporting Model 7-8 (Feb. 16, 
2005).
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    The Committee notes that engagement partner signatures are 
required in other jurisdictions. The European Commission's Eighth 
Directive requires that the engagement partner sign the auditor's 
report.\23\ Even prior to the Eighth Directive, several European 
countries, including France, Germany, and Luxembourg, required 
engagement partner signatures for a number of years.\24\
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    \23\ Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the 
Council Art. 28 (May 17, 2006).
    \24\ The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and 
Wales, Shareholder Involvement--Identifying the Audit Partner (2005) 
(noting that Germany, France, and Luxembourg currently require audit 
partner signatures and European Member states must adopt such a 
requirement under Article 28 of the Directive 2006/43/EC of the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory 
audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts).
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    The Committee has heard testimony regarding the benefits of 
engagement partner signatures \25\ and has discussed and debated the 
merits of the senior engagement partner signing the auditor's 
report.\26\ The Committee notes that in Chapter VII of this Report, 
the Committee is recommending disclosure of the name(s) of the 
senior audit partner(s) staffed on the engagement in the proxy 
statement to increase transparency and affirm the accountability of 
the auditor.
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    \25\ Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written Submission of 
Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Vice Chairman, Capital Research and Management 
Company, 2), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Haaga020408.pdf (stating that 
signatures could improve audit quality and enhance accountability).
    \26\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Mar. 13, 2008) (Oral 
Remarks of Donald T. Nicolaisen, Board Member, Morgan Stanley, 228-
230) (stating his belief that the engagement partner should sign the 
auditor's report); Record of Proceedings (Mar. 13, 2008) (Oral 
Remarks of Mary Bush, Board Member, Discover Financial Services, 
231) (endorsing the engagement partner signature on the auditor's 
report).
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    The Committee is considering recommending that the PCAOB revise 
its auditor's report standard to mandate the engagement partner's 
signature on the auditor's report. The Committee notes the signing 
partner should face no additional liability than that under the 
current liability regime. The Committee is seeking commentary on 
this potential recommendation, and in jurisdictions where signatures 
are currently required, their impact on audit quality.

Transparency

    The Committee considered testimony and commentary regarding the 
transparency of auditing firms.\27\ The Committee has reviewed and 
considered a range of transparency reporting options, including the 
PCAOB's May 2006 proposal, not yet finalized, requiring annual and 
periodic reporting pursuant to the mandate under Sarbanes-Oxley's 
Section 102(d).\28\ This proposal would require annual reporting by 
auditing firms on such items as a public company audit client list 
and the percentage of the firm's total fees attributable to public 
company audit clients for each of the following categories of 
services: Audit services, other accounting services, tax services, 
and non-audit services. The PCAOB proposal would also require firms 
to file a ``special'' report, triggered by such events as the 
initiation of certain criminal or civil governmental proceedings 
against the firm or its personnel; a new relationship with a 
previously disciplined person or entity; or the firm becoming 
subject to bankruptcy or similar proceedings.
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    \27\ See e.g., Record of Proceedings (Dec. 3, 2007) (Written 
Submission of James S. Turley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 
Ernst & Young LLP, 10), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/12032007/Turley120307.pdf; Record 
of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written Submission of Dennis Johnson, 
Senior Portfolio Manager, Corporate Governance, California Public 
Employees' Retirement System, 5), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Johnson020408.pdf.
    \28\ See PCAOB, Proposed Rules on Periodic Reporting by 
Registered Public Accounting Firms, available at http://www.pcaobus.org/rules/docket_019/2006-05-23-release_no.__2006_004.pdf.
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    The Committee has also considered the European Union's Eighth 
Directive, Article 40 Transparency Report,\29\ which requires that 
public company auditors post on their Web sites annual reports 
including the following information: Legal and network structure and 
ownership description; governance description; most recent quality 
assurance review; public company audit client list; independence 
practices and confirmation of independence compliance review; 
continuing education policy; financial information, including audit 
fees, tax advisory fees, consulting fees; and partner remuneration 
policies. The Article 40 Transparency Report also requires a 
description of the auditing firm's quality control system and a 
statement by firm management on its effectiveness. Auditing firms 
and investors have expressed support for requiring U.S. auditing 
firms to publish reports similar to the Article 40 Transparency 
Report.\30\
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    \29\ Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the 
Council Art. 40 (May 17, 2006), available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:157:0087:0107:EN:PDF.
    \30\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written 
Submission of Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Vice Chairman, Capital Research 
and Management Company, 2), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Haaga020408.pdf 
(recommending auditing firm disclosure of quality control policies 
and procedures); Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written 
Submission of Edward E. Nusbaum, Chief Executive Officer, Grant 
Thornton LLP, 6), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Nusbaum020408.pdf 
(supporting an annual transparency report for U.S. auditing firms); 
Record of Proceedings (Written Submission of James S. Turley, 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ernst & Young LLP, 10), 
available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/12032007/Turley120307.pdf (suggesting the PCAOB require 
auditing firms to publish transparency reports like the European 
Union's Article 40 Transparency Report).
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    The Committee notes that Recommendation 3 in Chapter VII of this 
Report recommends that, if feasible, the PCAOB develop audit quality 
indicators and auditing firms publish these indicators. The 
Committee believes this information could improve audit quality by 
enhancing the transparency of auditing firms and notes that some 
foreign affiliates of U.S. auditing firms provide such indicators in 
public reports issued in other jurisdictions.\31\
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    \31\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written 
Submission of Dennis Johnson, Senior Portfolio Manager, Corporate 
Governance, California Public Employees' Retirement System, 5), 
available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Johnson020408.pdf (recommending auditing firm 
disclosure of key performance indicators, such as ``percent of 
training dollars spent on staff compared to the fees received for 
the audit, average experience of staff, partner time allocated to 
each audit'').

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[[Page 33490]]

    Furthermore, for several years auditing firms in the United 
Kingdom have published annual reports containing audited financial 
statements pursuant to limited liability partnership disclosure 
requirements as well as a discussion of those statements, a 
statement on corporate governance, performance metrics, and other 
useful information. In the United States, auditing firms typically 
do not prepare audited financial statements. Some witnesses have 
called for disclosure of audited financial statements,\32\ whereas 
one auditing firm representative questioned the usefulness of 
disclosing financial statements of the smaller auditing firms.\33\
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    \32\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written 
Submission of Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Vice Chairman, Capital Research 
and Management Company, 2), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Haaga020408.pdf 
(calling for auditing firm disclosure of audited financial 
statements).
    \33\ Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Questions for the 
Record of Neal Spencer, Managing Partner, BKD LLP, 38-39), available 
at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/agendas/QFRs-2-4-08.pdf (analogizing the auditing firm to a vendor and noting 
that the profitability or financial strength of vendors ``has 
little, if any, relevance other than perhaps related to concerns 
about their ability to financially support their continued 
existence'' and noting that the profitability or financial condition 
of an auditing firm is not directly related to audit quality; and 
noting that the ``most relevant financial information for users'' of 
smaller auditing firms is insurance-related information and noting 
that larger auditing firms with limited commercial insurance 
coverage may need to disclose different financial information).
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    The Committee recommends that the PCAOB require that, beginning 
in 2010, larger auditing firms (those with 100 or more public 
company audit clients that the PCAOB inspects annually) produce a 
public annual report incorporating (a) information required by the 
Article 40 Transparency Report deemed appropriate by the PCAOB in 
consultation with investors, other financial statement users, 
auditing firms, public companies, academics, and other market 
participants, and (b) such key indicators of audit quality and 
effectiveness as determined by the PCAOB in accordance with 
Recommendation 3 in Chapter VII of this Report. These disclosure 
requirements should supplement any rules adopted as a result of the 
PCAOB's 2006 reporting proposal.
    The Committee also recommends that the PCAOB determine which of 
the requirements included above should be imposed on smaller 
auditing firms (those with less than 100 public company audit 
clients), taking into account these firms' size and resources.
    The Committee is also considering recommending one of the 
following two approaches to audited financial statements: The PCAOB 
should require that, beginning in 2011, the larger auditing firms 
file with the PCAOB on a confidential basis audited financial 
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting 
principles or international financial reporting standards and the 
PCAOB will then either:

    ``Alternative 1: Determine, based on broad consultation, whether 
these audited financial statements should be made public in 
consideration of their utility to audit committee members and 
investors in assessing audit quality, impact on firm sustainability, 
firm comparability, and other considerations relevant to the public 
interest, or
    Alternative 2: Make these audited financial statements publicly 
available.''

    The Committee is seeking commentary on these potential 
alternatives.

Litigation

    The Committee also has considered liability issues impacting the 
profession. The Committee received and considered testimony and 
commentary suggesting certain measures aimed at liability 
reform.\34\ The Committee also has received testimony and commentary 
opposing liability reform.\35\
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    \34\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Written 
Submission of Edward E. Nusbaum, Chief Executive Officer, Grant 
Thornton LLP, 7-8), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/02042008/Nusbaum020408.pdf 
(suggesting general securities litigation reform); Record of 
Proceedings (Dec. 3, 2007) (Written Submission of James S. Turley, 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ernst & Young LLP, 16), 
available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/submissions/12032007/Turley120307.pdf (suggesting the ability to 
appeal motions to dismiss in securities class actions).
    \35\ See, e.g., Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Questions 
for the Record of John P. Coffey, Partner, Bernstein Litowitz Berger 
& Grossmann LLP, 1-7 (Mar. 31, 2008)), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/agendas/QFRs-2-4-08.pdf 
(weighing against reforming the calculation of damages in securities 
fraud class actions and auditor liability protections, including a 
professional judgment framework and safe harbor, but supporting 
scheme liability); Record of Proceedings (Feb. 4, 2008) (Questions 
for the Record of Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Vice Chairman, Capital 
Research and Management Company, 1-3), available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/domestic-finance/acap/agendas/QFRs-2-4-08.pdf 
(opposing liability limits and safe harbors for auditing firms and 
viewing liability exposure as a ``very effective incentive for the 
firms to conduct high quality audits'').
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    The Committee takes note that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act established 
a new level of federal regulation over the public company auditing 
profession. In that context, some believe it would be appropriate to 
transfer to federal court jurisdiction some categories of claims 
against auditors, which presently may be brought in state courts. 
Others are unconvinced by this argument, expressing concerns that 
this approach might weaken plaintiffs' rights and remedies.
    The Committee is considering whether it should recommend that 
Congress provide federal courts with exclusive jurisdiction over 
some categories of claims, which presently may be brought in state 
courts against auditors, when such claims are related to audits of 
public company financial statements. Should Congress take up this 
recommendation, it should develop a uniform standard of care with 
the appropriate and necessary levels of investor protection. While 
there are various differences among state and federal standards of 
care, the Committee contemplates a standard fairly and adequately 
representing investors' interests.
    The Committee is seeking commentary on (1) Whether it is 
appropriate to have exclusive federal jurisdiction for some 
categories of claims and a uniform standard of care; and, if so, (2) 
what types of claims should be subject to federal jurisdiction; and 
(3) what should be the uniform standard of care.

[FR Doc. E8-13274 Filed 6-11-08; 8:45 am]
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