The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers. It was established in 2002 by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to protect investors and the public interest by ensuring the accuracy, informativeness, and independence of audit reports. The board, consisting of five members including the Chair, is appointed for five-year terms by the SEC.

The PCAOB has around 2,300 registered auditing firms, including 900 international firms in 84 countries.

The PCAOB has two advisory groups: the Standing Advisory Group and the Investor Advisory Group. The Standing Advisory Group meets semi-annually to discuss various topics such as data and technology, cybersecurity, corporate culture, PCAOB standards, governance and leadership of quality control systems, and emerging issues affecting audits or auditors. The Investor Advisory Group meets annually to discuss the group’s strategic plan, quality control standards, and implementation of the new auditor’s report.