At this virtual event, Simona Mola and Jean-Philippe Poissant of Cornerstone Research will discuss recent accounting and auditing enforcement activity by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC saw a notable decrease in accounting and auditing enforcement in fiscal year 2024, following two years of increases. This decline occurred during Gary Gensler’s final year as SEC Chair, when the agency focused on areas like cryptocurrency and off-channel communications.
When comparing the four-year tenures of SEC Chairs Jay Clayton (FY 2017–FY 2020) and Gary Gensler (FY 2021–FY 2024), the Gensler period showed a reduction in the total number of accounting and auditing enforcement actions initiated or settled. The average total settlement amount per year also decreased under Gensler, from $796 million to $647 million.
These trends highlight the dynamic nature of enforcement and the influence that changing leadership and priorities can have on overall activity.
At this virtual event, panelists will address:
- What the overall decline in SEC accounting and auditing enforcement means for regulatory focus
- Why auditors remain a focus for the SEC, despite fewer overall enforcement actions and what this means for compliance
- How evolving enforcement priorities influence monetary penalties and the rate of fines
Cornerstone Research is a sponsor of this event, hosted by The Knowledge Group. For more information, visit the event website.
Washington 
