Number: RS21120
Title: Auditing and Its Regulators: Reforms after Enron
Authors: Bob Lyke, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: The Enron controversy has raised important questions about financial statement audits of corporations and other private sector organizations. There are congressional and other investigations of Enron's auditor, Arthur Andersen, as well as multiple investigations of Enron itself. One important questions is whether Andersen's extensive consulting work for Enron compromised the independence it should have maintained throughout its audits. The 107th Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-204), which the President signed on July 30, 2002. Among other things, the Act creates a new oversight board for auditors, prohibits auditing firms from providing certain consulting work for audit clients, and requires rotation of audit partners at least every five years. It also imposes new requirements on corporate boards and executives and increases governmental oversight and criminal penalties. The 108th Congress will likely monitor further oversight board developments.
Pages: 6
Date: Updated February 3, 2003