On December 4, 2013 the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(PCAOB) solicited public comments on its reproposed amendments to its standards that
would improve the transparency of public company audits. The amendments would require
(1) disclosure in the auditor’s report of the name of the engagement partner, and (2) disclosure
in the auditor’s report of the names, locations, and extent of participation of other independent
public accounting firms that took part in the audit and the locations and extent of participation
of other persons not employed by the auditor that took part in the audit. The comment period
initially ended on February 3, 2014, but was subsequently extended to March 17, 2014. This
commentary summarizes the contributors’ views on these amendments