The PCAOB recently released a new staff Spotlight publication titled “2025 Conversations with Audit Committee Chairs.” The announcement of the publication notes:

Each year, the PCAOB’s Division of Registration and Inspections invites audit committee chairs at U.S. public companies to share their perspectives and observations with respect to their oversight of auditors’ work. Additionally, PCAOB staff shares information and resources that may be beneficial to audit committee chairs in their oversight role.

In 2025, the PCAOB staff gathered insights from more than 250 audit committee chairs. This publication presents high-level observations and takeaways from this engagement.

Topics addressed by the audit committee chairs include:

– Drivers of effective relationships between audit committees and audit firms;
– Methods for assessing the external auditor;
– The role that PCAOB inspection reports can play;
– Approving services provided by the audit firm;
– Fraud concerns;
– Quality control considerations;
– CAMs discussion: frequency and depth; and
– Top technology risks discussed with auditors.

More resources for audit committees are available at the PCAOB’s “Information for Audit Committees” page.

– Dave Lynn