Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspectors outlined their priorities for 2023 inspections in a new PCAOB staff report released on April 17. The report outlines plans to increase the focus on fraud-related audit procedures, continue prioritizing risks related to material digital assets, and continue selecting audits in the financial services sector for inspection, among other priorities.

“Increased deficiencies in 2021 inspections and increased comment forms in 2022 inspections revealed a troubling trend in audit quality, which we are tackling head-on in 2023,” said PCAOB Chair Erica Williams. “By staying ahead of new and emerging risks, our inspections plan will hold firms accountable and drive improvements in audit quality for investors.”

Last year, the PCAOB found a year-over-year increase in the number of audits with deficiencies at audit firms that the PCAOB inspected in 2021. Williams said higher deficiency rates in 2021, coupled with increased comment forms for 2022, were a warning signal. She challenged the audit profession to sharpen its focus on improving audit quality and protecting investors.

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The complete list of 2023 inspection priorities outlined in the report includes:

Risk of fraud
Auditing and accounting risks
Risk assessment and internal controls
Financial services specific considerations
Broker-dealer specific considerations
M&A, including de-SPAC transactions
Digital assets
Use of the work of other auditors
Quality control (particularly talent retention and its impact on audit quality, and independence)
Other areas of inspection (critical audit matters, cybersecurity, and use of data and technology in the audit)

The report notes the target team of inspectors, who execute in-depth reviews across audit firms each year, will focus its work in 2023 on audits that include risks related to digital assets, first-year audits, multilocation audits, and significant or unusual events or transactions. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance inspections, PCAOB inspectors will also expand the number of audits they review for certain annual firms.