Chinese Auditor Oversight Set for Renewed Scrutiny Under Atkins

Oversight of Chinese auditors will be “one of the main issues” a freshly staffed US audit board will focus on, SEC Chair Paul Atkins told lawmakers during a Senate hearing Thursday.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, under new leadership, will evaluate whether “there is robust access by competent auditors operating under our rules” that work for Chinese companies listed on US exchanges, Atkins testified before the Senate Banking Committee.

The PCAOB, which is overseen by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, declined to comment.

Three new leaders took their seats on the board this week, including a retired ...