SEC’s Top Accountant Eyes Digital Assets Guidance, Modernization

The SEC’s new top accountant wants to make sure accounting and auditing standard-setters keep up with the times and move quickly to address emerging areas like digital assets.

“What we don’t want to happen is for accounting or auditing to be a roadblock to innovation,” said Kurt Hohl, the chief accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in remarks Monday to a banking conference in Maryland.

Hohl, who rejoined the commission in July, is a retired Ernst & Young audit partner who previously served as global deputy vice chair for the firm’s professional practice.

Hohl has asked the chair ...