The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will continue its forums for smaller auditing firms in 2009 with six events throughout the United States.

The forums are intended to help smaller firms keep up-to-date on PCAOB rules and requirements as well as emerging audit issues. The agenda will feature case studies on auditing in the small-business environment as well as discussions around current economic issues and trends affecting auditors’ work, proposed standards on risk assessment and engagement quality reviews, auditing internal control over financial reporting for non-accelerated filers, future standard-setting priorities, and new annual and special reporting rules for registered firms. Staff from the Securities and Exchange Commission also will be on hand to discuss recent SEC activities and observations related to smaller firms.

PCAOB member Dan Goelzer, who is in charge of the small-business forums, said events typically are well attended. The series “provides smaller firms, which typically do not have access to the same resources as larger firms, with the opportunity to discuss their experiences and ask questions about PCAOB rules and standards as well as the inspection and enforcement processes,” said Goelzer. “The forums also provide training for smaller firms and an opportunity for board members and staff to discuss the PCAOB’s rules and standards and expectations for inspections.”

The series begins in Santa Monica, Calif., on April 21 with additional stops planned for Philadelphia, New York, Houston, Denver, and Orlando, Fla.

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