Inspector

Join us and make a difference in global investor protection.

Who We Are

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), a nonprofit organization established by Congress, oversees the audits of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers to protect investors and to further the public interest in the preparation of independent, accurate, and informative audit reports.

Our investor protection mission is focused on modernizing audit standards, enhancing audit inspections, and strengthening enforcement of PCAOB rules and standards and other related laws and rules. People are at the heart of our mission at the PCAOB. As we carry out that mission, we strive to uphold the highest standards in audit quality with investors’ families, savings, and futures in mind.

We are hiring mission-driven professionals interested in a career with purpose, competitive benefit offerings, and work-life flexibility. If you are interested in working with a diverse group of talented professionals to protect investors and drive audit quality and innovation while adhering to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct, join us.

What We Offer

At the PCAOB, we offer a highly competitive compensation and benefits package with a focus on the health and financial well-being of our valued team members. Some of the features of our comprehensive Total Rewards package include:

• Compensation – We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation programs and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range, based on data-driven market analysis, for each job posting. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary ranges are as follows: Tampa, FL: $89,100 - $162,400 per year. Atlanta, GA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Charlotte, NC; and Dallas, TX: $93,600 - $170,500 per year. Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; and Philadelphia, PA: $98,000 - $178,700 per year. Irvine, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC (Headquarters); and Boston, MA: $102,500 - $186,700 per year. New York, NY: $111,400 - $203,000 per year. San Francisco, CA: $115,800 - $211,100 per year.
• Hybrid work option – Staff will be assigned to one of our offices or locations, including: Washington, DC (Headquarters); Irvine, CA; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Tampa, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Charlotte, NC; Philadelphia, PA; Dallas, TX; and Houston, TX. Staff can choose to live and work from anywhere within the United States but will be required to commute to their assigned office or location for occasional intentional gatherings or meetings at the frequency required by their supervisor. Travel to an assigned office or location for commuting purposes will not be considered reimbursable business travel, unless otherwise required by state law. Business travel is reimbursable in an amount not exceeding the cost to travel from the assigned office or location, unless otherwise required by state law.
• Generous paid time off – Up to 6 weeks annually, in addition to 12 federal holidays, 2 floating holidays, and a year-end break in December 2024
• Highly competitive 401(k) match and savings options – Immediate vesting and contributions matched dollar for dollar, up to 7 percent of eligible compensation. Roth in-plan conversion available.
• Comprehensive and competitive health benefit offerings – Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Supportive paid family leave benefits – Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave and up to 16 weeks paid caregiver leave
• Life insurance benefits – Basic life and AD&D insurance provided; supplemental insurance also available
• Education benefits – PCAOB staff qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. We also offer student loan repayment assistance, staff college tuition assistance, and college coach program support.
• Well-being and family resources – Mental health and well-being resources, paid volunteer time, emergency child/adult dependent back-up care services, family-forming assistance, discounted gym memberships, employee assistance program (EAP), health advocate program, and more 
• Commuter benefits – Tax-free employer subsidy and pretax employee deductions
  
  

Position Summary

The PCAOB has full-time, regular positions for Inspectors. The Division of Registration and Inspections (DRI) inspects registered public accounting firms in connection with the firm’s performance of audits, issuance of audit reports, and related matters involving U.S. companies, other issuers, brokers, and dealers.

The Inspector position in DRI will participate in inspections of registered public accounting firms. This position will directly contribute to the PCAOB’s mission of protecting investors.

The job responsibilities listed below may vary depending on the specific DRI program the employee is assigned.

Responsibilities

• Inspecting portions of audit work papers to ensure compliance with PCAOB standards and rules and other applicable professional and regulatory requirements.
• Assessing the firms’ quality control systems, compliance with relevant quality control standards, and the role these systems play in delivering quality audits.
• Using varying degrees of objectivity, sound judgement, and discretion to develop issues and conclusions.
• Meeting and interviewing firm personnel to (1) understand the firms' quality control systems, (2) understand the audit procedures performed and/or the methodology to perform audit engagements, and (3) further develop and/or identify quality control and/or audit deficiencies.
• Gathering and organizing information to support identified inspection issues, analyzing and presenting that information to others outside the inspection team.
• Researching and consulting with others inside the PCAOB on technical issues.
• Communicating inspection findings to firm personnel in meetings and in comment forms.
• Preparing comment forms, assisting with drafting inspection reports, planning, and remediation.
• Collaborating with highly skilled inspection team members.
• Participating in inspection projects aimed at enhancing inspections.
• Participating in the development and/or facilitation of training courses.
• Participating in the PCAOB's recruiting process.
• Assisting in onboarding new staff.
  
  

Qualifications

• Current CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and/or CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) license required.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or in a technology related field.
• Six to eleven years of recent progressively responsible experience in public accounting, including experience (1) in the audit of companies publicly traded on the U.S. markets, (2) in the areas of IT general controls and application and process controls, and/or (3) in the area of broker-dealer regulations relating to Rule 17a-5 (broker-dealer reporting, including financial statements and supplemental schedules, the compliance report, and the exemption report), including Rule 15c3-1 (net capital), Rule 15c3-3 (customer protection reserve, possession or control, exemptions), Rule 17a-13 (quarterly securities count), and the account statement rule.
• Attainment of senior manager or manager level at a public accounting firm or comparable work experience.
• Strong knowledge of PCAOB standards, generally accepted accounting principles and/or international financial reporting standards.
• Experience working with minimal supervision in a fast paced, collaborative team environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to travel 20-30% of time (including some non-U.S. travel).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA/Master's degree.
• Experience with data analysis tools and automated audit testing techniques.
• Fluency in a foreign language.
  
  

Equal Employment Opportunity

All PCAOB employees are entitled to equal opportunity and a professional work environment, free of discrimination and harassment. A workplace free of discrimination and harassment is fundamental to professional success and to the PCAOB's mission. The PCAOB will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.