SEC Charges PwC LLP With Violating Auditor Independence Rules and Engaging in Improper Professional Conduct

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with improper professional conduct in connection with 19 engagements on behalf of 15 SEC-registered issuers and violating auditor independence rules in connection with engagements for one issuer where the firm performed prohibited non-audit services. The SEC also charged PwC partner Brandon Sprankle with causing the firm’s independence violations. Both respondents have agreed to settle the charges and PwC will pay over $7.9 million in monetary relief. The SEC’s order finds that PwC violated the SEC’s auditor independence rules by performing prohibited non-audit services during an audit engagement, including exercising decision-making authority in the design and implementation of software relating to an audit client’s financial reporting, and engaging in management functions.