The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The Sarbanes Oxley Act was passed in July of 2002 in reaction to the WorldCom and Enron accounting scandals. The legislation has shaped the accounting profession since it was passed, by altering the way auditors are allowed to engage with their clients. It was designed to protect the investors in public corporations. It accomplished this by establishing the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) that ensures that the auditors are independent from clients. The accounting curriculum at Truman State University consistently mentions specific sections of the act or the scandals that led to its passing without ever recounting the events chronologically in a single discussion. The opportunity to learn more about the Sarbanes Oxley Act and the scandals that prompted its passing would be welcomed by the accounting students of Truman State University.
Keywords: Sarbanes-Oxley, SOX, Accounting, Enron, WordCom, PCAOB, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
Topic(s):Accounting
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 106-5
Location: VH 1010
Time: 9:00