SEC Names Jeanette M. Franzel to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has named Jeanette M. Franzel to be a member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Ms. Franzel, currently a Managing Director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) with over 20 years of public service, will replace Daniel L. Goelzer, one of the founding members and a former interim Chairman of the five-member Board.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 created the PCAOB to provide independent oversight of audits of public companies and broker-dealers. The Board is responsible for setting audit standards and for registering, inspecting, and disciplining public accounting firms. The SEC oversees the PCAOB and appoints its members.

“Jeanette’s commitment to the public trust and America’s investors is demonstrated by her life-long public service and her constant dedication to increasing accountability, audit quality and audit standards,” said SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro. “She has extensive hands-on experience leading financial audits and deep expertise in audit quality control which will serve the PCAOB well as it continues to execute a rigorous standard-setting, inspections, and enforcement agenda.”

“I would like to thank Dan Goelzer for nearly a decade of service at the PCAOB and for continuing to serve while the search for a new member of the Board was underway,” Chairman Schapiro added. “I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

SEC Chief Accountant James L. Kroeker said, “We look forward to working with Jeanette on the PCAOB’s important statutory mission of overseeing the auditors of public companies and SEC-registered broker-dealers. Her qualifications as a nationally and internationally recognized expert in auditing standards will benefit the PCAOB as it works to protect the interests of investors and strengthen audit quality.”

Ms. Franzel currently leads all aspects of GAO’s financial audit oversight of the U.S. federal government. She heads a team of approximately 250 staff that focuses on financial and performance audits, proper use of federal funds, internal control, financial systems, and federal audit and financial management policy. Ms. Franzel is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Teresa and holds an M.B.A. from George Mason University.

“I am honored to continue serving the public interest in my new role as a member of the PCAOB. I look forward to advancing the agenda to strengthen investor protection through high quality audits of public companies and broker-dealers,” said Ms. Franzel.