Chief Auditor, Director – Professional Standards

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)

Chief Auditor and Director, Professional Standards at PCAOB overseeing auditing and professional standards. Collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance audit quality and compliance.

Posted 6/27/2026full-timeWashington • New York, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $334,800 - $400,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serves as the principal advisor to the Board on matters relating to the application of PCAOB auditing and related professional standards applicable to engagements performed by registered firms for issuers and SEC-registered broker-dealers.
Directs the organization’s standard-setting activities (e.g., establishing the standard-setting and research agendas), including determining the need for, and overseeing the development of, staff guidance to highlight for auditors and the public new, emerging, or noteworthy circumstances.
Directs the Office of the Chief Auditor’s activities, including: Oversee multiple interdisciplinary teams to conduct research and outreach regarding key matters affecting audits of issuers and SEC-registered brokers and dealers. Oversee multiple interdisciplinary standard-setting teams to develop, based on research and outreach, regulatory releases setting forth new and revised auditing and professional practice standards. Oversee the effective implementation of new and existing standards through guidance, consultation, and post‑implementation review, including providing guidance to address AI and other technologies in financial reporting and the audit process. Oversee the Firm Consultation Process enabling registered firms to request a consultation with the Office of the Chief Auditor (OCA) on the interpretation and application of PCAOB auditing, attestation, and quality control standards and related rules and forms, as well as PCAOB standards and rules on ethics and independence. Evaluate how to foster alignment with international auditing standards, where appropriate, to enhance consistency, reduce unnecessary differences, and support audit quality and efficiency in U.S capital markets, while preserving any difference necessary to reflect U.S. legal requirements, investor protection priorities, or important regulatory matters, such as the QC 1000 standard. Collaborates with other offices and divisions to advance organization-wide priorities. Represents the PCAOB at conferences or other meetings. Engages with members of external groups or organizations, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators, investors, auditors, academics, audit committee members, and financial executives, on matters relating to PCAOB auditing and related professional standards. Performs a full range of administrative and supervisory duties for the Office of the Chief Auditor, including evaluating employee performance, making recommendations for appointment and promotion, identifying development and training needs of employees, and other related tasks.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or relevant discipline; Current CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license or equivalent required.
MBA/master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 20+ years of progressive responsibility in public accounting or environment related to auditing, accounting, or financial reporting (or combination), including experience in auditing publicly traded companies.
Comprehensive knowledge of PCAOB auditing and related professional practice standards, including independence, ethics, attestation, and quality control standards.
Strong familiarity with IAASB standards, accounting standards, and SEC financial reporting requirements.
Strong understanding of current and emerging developments, including AI, data and other related technology, and industry trends relevant to accounting and auditing.
A self-starter able to administer a number of open, ongoing assignments at any one time, and able to work autonomously and exercise independent judgment.
In-depth experience successfully harmonizing diverse and competing interests.
Ability to effectively represent the organization to a variety of both internal and external constituencies.
Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Generous paid time off – Up to 6 weeks annually, in addition to 12 federal holidays, and 2 floating holidays and a year-end break December 28 – 31, 2026.
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

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Hard Skills & Tools

PCAOB auditing standardsattestation standardsquality control standardsIAASB standardsaccounting standardsSEC financial reporting requirementsfinancial reportingauditing publicly traded companiesdata analysisAI in auditing

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunication skillsindependent judgmentadministrative skillscollaborationproblem-solvingorganizational skillsperformance evaluationtraining and developmentstakeholder engagement

Certifications

CPAMBA