[20030203]RS21120_审计及其监管机构：安然之后的改革.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21120Updated February 3, 2003Auditing and Its Regulators: Reforms after EnronBob LykeSpecialist in Social LegislationDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryAccounting problems at Enron, WorldCom, and other companies have raisedimportant questions about the audits of corporate financial statements. These audits areperformed by independent accountants who are certified public accountants (CPAs);they are supposed to be carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditingstandards (GAAS), rules which have a carefully defined technical meaning. The U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission requires audited financial statements when publiccompanies register to sell new securities and annually thereafter. Auditor assurances about company financial statements remove a barrier to theefficient use of capital and offer some protection to third party investors. However, therecent accounting scandals and numerous revisions of previously-issued financialstatements have eroded public confidence in auditing. While auditors are regulated byboth governmental agencies and profession