A private, non-profit corporation that oversees the auditors of reporting companies. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) established the PCAOB to set standards for, and register and inspect, auditing firms and enforce compliance with SOX and the securities laws relating to the preparation and issuance of audit reports, subject to approval and oversight by the SEC.

For more information on the role of the PCAOB, see Practice Notes, Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting in the US: Governing Authorities and Auditing: An Overview.