PCAOB Deficiency Tracker

Trends & benchmarks

The big picture across all PCAOB Part I.A deficiencies. For the “how audits fail” view, start from the audit areas on the home page.

Reports
1,071
Deficiencies
7,142
Firms
597
Countries
50
Significant risk
1,088
Wrong opinion
233

Most common failure modes

How audits fail, across every area. Explore each on its audit-area page.

  • Little or no substantive testing1,298
  • Accuracy/completeness of client data not tested875
  • Estimate assumptions not evaluated855
  • Controls not identified or tested827
  • Management review controls not fully evaluated623
  • Accounting or disclosure treatment not evaluated563
  • IT general controls not tested415
  • Estimate method, model, or data not evaluated336
  • Sample too small or unsupported313
  • Other testing deficiency284
  • Journal entries / fraud procedures272
  • Reliance on a specialist or pricing service256
  • Confirmations / alternative procedures200
  • Risk assessment25

Top audit areas

Most affected areas. Click to drill in.

Deficiencies by firm

Firms with the most Part I.A deficiencies (raw count).

  • Ernst & Young LLP499
  • KPMG LLP473
  • Marcum LLP416
  • BDO USA, P.C.333
  • Grant Thornton LLP291
  • B F Borgers CPA PC274
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP253
  • BDO USA, LLP184
  • RSM US LLP144
  • Baker Tilly US, LLP136

Deficiencies by audit type

  • Both financial statement and ICFR audits3,452
  • Financial statement audit only3,289
  • ICFR audit only371
  • Integrated (FS + ICFR) audit15
  • Financial statement audit15

Deficiencies by global network

  • Independent / other4,109
  • Ernst & Young Global Limited731
  • KPMG International Cooperative661
  • BDO International Limited628
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited479
  • Grant Thornton International Limited341
  • Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited193

Deficiencies by country

Top 10 by number of deficiencies.

  • United States5,459
  • Canada271
  • Hong Kong184
  • China157
  • India132
  • Brazil100
  • Israel88
  • Mexico87
  • Singapore76
  • South Africa69