Erica Williams was appointed to a second term as chairperson of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the Securities and Exchange Commission announced this week.
The new term would start Oct. 25, 2024, and run through Oct. 24, 2029.
“I thank Erica for her leadership and am pleased that she will continue to serve as chairperson of the PCAOB,” SEC Chair Gary Gensler said. “I also thank the PCAOB staff and the Board for their diligent work to ensure that public company financial disclosures can be trusted by investors.”
Before joining the PCAOB in January of 2022, Williams was a litigation partner with Kirkland & Ellis. Prior to that, she spent more than a decade in various roles at the SEC, including as deputy chief of staff to three former SEC chairs and assistant chief litigation counsel in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement trial unit. In addition, Williams served as special assistant and associate counsel to President Barack Obama with a focus on financial and economic policy issues.
“I am honored to have Chair Gensler and the commission’s confidence and grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside my fellow board members and the talented and dedicated PCAOB staff to protect investors,” Williams said. “I’m proud of our work together and eager to continue executing our mission on behalf of investors who depend on U.S. capital markets to build their American dream.”
Williams earned both a J.D. and a B.A. from the University of Virginia.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Chairperson Williams to further the PCAOB’s long-overdue plan to modernize standards and improve audit quality to promote investor protection,” SEC Chief Accountant Paul Munter said.
The PCAOB was established in 2002 to oversee the audits of public companies and registered broker-dealers through registration, standard-setting, inspection, and disciplinary programs. The board is subject to SEC oversight, including the selection of members of the board.