The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established a new specialized unit within the Division of Enforcement to pursue accounting and financial reporting fraud cases and misconduct in the accounting and auditing areas.
The new Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit will work in close collaboration with staff across all relevant SEC divisions and offices to ensure its approach to enforcing federal securities laws is consistent with the SEC’s policy goals.
“Since my return to the Division, I have been assessing every aspect of our staffing to ensure that we are aligned to deliver results in our core mission areas,” David Woodcock, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said. “This new unit – which expands on the Division’s current and historical efforts to crack down on bad actors in the accounting and auditing profession – will be critical in our efforts to pursuing financial reporting fraud, as well as accounting and auditor misconduct more generally.”
Timothy Zimmerman has been tapped to lead this new unit. Zimmerman joined the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in May 2026 as a senior advisor to the director. Prior to joining the agency, Zimmerman worked for 12 years at an international law firm. Most recently, he served as deputy general counsel at an international accounting and professional services firm.
“I look forward to working with Tim on this important endeavor,” Osman Nawaz, principal deputy director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement and head of specialized units, said. “His depth of experience and passion are tremendous assets that will help the Division.”
The Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit will be staffed by both attorneys and accountants with specialized skills related to financial reporting, accounting, and auditing in securities regulation.