News & Insights

Auditor Liability Bulletin

May 26, 2023

PCAOB Grants Petition to Terminate Bar


On May 23, 2023, the PCAOB terminated a bar prohibiting Helen R. Liao from associating with registered public accounting firms.  The Board ordered the bar on September 24, 2020 as part of a settled order in which the Board alleged that Liao had violated PCAOB rules and auditing standards by providing her concurring approval as engagement quality review partner despite her awareness of significant audit deficiencies.  In the order lifting the bar, the Board found that Liao had complied with the September 24, 2020 settled order and that it was unaware of any basis for denying her reinstatement.  The order requires that Liao’s audit work be supervised by a specified partner for one year, that she provide a copy of the order to her supervisor, and that she certify her compliance with the order after one year. 

The matter is In re Helen R. Liao, CPA.  A copy of the PCAOB order is attached.