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Understanding the Auditor Changes database
Who is this article for?Users who want to learn about the Auditor Changes database.
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1. General overview
- The Audit Analytics Auditor Change database tracks auditor changes reported by SEC registrants since 2000.
- SEC registrants must disclose any auditor resignation, declination, or dismissal within four days (Item 304 of Regulation S-K).
- This requirement applies to all '33 and '34 Act filers.
2. Common uses
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- Track wins and losses in the public auditor market
- Monitor changes related to accounting issues, internal controls, financial restatements, audit opinions, management representation, illegal acts, or SEC investigations
- Includes indicators for board approval and auditor agreement on changes
- Identify auditor changes due to accounting or managerial issues, distinguishing between resignation and dismissal
- Explore how regulatory and market shifts affect auditor changes
The Auditor Changes database is accessible online, via WRDS, and through data feeds [Feed02] with the appropriate subscription.
- Saved Search Alert: Yes
- Daily Summary Email: Yes
3. Collection methodology
- Data is sourced from auditor change disclosures and collected from 8-K and 8-K/A 4.01 Items, including:
- Dismissed Auditor
- Dismissal Date
- Engaged Auditor
- Engagement Date
- Dismissal or Resignation Status
- Issues, Going Concerns, and Merger Information
- Board Approval Status
- Auditor changes are mainly sourced from Current Reports (8-Ks, 6-K), with occasional data from 10-Qs, S-1s, 20-Fs, 10-Ks, 1-Us, N-CSRs, N-CSRs, and N-CENs.
- Information is collected within a day of reporting to the SEC.
4. Searching
The Auditor Changes search page offers the following filters:
| Name | Description | Data Dictionary Field(s) | Sort By? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departed/Resigned | Filter by the departing auditor | Departed Auditor | Yes |
| Engaged Auditor | Filter by the engaged auditor | Engaged Auditor | Yes |
| Search by Ticker or CIK Code | Filter for a specific auditor or group of auditors |
CIK Code Ticker |
Yes |
| Includes Benefit Plans | Filter for changes related to a benefit plan | Benefit Plan | No |
| Going Concern | Filter for changes that include a going concern | Going Concern | No |
| Market Index | Filter by principal exchange | Market | No |
| Filter on disclosures with… | Filter for changes with a variety of notable properties | N/A | No |
| Flags | Filter by whether the auditor was dismissed or resigned | Dismissed/Resigned | No |
| Market Cap | Filter by range of market capitalization as of stock price date | Market Cap ($) | No |
| Revenue | Filter by range of past year’s total revenue | Revenue ($) | No |
| Search Industries | Filter by companies’ industry(s) |
SIC Code NAICS Code |
No |
| Company Location | Filter by current business address location(s) |
State Name Region County |
Yes |
| Departed | Filter by range of auditor departing date | Departed Auditor Date | Yes |
| Engaged | Filter by range of auditor engaged date | Engaged Auditor Date | Yes |
| File Date | Filter by range of filings to return on filing dates | File Date | Yes |
5. Results
- View results at the bottom of the page.
- Access the following via hyperlinks:
- Download Auditor Changes Data Dictionary
- CSV file downloads of results
- All CSV fields are defined in the Data Dictionary
- Individual companies’ profiles
- Departed auditor profiles
- Engaged auditor profiles
- Source filings