中美會計跨境監管僵局中美方的紅白臉

????美國上市公司會計監管委員會（PCAOB）主席詹姆斯?多蒂今天向美國證券交易委員會（SEC）提交了他的預算計劃。多蒂說：

????對在PCAOB注冊的中國公司進行審查一直都特別困難。不過，三年來，在你們的支持下，財政部長和外交部長每年都邀請我參加中美戰略與經濟對話，對此我表示感謝。

????實際情況證明，這些對話有助于取得一些進展。2013年，我們和中國政府部門就執行問題達成了合作協議。

????基于最近的溝通，我樂觀地認為我們能在2014年實現長久以來的目標，也就是和中方簽署協議，進而可以審查在PCAOB注冊的中國公司的審計工作。

????面對媒體，多蒂表示，中國政府機構和PCAOB已經交換了協議草案。中方一直不愿意讓PCAOB在中國境內開展調查。多蒂稱，他們正在考慮其他途徑，比如轉移審計工作底稿以及允許相關人員在中國境外接受調查。鑒于我妻子就是一名四大會計師事務所審計合伙人，我建議這樣的調查在美國境內進行，而且相關人員要從中國直飛美國。

????我認為，在和中國政府機構進行談判的過程中，PCAOB和SEC似乎一直在分別扮演紅臉和白臉。PCAOB一直在唱紅臉——不斷地和中方對話，而且簽署了一些毫無意義的協議，比如雙方在執行方面進行合作的諒解備忘錄。SEC則一直在唱白臉——吊銷四大以及部分較小事務所的執業資格，同時在表面上拒絕和中方進行磋商。

????PCAOB和SEC的需求不同。PCAOB需要接觸到相關人員和數據，以便開展調查。這個機構用不利的調查報告來促使會計師事務所提高審計質量。SEC則發揮著執法機構的作用。它的調查更多地把被調查人員和公司拒于美國市場之外，而且可能讓后者遭到刑事指控。由于風險更大，SEC舉證的責任就更重，因而需要不受限制地接觸到原始文件和相關人員。但中國方面似乎不愿意讓SEC得償所愿。

????和PCAOB簽署的諒解備忘錄減輕了中方和SEC談判的壓力。中國監管部門和大多數投資者都錯誤地認為問題已經解決，四大事務所的中國成員所遭禁則讓他們感到驚訝。在和SEC達成令人滿意的協議前，PCAOB應當謹慎行事，以免再次讓中方鉆了空子，溜之大吉。

????譯者：Charlie

????PCAOB Chairman James Doty presented his budget to the SEC Commissioners today. Doty said:

????Gaining access to audits of Chinese registered firms has been particularly challenging. But I am grateful to the Secretaries of the Treasury and State for their inviting me, with your support, to participate in the Strategic & Economic Dialogue in each of the last three years.

????These meetings proved instrumental to achieving some success. In 2013, we were able to reach an enforcement cooperation agreement with Chinese authorities.

????Based on recent discussions, I am also optimistic that we will be able, during 2014, to sign a long-sought agreement to inspect the audit work of PCAOB-registered firms based in China.

????In comments to reporters Doty indicated that China and the PCAOB are exchanging draft agreements. The Chinese are having a problem with the PCAOB conducting inspections on the ground in China. Doty indicated they are looking at alternatives including moving the papers and making people available outside of China. Since I am married to a Big Four audit partner, I suggest that the inspections take place in an American location with nonstop flights from China.

????It seems to me that the PCAOB and the SEC have taken the roles of good cop and bad cop in the negotiations with China. The PCAOB have been the good guys, keeping negotiations going and making meaningless agreements like the enforcement cooperation MOU. The SEC has been the bad cop,banning the Big Four and some smaller firms from practice and apparently refusing to negotiate.

????The PCAOB and SEC do have different needs. The PCAOB needs access to people and data so that it can conduct inspections. The PCAOB uses negative inspection reports to cajole the accounting firms into upgrading the quality of their audits. The SEC, however, functions as law enforcement. SEC investigations more frequently lead to people and companies being banned from U.S. markets, and can lead to criminal prosecutions. Because the stakes are higher, the SEC is held to a higher burden of proof, and needs unfettered access to source documents and people. It does not seem China is willing to allow that.

????The PCAOB MOU took the heat off of China to negotiate with the SEC. Chinese regulators and most investors incorrectly concluded that the deal was done and were surprised with the recent ban on the Big Four. The PCAOB should be careful not to allow China another way out before a satisfactory arrangement is made with the SEC