David J, Cohen, national audit oversight leader for the SEC Practice at Forvis Mazars, has been appointed to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Inspections Modernization Council (IMC), a newly established advisory body created to provide stakeholder input as the federal regulatory body evaluates the future of its inspections program.
The council brings together a diverse group of leaders from public accounting, corporate finance, academia, investor advocacy, and regulatory organizations with a stake in the PCAOB’s inspection activities.
The PCAOB created the council as part of its effort to gather broad stakeholder perspectives that can inform efforts to modernize its inspection program and thereby improve audit quality. Potential changes that the IMC will consider include generating more meaningful outputs for consumers of inspection reports, leveraging technological innovations such as automation and artificial intelligence, and focusing inspections on firms’ systems of quality control.
Cohen has had extensive experience with the PCAOB inspection process from multiple perspectives throughout his career, including as an auditor, a financial statement preparer, a national-office audit quality professional, and in his current role as the leader responsible for coordinating inspection activities at one of the largest public accounting firms in the country. He also serves on the Center for Audit Quality’s inspections task force and on the University of Kansas Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Council.
“Every stage of my career has been touched by the PCAOB inspection process,” Cohen said. “I’m honored to join this council and contribute a perspective informed by those experiences. This is an important moment for the profession as we consider how strong systems of quality management can help create better outcomes for investors, firms, and other stakeholders.”
“David’s appointment is both a significant professional achievement and a reflection of the values that define our firm,” said Tom Watson, CEO of Forvis Mazars. “Quality is how we earn trust—with our clients, our people, regulators, and the capital markets. It is a shared responsibility that shapes every decision and every investment we make in our people and processes. David’s experience and leadership in audit quality make him exceptionally well positioned to contribute to this important dialogue about the future the profession.”
Forvis Mazars has significantly enhanced its system of quality management in recent years, including investments in talent, training, and technology, and continually strengthening the firm’s audit methodology. These efforts reflect the firm’s belief that sustainable quality is achieved through sound professional judgment, accountability, continuous improvement, and a commitment to doing what is right in service of clients and the public interest.
More information about the firm’s commitment to integrity and quality management can be found in its 2026 Quality Report.
About Forvis Mazars
Forvis Mazars, LLP is an independent member of Forvis Mazars Global, a leading global professional services network. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, the firm’s 7,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally through the global network. Visit forvismazars.us to learn more.
