The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), recently, entered into a Statement of Protocol with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

The agreement was signed on behalf of the DFSA by the Chief Executive, Mr Paul M Koster, and the Chairman of the PCAOB, Mr James R Doty, during a visit by Mr Koster to Washington DC. DFSA Board Member, Dr J Andrew Spindler, was also present at the signing.

Mr Paul M Koster, Chief Executive of the DFSA, said: “The DFSA is very pleased to have concluded this statement of protocol with the PCAOB, the United States (US) agency responsible for federal oversight of the audits of public companies. The ability of audit regulators to co-operate and share information is critical in the current environment when the need to protect investors and the public interest has never been more important. There are eight US regulated Firms in the DIFC and the PCAOB already conducts audits jointly with the DFSA, this agreement facilitates the sharing of information.”

“This is, in fact, the first bi-lateral agreement the DFSA has established with an audit regulator following the change to the Dubai International Financial Centre’s Regulatory law, which allows such co-operation. As fellow members of the International Federation of Independent Audit Regulators, the DFSA and the PCAOB are committed to developing and implementing international standards, among them supporting co-operation between regulators and promoting greater consistency of audit oversight.”

Mr Koster added: “This initiative also extends the DFSA’s collegiate links with regulators in the US. The DFSA already has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and with the four federal banking supervisors, as well as other US regulators in the context of our multi-lateral arrangements.”

When the PCAOB announced its approval of this agreement in December, Mr Doty said: “For many years the DFSA has been a valued partner as the PCAOB has sought to ensure effective cross-border audit oversight. We are pleased that this agreement will allow us to exchange confidential information, which will enhance the strong co-operative relationship that already exists."