Important Facts about
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act came into existence after a number of high-profile corporate accounting scandals. The act establishes standards for publicly traded companies and their financial reporting practices, including requirements for the accuracy and reliability of financial statements, the creation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to oversee audits, strict penalties for violations, and the prohibition of insider trading.
SOX also requires CEOs and CFOs to certify the accuracy of their company's financial statements, requires companies to disclose any conflicts of interest, and requires companies to adopt stronger internal controls to prevent fraud and ensure the accuracy of financial reporting.
SOX has been credited with increasing the transparency and accountability of publicly traded companies and helping to restore investor confidence, but it has also been criticized for increasing the compliance burden on companies and potentially hampering their ability to compete.