Karen B. Dietrich Named the Director of the Office of International Affairs for the PCAOB

“The Director of the Office of International Affairs plays a lead role in engaging with global audit oversight authorities to ensure the PCAOB is able to fulfill its statutory mandate,” said Chair Williams. “We are fortunate to have Karen to help facilitate our cross-border cooperation and advance complex policy initiatives internationally that help to protect investors."

Ms. Dietrich has been with the PCAOB since 2007, when she first joined the Office of International Affairs and has served as the Acting Director since January 2022. Her responsibilities have included the negotiation and implementation of bilateral agreements with audit regulators in a variety of non-U.S. jurisdictions, participation in the PCAOB’s activities related to the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators, and coordination of the PCAOB’s International Institute on Audit Regulation. Between 2011 and 2017, she served as Special Counsel to PCAOB Board Member Jay Hanson. 

Prior to joining the PCAOB, Ms. Dietrich practiced law with firms in Boston and Washington, D.C., specializing in securities litigation, white-collar criminal and civil enforcement matters, and complex commercial litigation. Ms. Dietrich earned a B.A. with distinction and a J.D. with high honors, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Massachusetts (inactive).

“The Office of International Affairs plays a critical role in leading international collaboration to improve audit quality globally,” said Ms. Dietrich. “Investors benefit from the PCAOB’s strong relationships with its global counterparts, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Board, staff, and audit regulators from around the world.”

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The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws.