Sarbanes-Oxley: The Impact 15 Years Later

Host: TK Kerstetter
Guest: Cindy Fornelli, Executive Director, Center for Audit Quality

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), which has had such a profound impact in the boardroom and the capital markets. In the wake of the Enron and WorldCom debacles, it was hardly surprising that Congress felt the need to take action. Regardless of how board members or senior management felt when SOX was passed, the legislation has certainly stood the test of time, and sentiment toward SOX has evolved drastically since it was enacted.

Cindy Fornelli, Executive Director for the Center for Audit Quality, joins host TK Kerstetter to review the implications of Sarbanes-Oxley 15 years later. The two discuss the impact, both then and today, along with the amazing congressional bipartisan support at the time.

(1) What part of the SOX legislation had the greatest impact on corporate boardrooms?

(2) What indicators suggest that SOX has been effective (or ineffective) over the last 15 years?

(3) How have the attitudes of board members and CFOs towards SOX evolved over time?