Sarbanes-Oxley

[Guest Lex]

A privately-held CPA firm wants to provide pension/ERISA consulting and investment advisory services to audit clients. My understanding is that providing these services to non-audit clients is okay. Providing these to audit clients may be problematic.

Would ERISA consulting be considered "expert services" under the ACT?

Is it true the provisions of the ACT would only apply to clients that are publically-traded companies?

Any input is desired.

[mbozek]

What is it if not expert services? I dont see ERISA consulting being rendered by non experts. S-O was intended to prevent Accounting firms from engaging in non auditing activities that give rise to conflict of interest and prevent the rendering of impartial advice/ auditing of publicly held cos. The big four accounting firms have divested themsevles of consulting services that gave rise to conflict interest in Enron that brought arthur anderson down.