The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has created a specialised unit within its Division of Enforcement to tackle accounting and financial reporting fraud, as well as wider misconduct in accounting and auditing.
The new Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit is intended to provide additional expertise, focus and capacity in these areas.
It will coordinate with staff across relevant SEC divisions and offices to ensure the enforcement of federal securities laws remains aligned with the Commission’s policy objectives.
SEC Division of Enforcement director David Woodcock said: “Since my return to the Division, I have been assessing every aspect of our staffing to ensure that we are aligned to deliver results in our core mission areas.
“This new unit – which expands on the Division’s current and historical efforts to crack down on bad actors in the accounting and auditing profession – will be critical in our efforts to pursuing financial reporting fraud, as well as accounting and auditor misconduct more generally.”
The unit will be led by Timothy Zimmerman, who joined the Division of Enforcement in May 2026 as a senior advisor to the director.
Before joining the SEC, Zimmerman spent 12 years at an international law firm and most recently served as deputy general counsel at an international accounting and professional services company.
The Financial Reporting and Accounting Unit will be staffed by both lawyers and accountants, bringing specialised skills in financial reporting, accounting and auditing.
Last month, the SEC appointed Paul Knight as its new chief operating officer.
