The PCAOB's Division of Enforcement brought its first enforcement action today, revoking one firm's registration and disciplining three accountants for their "failure to cooperate."

As discussed in this press release, PCAOB

revoked the registration of a public accounting firm and barred the firm’s managing partner from association with a registered accounting firm after finding that they concealed information from the Board and submitted false information in connection with a PCAOB inspection.

The Board also censured two former partners in the firm, finding that they participated in the misconduct but noting that they promptly alerted the PCAOB and cooperated in the Board’s investigation.

“Registered accounting firms and their associated persons have a duty to cooperate in PCAOB inspections,” said Claudius Modesti, director of the PCAOB’s Division of Enforcement and Investigations. “The findings in this case demonstrate that the Board will not tolerate conduct aimed at thwarting the Board’s inspections.”

PCAOB's Division of Enforcement is headed up by Claudius Modesti, who joined the PCAOB in May 2004. Mr. Modesti was formerly an AUSA in the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as an attorney in the SEC's Division of Enforcement.