SEC Releases Updated Exam Handbook for Registered Firms
The SEC's Division of Examinations has published a new handbook replacing its prior brochure, offering expanded guidance on exam process and engagement.
The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Examinations released a new handbook Tuesday designed to give registered firms a clearer, more detailed picture of how the agency conducts its oversight reviews. Titled "The SEC Exam Handbook: A Practical Guide on Process and Engagement," the document supersedes the division's previous examination brochure.
The updated handbook expands upon its predecessor by providing more comprehensive guidance on examination procedures and how firms can expect to interact with SEC examiners throughout the review process. The move reflects the division's stated interest in transparency around its examination program, which covers investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other regulated entities.
Read more SEC Proposes Crypto Custody Rules for Advisers and Funds →
Publishing an accessible reference document is widely seen as a way for the SEC to help compliance professionals prepare more effectively, potentially reducing friction during examinations. A well-informed registrant base can streamline the exam process for both firms and agency staff, though the handbook carries no force of law and does not alter existing regulatory obligations.
The division conducts thousands of examinations each year and has increasingly emphasized advance communication with registrants about what to expect. The new handbook represents an effort to centralize that guidance in a single, authoritative resource that firms, compliance officers, and legal counsel can consult before and during an examination.
Continue reading at Press Releases
