On 13 June 2025, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US SEC) appointed Kurt Hohl as the new Chief Accountant, with his term commencing on 7 July 2025. Mr. Hohl brings nearly four decades of global accounting and auditing experience, and is returning to the US SEC after a distinguished private and public sector career. Acting Chief Accountant Ryan Wolfe will resume his previous position as Chief Accountant in the Division of Enforcement.
Mr. Hohl was most recently the founder of Corallium Advisors, where he advised businesses on auditing, regulatory compliance, IPO preparedness, and risk oversight. He previously spent 26 years as a partner at Ernst & Young (EY), ultimately serving as Global Deputy Vice-Chair of EY’s Global Assurance Professional Practice, where he managed a team of over 1,400 professionals focused on technical, regulatory, and risk standards across the firm. Mr. Hohl served at the US SEC between 1989 and 1997, rising to the role of Associate Chief Accountant in the Division of Corporation Finance, where he authored what later became the Financial Reporting Manual, a foundational guide for US SEC accounting staff and industry professionals applying federal securities laws.
Mr. Hohl is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Virginia and holds a Bachelor of Business Studies in Accounting from James Madison University. Mr. Wolfe, who had served as Acting Chief Accountant since January 2025, will continue in his vital role overseeing financial enforcement as Chief Accountant in the Division of Enforcement, having also previously served as Senior Associate Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant.
US SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins remarked: “Kurt is an experienced accountant with deeply technical knowledge and international experience, and we are lucky he has decided to return to the SEC. This is an important role. Given that I served with Kurt previously, I know firsthand that his integrity, along with his skills, will benefit our markets and investors.” He further thanked Mr. Wolfe for his leadership and continued service.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Mr. Hohl stated: “I’m pleased to come back to the SEC along with Chairman Atkins. This is a pivotal time for our capital markets, and I look forward to working with the dedicated public servants in the Office of the Chief Accountant to advance accounting and auditing policies that reinforce investor confidence, enhance transparency, and support innovation.”
(Source: https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025-89-sec-names-kurt-hohl-chief-accountant)
