The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has appointed Addison Scott and Zian Xi as its first Audit Practitioner Fellows under the newly established Audit Practitioner Fellowship Programme.
Based within the regulator’s Office of the Chief Auditor, both fellows have commenced two-year terms effective immediately.
Scott and Xi will contribute to the board’s research and standard-setting priorities, with the goal of strengthening oversight functions and better serving the public interest.
Scott joined the PCAOB in September 2026 after more than 11 years with EY. Her tenure included three years in the firm’s Professional Practice Group, where she focused on audit methodology and the implementation of standards set by the PCAOB, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and international auditing and quality management organisations.
She subsequently served as a senior manager in EY’s assurance division.
Xi joined the PCAOB in July 2026 following her role as a senior manager in Deloitte & Touche’s national office. Her background spans audit transformation, data, and technology and AI, as well as providing technical advisory on audit evidence, sampling procedures, and related parties.
Demetrios Logothetis, PCAOB chairman, said: “Standards are the foundation of the PCAOB’s work, establishing the rules of the road for auditors of public companies and SEC-registered brokers and dealers, providing the framework against which we conduct inspections and, where appropriate, pursue enforcement.
“However, to develop principles-based standards that are scalable, practical, and effective, we need a clear understanding of today’s audit environment.
“Addi and Zian will provide real-world insights to help us develop standards that improve audit quality while appropriately balancing costs and benefits.”