But, lawyers and analysts say that for the most part Sarbanes-Oxley is working. It has strengthened auditing, made the accounting industry a better steward of financial standards, and fended off Enron-sized book-cooking disasters. ... Sarbanes-Oxley also increased criminal penalties for various kinds of financial fraud.

Has the Sarbanes-Oxley Act been successful?

SOX has been successful in forever changing the landscape of corporate governance to the benefit of investors. It has increased investor confidence and the accountability expectations investors have for corporate directors and officers, and for their legal and accounting advisers as well.

Is Sarbanes-Oxley still the law?

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is a federal law that established sweeping auditing and financial regulations for public companies. Lawmakers created the legislation to help protect shareholders, employees and the public from accounting errors and fraudulent financial practices. ... Accounting regulation. New protections.