The Securities and Exchange Commission appointed Kurt Hohl, a former partner at Ernst & Young, as its new chief accountant, effective July 7.
Acting chief accountant Ryan Wolfe will be returning to his role as chief accountant in the Division of Enforcement.
Hohl has close to 40 years of accounting and auditing experience. In 2023, he founded Corallium Advisors, which helps businesses with auditing, regulatory compliance, risk management, and initial public offerings. Previously, he spent 26 years as a partner at EY in various roles. His final role at the Big Four firm was as global deputy vice-chair of EY’s Global Assurance Professional Practice, where he was responsible for the operation and oversight of the technical, regulatory, risk, and quality oversight functions of EY’s global professional practice organization and its more than 1,400 professionals.
He previously worked at the SEC from 1989 to 1997, rising to associate chief accountant in the Division of Corporation Finance. There he wrote what became the Financial Reporting Manual, a primary guide for the SEC accounting staff and practitioners in the application of the federal securities laws. He began his professional career at Deloitte Haskins & Sells. He received a B.B.S. in accounting from James Madison University and is a CPA in Virginia.
“Kurt is an experienced accountant with deeply technical knowledge and international experience, and we are lucky he has decided to return to the SEC,” said SEC chairman Paul S. Atkins in a statement Friday. “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.”
“I’m pleased to come back to the SEC along with Chairman Atkins,” said Hohl. “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.”
Wolfe has served as acting chief accountant since January 2025. He concurrently has been serving as chief accountant of the Division of Enforcement and has previously served as senior associate chief accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant.
“I want to thank Ryan for his service as acting chief accountant and am pleased that he will continue serving in the Division of Enforcement,” said Atkins.
