fbpx

What is a Disclosure Committee?

Disclosure Committee

Share This...

Disclosure Committee

A Disclosure Committee is a subset of an organization’s board of directors or management team tasked with overseeing the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of information disclosed to stakeholders. This may include shareholders, potential investors, regulatory authorities, or the public.

The Disclosure Committee is typically responsible for the following:

  • Ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines related to disclosure.
  • Developing, implementing, and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures.
  • Reviewing and approving company disclosures before they are made public. This includes periodic reports (like quarterly or annual financial reports), press releases, presentations to investors, and submissions to regulatory authorities.
  • Monitoring the effectiveness of the organization’s disclosure controls and procedures and recommending improvements as necessary.
  • Coordinating with various departments within the organization (like legal, finance, and investor relations) to gather and verify information to be disclosed.
  • Providing a report or recommendation to the board of directors or the senior management about whether the organization’s disclosures are accurate, complete, and in accordance with laws, regulations, and company policies.
  • Overseeing training and education within the organization about disclosure requirements and policies.

The Disclosure Committee plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and credibility of a company’s public disclosures and in managing the risk of inaccurate or incomplete information being released. This helps ensure that all stakeholders have the information they need to make informed decisions.

Example of a Disclosure Committee

Let’s take the example of a publicly-traded technology company, TechX Corporation, and its Disclosure Committee:

TechX Corporation is a large technology company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As such, it is subject to extensive regulatory requirements, including those related to the disclosure of information.

The Disclosure Committee at TechX Corporation is a group of five individuals, including the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the General Counsel (the top lawyer), a representative from the Investor Relations department, and two other senior executives.

This committee is responsible for ensuring that all of TechX Corporation’s public disclosures are accurate, complete, and timely. These disclosures include the company’s annual and quarterly financial reports (10-K and 10-Q forms), press releases, presentations to investors, and other information made available to the public.

For example, when it’s time to prepare the annual 10-K report, the Disclosure Committee coordinates with different departments within TechX Corporation to gather the necessary information. The Finance department provides financial data, the Legal department provides information on any ongoing litigation or legal issues, and the various business units provide updates on their operations and performance.

The Disclosure Committee reviews all of this information, verifies its accuracy, and ensures it’s presented in a clear and understandable way. The committee also makes sure that the report complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the guidelines set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Once the 10-K report is ready, the Disclosure Committee reviews it one final time before it’s filed with the SEC and made available to the public. This final review is crucial for catching any errors or omissions and for ensuring that the report provides a fair and accurate picture of TechX Corporation’s financial condition and business performance.

Through this process, the Disclosure Committee at TechX Corporation helps maintain the integrity and credibility of the company’s public disclosures, providing shareholders, potential investors, and other stakeholders with the information they need to make informed decisions.

Other Posts You'll Like...

Want to Pass as Fast as Possible?

(and avoid failing sections?)

Watch one of our free "Study Hacks" trainings for a free walkthrough of the SuperfastCPA study methods that have helped so many candidates pass their sections faster and avoid failing scores...