What Verdica's 792 score means for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Texas received a composite score of 792 out of 850, placing it in the "strong" band (740–799). This score reflects a provider with solid regulatory standing and customer satisfaction, but not without some measurable compliance friction.
The score aggregates three regulatory and market signals: professional licensing credentials, PCAOB audit oversight history, and disciplinary records. A score in the strong band suggests the firm meets core compliance requirements and maintains a reasonable track record, but the gap between 792 and the maximum 850 indicates there are documented findings or areas flagged by regulators that merit attention.
For a business owner or audit committee evaluating this firm, a score of 792 means you're looking at an established provider with lower absolute risk compared to the general population of accounting firms, but one that has not achieved a clean regulatory profile. The 11 independent customer reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars provide some corroborating market data—indicating that clients generally report positive service experiences—though the review sample size is modest.
The takeaway: this is not a red-flag provider, but it is also not one operating without any regulatory scrutiny. The score reflects transparency around documented findings rather than hidden liability.
How the sub-scores break down
License & Credentials (850/850): A perfect score here means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP holds all required professional licenses and credentials in Texas without gaps, lapses, or restrictions. This is the baseline—it indicates the firm has cleared state board registration and maintains current standing to practice. A lower score in this dimension would signal unlicensed operations, expired credentials, or scope limitations imposed by regulators.
PCAOB Record (705/850): The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board conducts quality reviews and audit inspections of firms serving public companies. A score of 705 reflects findings documented during these inspections. This is the weakest of the three sub-scores and represents the primary area where regulators have noted issues. PCAOB findings might involve audit procedures that fell short of standards, documentation gaps, or insufficient quality controls on specific engagements. This score does not indicate fraud or criminal conduct; it reflects the Board's assessment of audit execution quality based on sampled work.
Disciplinary (850/850): A perfect disciplinary score means no formal actions, sanctions, fines, or complaints substantiated by state or federal boards are on record for this entity. This is a significant positive indicator and suggests the firm has not faced enforcement proceedings from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy or federal authorities for misconduct.
The three sub-scores together tell a story: the firm is properly credentialed and free of formal discipline, but its audit quality, as measured by PCAOB inspections, has drawn regulatory attention and improvement opportunities.
What regulators in TX track for accounting providers
The PCAOB inspects accounting firms annually or every three years depending on their size and public company clientele. Inspectors review selected audit engagements to assess compliance with auditing standards. Findings are categorized and communicated to the firm; systemic or unresolved findings lower the provider's compliance profile.
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy registers firms, verifies continuing education requirements, and investigates complaints. Licensing actions—such as restrictions, probation, or license suspension—fall under disciplinary records. State boards also track whether firms maintain required insurance and quality control procedures.
Both PCAOB and state board data feed into Verdica's scoring model. The presence of PCAOB findings typically indicates specific engagements required remediation, while a clean disciplinary record means no formal enforcement was pursued.
Bottom line
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP scores in the strong range with perfect licensing and discipline records, offset by documented PCAOB audit findings that warrant attention. Before engaging, cross-check the firm's most recent PCAOB inspection report (public on pcaobus.org) and confirm references from clients in your industry.