After departing his post as chief accountant at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Wes Bricker has rejoined PwC as vice chair and assurance leader for the United States and Mexico.

Bricker was a partner at PwC until 2015 when he joined the SEC in the Office of the Chief Accountant. He was a deputy under former Chief Accountant James Schnurr when he suffered a serious bicycling accident. Bricker was appointed the interim and then chief accountant when Schnurr retired.

It was Bricker’s second tour at the SEC. He also took a break from PwC from 2009 to 2011 to serve as a professional accounting fellow at the SEC.

In his new position at PwC, Bricker will oversee all U.S. and Mexico audit services. Tim Ryan, U.S. chair and senior partner at PwC, said Bricker will help build on efforts the firm has already undertaken to enhance audit quality and advance innovation.

“We are thrilled to welcome Wes back to the firm,” Ryan said, citing his track record for “thinking ahead on the future of financial reporting, the role of auditors and future of the audit, the role of audit committees, the implications of technology, changes in the capital markets, and changing stakeholder expectations.”

The SEC meanwhile appointed Sagar Teotia as Bricker’s permanent replacement as chief accountant at the SEC. He was elevated to acting chief accountant upon Bricker’s departure, rising from deputy chief accountant.

Tammy Whitehouse is a veteran business writer who has been a regular contributor to Compliance Week since 2005, with a focus on covering accounting and audit.

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