Final answer:
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act led to the creation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and established rigorous standards to strengthen corporate governance and financial reporting transparency to protect investors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act led to the establishment of several key provisions designed to strengthen corporate governance and financial transparency. Specifically, it established new standards for all U.S. public company boards, management, and public accounting firms.
One of the most crucial components of the act was the creation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), which oversees the audits of public companies to protect the interests of investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, fair, and independent audit reports.
Moreover, Sarbanes-Oxley mandated that senior executives take individual responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of corporate financial reports. It also significantly increased the penalties for fraudulent financial activity.
Ultimately, its passage was a landmark event aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation's capital markets by increasing transparency and deterring corporate and accounting fraud in the wake of high-profile scandals.