[ by Howard Haykin ] So many SEC directors and top officials have announced their departures from the commission in recent weeks that the SEC sort of reminds one - though in a vague way - of final days and weeks at Dewey and LeBoeuf. Thursday's official is Chief Accountant James Kroeker, who will leave the SEC in July to enter the private sector. Mr. Kroeker joined the SEC in 2007 as Deputy Chief Accountant, and since January 2009, he's served as the Agency’s Chief Accountant.  In that role, he's guided the operations of the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant and counseled the Commission on a wide range of accounting and auditing issues. Mr. Kroeker has served in other capacities at the SEC .  He was staff director of the SEC's study on fair value accounting standards, mandated by Congress in 2008.  He led the efforts of the Office of the Chief Accountant to improve off-balance sheet accounting standards.  He guided SEC efforts as it continues to consider convergence of U.S. and international accounting standards.

“Jim has provided superb counsel on a range of accounting and auditing related matters and has always stressed the importance of accounting to our investor protection mission.” -- Chairman Mary L. Schapiro.

Before joining the SEC staff, Mr. Kroeker was a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently serving in the firm's National Office Accounting Services Group.  From 1999 to 2001, Mr. Kroeker served as a Practice Fellow at the FASB  (Financial Accounting Standards Board).   [SEC PR 12-116, 6/21/12]