Financial statement comparability helps the SEC oversee accounting quality. When financial statements are more comparable between companies, the SEC can better spot accounting issues. The SEC is more likely to question companies with higher abnormal accruals when their financial statements are more comparable. This is especially true when the SEC has limited resources for reviewing filings. Comparable financial numbers also help the SEC catch serious accounting mistakes that require corrections. In summary, having more comparable financial statements makes it easier for the SEC to monitor and improve the quality of accounting practices.