The U.S. Government Accountability Office has published a report calling for improvements to the operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement division.

“Enforcement’s processes and systems for planning, tracking and closing investigations have had some significant limitations that have hampered the division’s capacity to effectively manage its operations and allocate limited resources,” the report warns.

“While enforcement and SEC officials are aware of these deficiencies and have recently begun addressing them, additional actions are necessary to help ensure that the planned improvements fully address limitations in the division’s operations,” it says.

The report makes several recommendations designed to strengthen SEC enforcement’s management of the investigation process and the Fair Fund program, which distributes funds to harmed investors.

It recommends that the SEC chairman direct enforcement and other agency offices to: establish written policies and assessment criteria for reviewing and approving new investigations; establish controls to better ensure the reliability of investigative data; consider developing expedited procedures for closing investigations; and establish a comprehensive plan to staff the new Fair Fund program office and collect and analyze reports on completed Fair Fund plans.

The GAO notes that the SEC was given a chance to respond to its report. The SEC agreed with the report’s conclusions and stated that it would implement all of its recommendations, the GAO added.