Professional Responsibilities Flashcards

1
Q

What engagements are covered by the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct?

A

“Covers all professional engagements and is the minimum standard of conduct

Member should additionally follow specific standards for a specific engagement”

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2
Q

What must an accountant have under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct?

A
"Integrity
Objectivity
No Conflicts of Interest
No known misrepresentations of facts
No outsourcing of judgment"
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3
Q

What are threats and safeguards to independence?

A

“Safeguards > Threats - Independence

Threats > Safeguards - No Independence”

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4
Q

What are the threats to independence?

A

“Self-Review (Auditing own work)

Advocate of the Client

Adverse Interest (Lawsuit against Client)

Too familiar with Client - could impair the appearance of Independence to public

Undue influence on Client - On Board of Directors- exception being an Honorary board position”

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5
Q

What are the Safeguards to independence?

A

“Offset the threats

Safeguards are created by Legislation (SOX)- Client (Audit Committee)- Accounting Firm (Policies)”

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6
Q

What are the characteristics of a Covered Member?

A

“On the engagement team- have Significant influence on Audit- such as:

Reviewing Partner
Managing Partner in CPA Firm
Firm Personnel who does more than 10 hours of non-attest work (Income Taxes)
Partner sharing office with another Partner who oversees an engagement
Financial Interest in Client by Covered Member (Auditor on Engagement)”

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7
Q

What are the requirements for a Covered Member?

A

“No direct financial interest

No Material indirect financial interest

Firm personnel who are not Covered Members cannot own more than 5% of stock

Covered Member’s immediate family cannot own more than 5% of stock or be employed in Key positions. If Covered member is aware of this- it will impair independence.

Cannot make management decisions.

All requirements apply during the period of the professional engagement- and as long as they are a client.”

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8
Q

What happens when a Covered Member disagrees with a Supervisor?

A

“If Supervisor’s position is still GAAP/GAAS- defer to Supervisor

If Supervisor’s position is not GAAP/GAAS- report to higher levels of management

If management ignores you- consider leaving the firm”

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9
Q

When is independence required?

A

“Audit

Review

Attestation Engagement”

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10
Q

What are the requirements for Non-attest engagements?

A

“Agreement must be in writing.
Independence not required - Must state if you are not independent

Applicable engagements: Consulting- Compilation”

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11
Q

Which standards apply to consulting engagements?

A

“Consulting engagements are covered by Statements on Standards for Consulting Services (SSCS)

Requirements: Competence- Due Care- Planning- Supervision- Obtain Sufficient Data- Must Serve Client Interest- Must have written or oral agreement- must communicate with client.”

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12
Q

List some common consulting engagements.

A

“Advisory Services

Transaction Services

Management Consulting

Implementation Services”

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13
Q

What is the rule concerning contingent fees for a covered member?

A

“Not allowed if Member also performs services where independence is required

Commissions or referral fees for Covered Members are not allowed

Example - Audit firm gets a commission for recommending to Client that they implement a new A/P System…NOT Allowed

If a firm performing non-attest work doesn’t also perform Covered Member services (aka - Independence not
required)- then Firm can get a commission on referring products/services- but they must disclose to the Client

Tax Preparation - Payment according to refund amount is disallowed”

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14
Q

When are contingent fees allowed?

A

“When fees are structured relative to judicial proceedings.

Example: IRS audit- or filing an amended tax return subject to tax case with a different taxpayer.”

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15
Q

How should recommendations and suggestions by a covered member to a client be handled?

A

“Client must carry them out - covered member cannot perform management functions.

Client must assign someone of competence to oversee the non-attest engagement and CPA must be satisfied that this has occurred.”

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16
Q

What are the requirements for Personal Financial Planning Engagements?

A

“Must have definite objectives

Must have specific procedures planned

Must have a basis for recommendations

Must have recommendations communicated

Must have action steps to implement”

17
Q

When is a GAAP departure appropriate?

A

Departure from GAAP is appropriate if GAAP would cause Financial Statements to be misleading- then it must be explained/disclosed.

18
Q

When may a covered member disclose confidential information?

A

“Member may disclose confidential info when client isn’t following GAAP

OR

If they receive a subpoena - CPAs are not Attorneys- so there is no CPA-Client privilege”

19
Q

What is the effect of not returning all client-provided documents upon request?

A

“This is an act discreditable.

You MUST return all documents the client gives you even if they don’t pay their bill.

If you create a document- however- like a work paper- you are not required to give the client a copy of papers you created if they haven’t paid their bill

They are the firm’s work papers- but are still confidential!”

20
Q

What are the rules with respect to CPA firm names?

A

“CPA firm names must not be misleading.

If partner dies- remaining partner has two years to change name if partnership dissolved. If partner dies and more than one partner still remains (i.e. 1 dies and you still have 2 or more partners…you don’t need to change the name)

All Partners/Shareholders must be members of the AICPA in order to hold themselves out as members of the AICPA. Non-CPAs can be owners- but 2/3 of Ownership must be CPAs. Non-CPA owner must not be involved with the accounting- and is still bound by AICPA code of conduct- must maintain CPE requirements and have Bachelor’s degree.”

21
Q

What is the consequence of disclosing CPA exam material post-1996?

A

It is an Act Discreditable.

22
Q

What are the consequences for a CPA who commits an Act Discreditable?

A

“Licenses are granted at the State level
If State revokes certificate- AICPA Ban
Felony Conviction- AICPA Ban
Prepares Fraudulent Tax Return- AICPA Ban
Intentionally failing to file return- AICPA Ban
SEC can get involved with discipline”

23
Q

What are the functions of the PCAOB?

A

“Monitors CPA Firms who audit SEC clients - All SEC Audit firms must register

Issues standards for firms to follow - usually stricter than AICPA standards”

24
Q

When is independence impaired under PCAOB standards?

A

“If Client pays a contingent fee (i.e. based on outcome)

With Marketing or Planning engagements

Aggressive Tax Strategies

Firm does tax work for Client employee involved with audit oversight or their
family”

25
Q

Who must approve non-audit work performed by a firm for a client?

A

“Client Audit Committee must approve non-audit work performed by Firm

Firm must disclose any potential independence issues to Audit Committee”

26
Q

Which organization is in charge of determining if federal funds are being misappropriated?

A

GAO - Government Accountability Office

27
Q

What rules must auditors follow for governmental audits?

A

“Auditors must follow both GAAS and GAS aka the Yellow Book materiality threshold is usually lower
More detail is required on working papers
More stringent CPE rules and requirements - 24 hours of continuing education must be related to governmental auditing every 2 years
Compliance with Regulations is a requirement of the Audit Report”