Flashcards in Professional Responsibilities - Wiley Deck (27):
1
What are the independence requirements for ALL partners and staff?
1. MAXIMUM of 5% of investment in equity securities of client; aggregated among all staff and their immediate family
2. No simultaneous association w/CPA firm and client (as director/officer/employee/promoter)
3. Former employees of client must have already disassociated from client AND cannot participate in audits of ANY period where employed by client.
2
GAAS are:
1. Required AND suggested procedures to gather audit evidence,
2. Pronouncements issued by the Auditing Standards Board
3
What is the conceptual difference between attestation standards and GAAS?
For audits of historical financial statements: Attestation standards DON'T apply / while GAAS DO apply
4
What does PCAOB's standard of DUE CARE require?
Critical review of the judgment exercised at every level of supervision.
5
What will result in automatic expulsion from AICPA?
1. Conviction of crime punishable by imprisonment of more than one year,
2. Member knowingly prepares OR files a fraudulent tax return for self OR client
3. Willfully failing to file required income tax return.
4. Revocation of license by state board of CPAs.
6
What typically will NOT impair independence?
Performing non-management services, such as accounting, book keeping, or advising.
7
What type of report can be issued ONLY by an accountant who is independent of client?
Standard report on an examination of a financial forecast (standard reports = CPA's opinion, requiring independence)
8
Which activities may be required in exercising due care?
Consultation with an expert may be required.
It is NEVER required to obtain a specialty accreditation.
9
Expert witnesses in a trial are required by AICPA rulings to do what?
1. Present position objectively
2. Base position on specialized knowledge, experience, and training of a CPA.
--NOT ALLOWED to act as an advocate: MUST present opinion objectively
10
Under what circumstances is a CPA considered independent when the CPA has a personal loan/financial relationship with a client?
If the CPA was NOT required to be independent when the loan was granted AND the loan is fully secured, the CPA is still considered independent.
11
Client confidentiality rules prohibit a former CPA employee from taking client files for what purposes?
1. Assisting another firm in serving that client (without express permission from the client)
2. To gain technical expertise
(Must have client's permission to take confidential materials from firm)
12
Who owns working papers?
The CPA, but generally, he cannot disclose them without client's consent or a court order.
13
What are the elements of quality control?
HAM LIE:
Human resources
Acceptance and continuance of client relationships
Monitoring
Leadership responsibilities for engagement performance
In-firm quality
Ethical requirements
14
Quality Control Standards explicitly limit application to:
1. Auditing
2. Accounting
3. Review services
15
When PCAOB guidance uses the word "should", it means that:
The auditor must comply w/requirements UNLESS he demonstrates that alternative actions were sufficient to achieve the objectives of the standard.
16
SOX requires working papers to be saved for how long?
7 years
17
SOX lead to the establishment of what?
PCAOB
18
What are the rules of membership on the PCAOB?
1. Only 2 members can be CPAs
2. It's composed of 5 members
3. NO members can currently be active in public accounting.
19
What does PCAOB have authority to issue?
Standards for attestation, auditing, and quality control.
(NOT accounting!)
20
What is it called when PCAOB reviews the sufficiency of a CPA firm's quality control system?
Inspection
21
What is the ONLY portion of a PCAOB report that is not publicly available?
Reports on the CPA firm's quality control system.
22
IFAC Code of Ethics states threats to independence include what?
1. Self-interest
2. Advocacy
3. Intimidation
(audit relationship on its own isn't a threat)
23
What is IFAC's treatment of contingent fees?
Contingent fees are allowed, but the firm should establish appropriate safeguards around acceptance of a contingent fee.
24
What are the GAO's three types of impairment of independence?
1. Personal
2. Organizational
3. External
25
What are GAO external impairments?
Pressures from outside of the auditor and the auditor's firm (i.e. Reducing the extent of audit work due to pressures from management to reduce fees, selecting audit items based on the wishes of an employee of the organization being audited, and influence by management on the personnel assigned to the audit)
26
What are the two principles for GAO independence standards for determining whether a nonaudit service impairs independence?
1. Auditors MUST NOT perform nonaudit services that involve performing management functions or making management decisions.
2. Auditors MUST NOT audit their own work or provide nonaudit services in situations in which the nonaudit services are significant or material to the subject matter of the audit.
27