Study Unit 2: questions Flashcards
Known misrepresentations of facts include:
(1) knowingly making materially false and misleading entries in financial statements or records,
(2) failing to make corrections in materially false or misleading statements or records when the member has such authority, or
(3) signing a document with materially false and misleading information.
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct states, in part, that a CPA should maintain integrity and objectivity. Objectivity in the Code refers to a CPA’s ability
to maintain an impartial attitude on all matters that come under the CPA’s review. Objectivity is a state of mind, a quality that lends itself to a member’s services. It is a distinguishing feature of the profession. The principle of objectivity imposes the obligation to be impartial, intellectually honest, and free of conflicts of interest.
The risk-based approach evaluates the risk that:
a CPA is not independent or is perceived by a reasonable and informed third party with knowledge of all relevant information as not independent. That risk must be reduced to an acceptable level to establish independence. Risk is acceptable when threats are acceptable. They may be acceptable because of the types of threats and their potential effect. Moreover, threats may be sufficiently mitigated or eliminated by safeguards. Threats are acceptable when it is not reasonable to expect that they will compromise professional judgment.
An auditor is not independent if:
(1) has a direct (or material indirect) investment in an entity,
(2) the entity has an investment in the client that is material to the entity, or
(3) the entity can exercise significant influence over the client.
What kind of loans are permitted from a financial institution client?
(1) auto loans and leases collateralized by the automobile,
(2) loans of the cash surrender value under terms of an insurance policy,
(3) borrowings fully collateralized by cash deposits at the same financial institution (e.g., passbook loans), and
(4) credit cards and overdraft reserve accounts with an aggregate balance not paid currently of $10,000 or less.
(5) The client sponsors an employee benefit plan in which the auditor participates.
True or False: Owning several shares of the bank’s common stock does not impair independence
FALSE: Even an immaterial direct financial interest impairs independence.
If a cousin is a CFO of a client, is your independence impaired?
No. A close relative (sibling, parent, or nondependent child) in a key position impairs independence. A cousin is not considered a close relative.
Explain impairment on independence if audit fees from last year are still not paid.
Audit fees that are long past due take on the characteristics of a loan. Independence is impaired if billed or unbilled fees for client services rendered more than 1 year prior to the report date remain unpaid when the current year’s report is issued.
A former partner or professional employee of the firm who is employed by or associated with an attest client in a key position impairs the firm’s independence unless:
the former partner does NOT participate or appear to participate in, and is not associated with, the firm, regardless of compensation. For example, such activity may be by consulting, use of an office, or inclusion in membership lists.
Is a CPA’s independence impaired if the auditor’s checking account, which is fully insured by a federal agency, is held at a client financial institution?
NO, not impaired. Moreover, uninsured amounts do not impair independence if they are immaterial.
When is independence impaired if litigation involvement exists?
Independence is not necessarily impaired when the CPA is a co-defendant with the client. However, cross-claims filed by the co-defendants AGAINST EACH other may impair independence. For example, the client may allege that the CPA was negligent, or the CPA may allege that the client’s management committed fraud. In these circumstances, the interests of the client and the CPA are opposed, and independence may be impaired.
Adams is the executive partner of Adams & Co., CPAs. One of its smaller clients is a large nonprofit charitable organization. The organization has asked Adams to be on its board of directors, which consists of a large number of the community’s leaders. Membership on the board is honorary. Adams & Co. would be considered to be independent?
The member is independent if
(1) the position is purely honorary,
(2) it is identified as such in all letterheads and externally circulated materials in which (s)he is named as a director or trustee, and
(3) (s)he does not vote or participate in management functions.
Which of the following statements best explains why the CPA profession has found it essential to establish ethical standards and means for ensuring their observance?
A. A distinguishing mark of a profession is its acceptance of responsibility to the public.
B. A requirement for a profession is to establish ethical standards that stress primarily a responsibility to clients and colleagues.
C. Ethical standards that emphasize excellence in performance over material rewards establish a reputation for competence and character.
D. Vigorous enforcement of an established code of ethics is the best way to prevent unscrupulous acts.
Answer (A) is correct.
According to the Principles section of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, “Members should accept the obligation to act in a way that will serve the public interest, honor the public trust, and demonstrate commitment to professionalism. A distinguishing mark of a profession is acceptance of its responsibility to the public.”
The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct contains both general ethical principles that are aspirational in character and also a
Set of specific, MANDATORY rules describing minimum levels of conduct a member must maintain.
The AICPA Code contains Principles and Rules. The principles are goal-oriented. The rules provide more specific guidance. The principles call for an unswerving commitment to honorable behavior but are not mandatory. The AICPA bylaws require members to adhere to the Rules. Those who fail to comply with the rules may face disciplinary action.
A CPA should undertake only those services that (s)he reasonably expects to complete with professional competence and should exercise due professional care in performing those services. Additional research or consultation with others may be necessary to gain sufficient competence to complete a service in accordance with professional standards. But what about obtaining specialty accreditation?
Additional research or consultation with others may be necessary to gain sufficient competence to complete a service in accordance with professional standards. However, professional standards DO NOT require specialty accreditation, although many CPAs choose to specialize in specific services.
In general, strict compliance with accounting principles is required. However, the Accounting Principles Rule recognizes that, due to unusual circumstances, adhering to GAAP may cause financial statements to be misleading. Would new legislation and evolution of a new form of business transaction justify a departure from an established accounting principle?
New legislation and the evolution of a new form of business transaction are events that may justify departure from an established accounting principle.
Under the Accounting Principles Rule, a CPA who performs services that require representations of conformity with promulgated GAAP because the statements would be misleading without the departure is required to describe:
(1) departure,
(2) effects of the departure and
(3) reasons compliance would result in misleading financial statements.
But this requirement applies only if the effect on the statements or data is material.
Examples of unusual circumstances that permit a departure from promulgated GAAP are:
(1) new legislation or
(2) the evolution of a new form of business transaction. But determination of what constitutes unusual circumstances is normally a matter of professional judgment.
Generally, can a name of a client be disclosed?
Yes, the names of clients generally may be disclosed, unless disclosure would suggest that the client may be experiencing financial difficulties.
To which of the following parties may a CPA partnership provide its audit documentation, without being lawfully subpoenaed or without the client’s consent?
A. The IRS.
B. Any surviving partner(s) on the death of a partner.
C. A CPA before purchasing a partnership interest in the firm.
D. The FASB.
Answer (B) is correct.
Audit documentation may be disclosed to another partner of the accounting firm without the client’s consent because such information has not been communicated to outsiders. A partner of the CPA has a fiduciary obligation to the client not to disclose confidential information without consent.
A member in public practice cannot disclose confidential client information without the client’s consent. The only exceptions are:
(1) in response to an enforceable subpoena;
(2) a review of the CPA’s professional practice;
(3) a discharge of professional obligations; and
(4) a response to an inquiry made by the professional ethics division, trial board of the AICPA, or an investigative or disciplinary body of a state society or board of accountancy.
A contingent fee is established as part of an agreement under which the amount of the fee is dependent upon the finding or result. Fees are not deemed to be contingent if:
A contingent fee is established as part of an agreement under which the amount of the fee is dependent upon the finding or result. Fees are not deemed to be contingent if fixed by courts or other public authorities, or in tax matters, if they are based on the results of judicial proceedings or the finding of governmental agencies.
Is this acceptable? An accountant is the sole shareholder in a professional accountancy corporation and uses the designation “and company” in the firm title.
no: A firm name may not be misleading. The designations “and Company,” “and Associates,” or “& Co.” are misleading when a member is a sole owner because they may be interpreted to mean more than one owner.
The Commissions and Referral Fees Rule prohibits a member in public practice from recommending any product or service to a client when the firm performs what type of service?
(1) an audit or review of financial statements,
(2) a compilation of a financial statement that is reasonably expected to be used by a third party if the report does not disclose the CPA’s lack of independence, or
(3) an examination of prospective financial information for that client.
