Audit & assurance news and resources -- Journal of Accountancy

TOPICS

December 8, 2025

New SEC chair to CPAs: ‘Back to basics’

Paul Atkins, appearing at the AICPA Conference on Current SEC & PCAOB Developments, asked accounting professionals to focus on financial materiality and provided his thoughts on the future of the PCAOB, crypto, and IPOs.

December 5, 2025

PEEC releases clarifying guidance on independence in SSAE engagements

The AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee’s revisions clarify independence requirements and will be effective June 15, 2026.

December 1, 2025

Common audit claims and defenses

In the professional liability world, audit claims are relatively infrequent but exceptionally expensive.

November 19, 2025

AI and the audit: Finance leaders strongly support forward-thinking firms

Nearly all CFOs and finance directors in a BDO survey say they would pay more to work with audit firms that rely on artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.

November 17, 2025

Writing an effective AI prompt for an audit

Explore AI in audit, SQMS documentation strategies, and fraud prevention insights from the November 2025 A&A Focus webcast for accounting professionals.

November 1, 2025

QM is here: Advice from early adopters

Firms will need to learn from mistakes, fine-tune systems, and adapt to new ways of thinking about quality.

October 20, 2025

Insights into the practical effects on CECL by FASB ASU 2025-05

The October A&A Focus webcast also examined considerations of using a cash-basis accounting method and considerations for auditing revenue.

October 14, 2025

Right-size your quality management documentation for SQMS No. 1

Optimize quality management documentation for SQMS No. 1. Check out these practical tips to keep documentation appropriate and comprehensive, yet right-sized. Remember, the QM deadline is Dec. 15.

October 3, 2025

PCAOB publishes guidance related to Audit Evidence amendments

The guidance, combined with a recent PCAOB policy statement, applies to requirements becoming effective later this year.

September 19, 2025

A&A Focus recap: AI considerations in A&A, GASB updates, and practical lease accounting challenges

The September webcast featured insights on leveraging artificial intelligence in practice, recent developments in state and local government accounting, and practical challenges with ASC 842 lease identification.

September 3, 2025

New: Digital assets practice aid addresses auditing of lending, borrowing

A new chapter in Accounting for and Auditing of Digital Assets provides examples of substantive procedures and scenarios for both the lender and borrower perspectives.

August 29, 2025

PCAOB postpones effective date for new quality control system

The PCAOB announced that QC 1000, A Firm’s System of Quality Control, is set to be effective Dec. 15, 2026, to give firms sufficient time for implementation.

August 18, 2025

A&A Focus recap: M&A trends, non-GAAP frameworks, and how quality management and peer review intersect

The August webcast explored accelerating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the profession, practical insights on special purpose (non-GAAP) frameworks, and how peer review will address implementation of the new quality management standards.

August 12, 2025

AICPA unveils new QM resources to help firms meet Dec. 15 deadline

The AICPA updated its SQMS No. 1 practice aid, released a new resource on monitoring and remediation, and is hosting live webcasts to help firms implement the new quality management standards by Dec. 15. Key features of the 2025 practice aid on complying with SQMS No. 1 include expanded discussions, tailored guidance for firms of all sizes, and tools for documentation, evaluation, and effective compliance.

August 12, 2025