Significant changes to the standards for compilation and review engagements will soon take effect. The AICPA’s Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC) issued Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services no. 19, Compilation and Review Engagements, in December. The standard’s effective date is for compilations and reviews of financial
Advertisement
TOPICS
Audit & assurance
PCAOB Reminds Auditors of Requirements Related to Unusual Transactions
The PCAOB on Wednesday issued an alert reminding public company auditors of their responsibilities related to the risk of material misstatements stemming from error or fraud associated with significant unusual transactions. “The PCAOB’s message to auditors, in this challenging economic environment, has consistently emphasized attention to audit risk and adherence
Auditing
The SEC approved Auditing Standard no. 7, Engagement Quality Review. The standard is effective for engagement quality reviews of audits and interim reviews for fiscal years that began on or after Dec. 15, 2009. Accordingly, for interim reviews of public companies that file financial reports on a calendar-year basis, the
PCAOB Seeks Comment on Proposed Auditing Standard on Communications
The PCAOB on Monday proposed for comment an auditing standard, Communications with Audit Committees, and a series of related amendments to its interim standards. The proposal includes a requirement for the auditor to establish a mutual understanding of the terms of the audit engagement with the audit committee and to
Comment Deadlines Nearing for Certain Clarified Exposure Drafts
The Auditing Standards Board recently issued additional Proposed Statements on Auditing Standards resulting from its clarity project, through which all of its auditing standards will be redrafted over the next one to two years. The goal of the clarity project is to make auditing standards easier to read, understand and
Auditing
The PCAOB on Dec. 17 voted to repropose for comment seven auditing standards and related amendments that collectively would revise the requirements for assessing risk in an audit. The PCAOB initially proposed the standards on Oct. 21, 2008. The reproposed standards include changes made in response to comments received
ASB Issues Compliance Audits Standard
The Auditing Standards Board has issued Statement on Auditing Standards no. 117, Compliance Audits. The standard supersedes SAS no. 74, Compliance Auditing Considerations in Audits of Governmental Entities and Recipients of Governmental Financial Assistance. The new guidance reflects changes in the compliance audit environment and incorporates the risk assessment standards.
AICPA Issues Guidance on Subsequent Events
New guidance is available on the effect of FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 855, Subsequent Events, in compilation and review engagements. The AICPA’s Audit and Attest Standards Team issued a new Technical Inquiry and Reply (TPA) 9150.26, “The Accountant’s Responsibilities for Subsequent Events in Compilation and Review Engagements.” According to
Recovery Act Funds Spark Auditing Interpretations
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the federal government is passing down almost $300 billion in additional funds to governments and nonprofit organizations. Much of the funding is subject to audits under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
PCAOB, CAQ Offer Academic Research Funds
The PCAOB and the AICPA-affiliated Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) are offering funds to support academic research on auditing and oversight topics. The PCAOB’s Academic Fellowship Program is seeking an experienced accounting researcher and academic, with an active interest in auditing and oversight matters, to serve as an academic fellow at the
New SSARS to Usher in Big Changes for Compilation and Review Engagements
The AICPA issued SSARS no. 19, Compilation and Review Engagements. Significant improvements brought about by the standard include: The introduction of the term review evidence. This change to the review literature clarifies that a review requires the accumulation of review evidence to provide a reasonable basis for obtaining limited
Highlights
The AICPA issued SSARS no. 19, Compilation and Review Engagements. Significant improvements brought about by the standard include: The introduction of the term review evidence. This change to the review literature clarifies that a review requires the accumulation of review evidence to provide a reasonable basis for obtaining limited
International Assurance Standard Released for Service Organizations, U.S. Equivalent Slated for Vote in January
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) on Friday released a new standard that addresses reports on the description, design and operating effectiveness of controls relating to outsourced services ranging from assisting with processing transactions to performing one or more business functions. International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3402,
House Passes Financial Regulatory Reform Bill
House lawmakers voted Friday to approve The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a series of financial regulatory measures. The AICPA advocated for the profession on several provisions in the bill. The bill gives the PCAOB authority to inspect and regulate audits of all broker-dealers. It gives the PCAOB
Auditing
The PCAOB postponed the effective date for registered public accounting firms required to report under its new rules to Dec. 31, 2009, from the previous date of Oct. 12, in order to resolve technical issues related to deploying the board’s new Web-based system for processing and publishing filings on the
Risk-Based Audit Best Practices
The aim of the risk assessment auditing standards was to improve the quality and effectiveness of audits by substantially changing audit practice. Statements on Auditing Standards nos. 104–111 provide increased rigor to the audit process in a number of key areas including the assessments of inherent and control risks and
Auditing at the Speed of Change
Henry Keizer is the global head of audit for KPMG International and U.S. vice chair of audit for KPMG LLP. He also is a member of the AICPA board of directors. He spoke with JofA Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Joanne Fiore following the AICPA’s board of directors meeting in August and
Auditing
The PCAOB published staff questions and answers about references to authoritative accounting guidance in PCAOB standards. The series of Q&As serves as a reminder that auditors should look to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification and SEC rules for authoritative U.S. GAAP guidance for SEC registrants, even though PCAOB standards may
FASAB Proposes Making AICPA’s Subsequent Events Guidance Authoritative
The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board released an exposure draft, Subsequent Events: Codification of Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards Contained in the AICPA Statements on Auditing Standards. The proposal would incorporate the guidance in the AICPA’s Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) AU section 560, Subsequent Events, into the authoritative FASAB
SEC Crafts Strategic Goals for 2010–2015
The SEC on Thursday released its draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2010–2015, which includes, among other goals, a continued commitment “to promote the establishment of high-quality accounting standards by independent standard setters” and support for “a single set of high-quality global accounting standards.” The draft Strategic Plan is a
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Building a better CPA firm: Stepping up service offerings
A key step in business model modernization is determining how to implement services that satisfy clients and employees.
From The Tax Adviser
August 30, 2025
2025 tax software survey
July 31, 2025
