A decision is expected soon in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a Supreme Court case that calls into question the future of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and the PCAOB. So what happens if the court rules against the PCAOB? “A key question is how far an adverse ruling would go,”
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Audit & assurance
FAQ Outlines New Service Organization Standards
The AICPA has developed a set of questions and answers to help explain the changes resulting from the recent issuance of Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16, Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization, by the AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board. SSAE No. 16 is applicable when an entity
The Recovery Act: An Auditee’s Perspective
In response to the severe economic crisis, the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) became law in February 2009. The primary goal of this act was to create and save jobs and stimulate long-term economic growth. Only $275 billion of the Recovery Act funds allocated for contracts,
News Highlights for June 2010
The PCAOB 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 document that
Risk Assessment Standards Clarified
The Auditing Standards Board recently issued six clarified Statements on Auditing Standards related to risk assessment resulting from its clarity project, through which all of its auditing standards will be redrafted over the next one to two years. The board also issued additional proposed SASs. The goal of the clarity project
FAQs: Significant Change to Compilation Reporting Requirements When Independence Is Impaired
Editor’s note: This list of FAQs is a Web-exclusive sidebar to “Changes on Tap for Compilation and Review Standards,” May 2010. Question: To what compilation engagements does SSARS no. 19 apply? Answer: SSARS no. 19 applies to compilations of financial statements and other specified elements, accounts or items
News Highlights for May 2010
The Auditing Standards Board recently issued six clarified Statements on Auditing Standards related to risk assessment resulting from its clarity project, through which all of its auditing standards will be redrafted over the next one to two years. The board also issued additional proposed SASs. The goal of the clarity
Auditing
The AICPA’s Audit and Attest Standards staff has issued Technical Practice Aid (TPA) 9110.16, Example Reports on Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Loss Sharing Purchase and Assumption Transactions, to provide guidance to independent auditors on the type of report they might have to give to the FDIC regarding a loss-sharing
Changes on Tap for Compilation and Review Standards
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
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
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