The U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-awaited ruling in the constitutional challenge to the PCAOB that left the agency virtually unchanged. The court’s 5–4 decision, announced in June, will not affect day-to-day operations of the PCAOB, the agency said. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. In it,
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Audit & assurance
PCAOB Proposes Higher Evidence Standards in Audit Confirmations
The PCAOB released for comment a proposed auditing standard that it says would update and expand the requirements related to the auditor’s use of confirmations, requiring a high level of evidence. In a statement issued with the proposed new standard on Tuesday, PCAOB Acting Chairman Daniel L. Goelzer said the
Former PCAOB and Fed Official Joins Center for Audit Quality
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) on Wednesday announced that former PCAOB and Federal Reserve Board official Angela Desmond has joined the center as senior director of external relations. Desmond comes to the AICPA-affiliated CAQ from Corporate Risk Advisors LLC, a Washington-based consulting and strategic advisory firm specializing in the
Common Question-Evasion Tactics
In her book Extraordinary Circumstances: The Journey of a Corporate Whistleblower, Cynthia Cooper, WorldCom Inc.’s chief audit executive, details the discovery of a fraud that she was able to unravel, in large part, due to her interviewing skills. At a critical point in Cooper’s investigation, Buddy Yates, WorldCom’s general director
Auditing
The AICPA prepared a set of questions and answers to help explain the changes resulting from the issuance of Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements no. 16, Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization, by the Auditing Standards Board. SSAE no. 16 applies when data resulting from an outsourcing
Little Change for PCAOB Under High Court Ruling
The Supreme Court’s 5–4 decision Monday in the constitutional challenge to the PCAOB will leave the agency virtually unchanged. The court’s ruling will not affect day-to-day operations of the PCAOB, the agency said. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. In it, he said the court was isolating, or
Supreme Court Expected to Rule Soon on PCAOB’s Constitutionality
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,”
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
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