Chapter02 (2)

Professional Standards

Chapter 2

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McGraw-Hill/Irwin © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing, Attestation, Quality Control, Independence,

Ethical Standards for audits of public companies

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Auditing, Attestation, Quality Control, Independence

Ethical, Accounting and Review Standards for engagements involving nonpublic companies

State Boards of Accountancy License CPAs and CPA firms to practice in

jurisdictions

Authority of Organizations

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Generally Accepted Auditing Standards--General Standards

Adequate technical training and proficiency

Independence in mental attitude is to be maintained

Due professional care is to be exercised

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Generally Accepted Auditing Standards--Standards of Field

Work

Auditor must adequately plan and properly supervise work

Auditor must obtain a sufficient understanding of entity, and its environment, including internal control to assess risk of material misstatement and to design further audit procedures

Auditor must obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to afford a reasonable basis for the opinion

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Generally Accepted Auditing Standards--Standards of

Reporting State whether the financial statements are

presented in accordance with GAAP Identify circumstances in which such

principles have not been consistently applied Informative disclosures are adequate unless

otherwise stated in the report Report should clearly state the degree of

responsibility being assumed by the auditors by expressing an opinion or stating that one cannot be expressed, and the reason therefor

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Terminology in Auditing Standards (Figure 2.2)

ResponsibilityLevel

Meaning Words Used to Indicate Responsibility

UnconditionalResponsibility

Auditor must fulfill responsibilities “Must”“Is required”“Shall” (PCAOB only)

Presumptively Mandatory

Auditor must comply with requirements unless auditor demonstrates and documents that alternative actions were sufficient to achieve the objectives of the standards

“Should”

Responsibility to Consider

Auditor should consider; whether the auditor complies with the requirements depends on the exercise of professional judgment in the circumstances

“Might”“Could”Other phrases indicating a responsibilities to consider

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The GAAS Hierarchy (Figure 2.3)

Category Status Audit Guidance

1. Standards Auditors should be prepared to justify departures from these standards.

The 10 GAAS SASs Other standards for PCAOB, govt. audits, etc.

2. Interpretative Publications

Recommendations on the application of the SASs. If not followed, the auditors should be prepared to explain how they complied with the SAS provisions addressed.

Appendices to SASs Interpretation of SASs Auditing guidance in AICPA Audit and accounting Guides AICPA auditing Statements of Position

3. Other Auditing Publications

No authoritative status, but may help the auditor understand and apply the standards

Auditing articles Continuing education programs Textbooks Guidebooks Audit programs Checklists

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Auditor Responsibility for the

Detection of Errors and Fraud

Obtain information to assess the inherent risks and fraud risks Information about the company and its environment Discussion among audit team members Inquiries of management and others Planning analytical procedures, including those involving

revenue Assess the risk of errors and fraud that may cause the

financial statements to contain a material misstatement. Based on that assessment, plan and perform the audit to

obtain reasonable assurance that material misstatements, whether caused by errors or fraud, will be detected (including those procedures required by SAS No. 99.

Exercise due care in planning, performing and evaluating the results of audit procedures, and the proper degree of professional skepticism to achieve reasonable assurance that material misstatements due to error or fraud will be detected.

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Auditor Responsibility for the Detection of Illegal Acts

Those that could have a direct and material effect on financial statement amounts--same as for errors and fraud. An audit obtains reasonable assurance of detecting these types of illegal acts.

Those with an indirect effect on financial statement amounts: Be aware of possible occurrence. If information comes to the auditor’s attention,

apply audit procedures directed at determining whether an illegal act has occurred. An audit does not provide assurance that indirect-effect illegal acts will be detected.

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The Standard Auditors’ Report for Nonpublic

Companies Title Addressee Content

Introductory Paragraph Scope Paragraph Opinion Paragraph

Signature Date

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The Standard Auditors’ Report--

Introductory Paragraph

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of XYZ Company as of December 31, 20XX, and the related statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

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The Standard Auditors’ Report—

Scope Paragraph

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

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The Standard Auditors’ Report--

Opinion Paragraph

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of XYZ Company as of December 31, 20XX, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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The GAAP Hierarchy Authoritative Body Pronouncements Pronouncements of Bodies Composed of

Expert Accountants, That Are Exposed for Public Comment

Pronouncements of Bodies of Expert Accountants That Are Not Exposed for Public Comment

Widely Recognized Practices and Pronouncements

Other Accounting Literature

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Public Company Audit Report

Title is “Report of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm”

Refers to standards of the PCAOB rather than GAAS

Includes a fourth paragraph that refers to report on internal control

City and State (or Country) of audit firm must be included

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Applicability of SSAEs

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Elements of Quality Control

Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity

Personnel Management Acceptance and Continuance of

Clients and Engagements Engagement Performance Monitoring

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Regulation of the Public Accounting Profession

Public Companies Public Company Accounting Oversight

Board & the SEC Registration of public accounting firms that

audit public companies Conduct inspections of public company practice

of registered public accounting firms Nonpublic Companies

AICPA & State Boards of Accountancy Peer review for nonpublic practice segments

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International Audit Report

Contains expanded description of management’s responsibility

Contains an enhanced explanation of the audit process

May state “present fairly, in all material respects” or “give a true and fair view”

Report may indicate that the financial statements comply with the provisions of the country’s relevant statutes or laws

Must include city of the auditors’ office May be signed using the personal name of

the auditor or the audit firm or both

Chapter02 (2)

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