3. Quality Management Flashcards
What is audit quality monitored by?
- FRC’s audit quality review team
Only fr public interest entities and certain other entities - ICAEW’s practice assurance scheme
How does the FRC promote audit quality?
- Issuing ISAs, ethical standards and occasional briefing papers
- Monitoring compliance through reviews of audit firms. And making findings public
- Overseeing regulatory activities of professional accounting bodies
- Investigating misconduct. And taking action against firms
Type of approach for quality management?
Risk-based
(Separate for the firm and for specific engagements)
What system provides reasonable assurance that a firm is meeting its quality objectives?
The SOQM
SOQM =
System Of Quality Management
What does a SOQM do?
Shows the way the firm should be structured
So it can perform its work at enough quality
Who is usually responsible for the firm’s SOQM?
Managing Partner
(Though can be delegated)
SOQM: What is the risk-assessment process?
- Establish quality objectives
- Identify risks
- Respond to risks
SOQM: Establishing quality objectives: What areas need to be considered?
- Governance and leadership
- Ethics
- Acceptance and continuance
- Engagement performance
- Resources
- Information and communication
SOQM: What are the mandatory responses?
- Ethical threats and reporting ethical breaches
- Documentation of compliance with ethical requirements
(obtained at least annually) -
Complaints
(regarding failure to comply with standards/regulation and/or SOQM) - Complex client situations
- Communication with audit clients about SOQM
- Engagement quality reviewers’ conduct and ISQM compliance
SOQM: What are the quality objectives for governance and leadership
OBT
SOQM: What is the quality objective for ethical considerations?
Fully understand and fulfill their ethical responsibilities (OBT)
SOQM: What is considered in terms of acceptance and continuance?
Ensure it doesn’t sacrifice quality or ethics (more in OBT)
SOQM: What needs to be considered in terms of engagement performance?
OBT: Engagement teams need to understand and fulfill their responsibilities (including the partner’s overall responsibility for the
work)the nature, timing and extent of direction, supervision and review must be appropriate . Engagement teams exercise appropriate professional judgement/scepticism. Consultation is undertaken on difficult or contentious issues. Differences of opinion (from the engagement team) are brought to the attention of the firm and resolved. Documentation is assembled on a timely basis and retained to comply with relevant standards/laws
SOQM: Who has responsibility for engagement performance?
Engagement partner
But can be passed to most senior team member at engagement location
SOQM: How should supervision be carried out?
Enough mistakes avoided
While allowing staff to show initiative