Audit Exam 1 Flashcards
Auditing
Involves objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding financial assertions of management to ascertain the degree of correspondence between the assertions and established criteria, and communicating results to interested uses.
Can audits be used by non-public companies?
Yes! It helps reduce the cost of capital and transaction costs.
Assurance
the most general category - which serves to improve the quality of information for decision makers
Attestation
the next sub category - provides an opinion as to the reliability of another’s assertions
Auditing
the most specific sub category - provides an opinion on assertions regarding economic events
Levels of Assurance
Positive - Limited/Negative - No Assurance
Example of Positive Assurance
an auditor’s report on a 10K
Example of Negative/Limited Assurance
review of financial statements
Example of No Assurance
compilation of financial statements
Who are providers of assurance?
public accounting firms - internal auditors - governmental audit profession - IRS agents
Who is part of regulating the accounting profession?
PCAOB - SEC - AICPA - COSO - IIA - GAO - State Board of accountancy - the courts
what does GAO stand for
government accountability office
corporate governance
the process by which the owners of an organization maintain the control and the accountability for the use of their resources for their business
Parties involved in the governance process
stockholders - BoD - Management - Audit Committee of the BoD - self regulatory agencies (AICPA FASB NYSE..etc) - Outside regulators (SEC) - external auditors - internal auditors
what does the sarbanes oxley act require?
that auditors of publicly traded companies are required to register with PCAOB
issuer of SOX
companies that file under the SEC Act of 1933 and 1934
Registrants of SOX
public accounting firms that prepare or issue any report with respect to any issuer
The PCAOB has the authority to 1 of 4
establish auditing, quality control, and independence standards
The PCAOB has the authority to 2 of 4
conduct inspections of registered firms
The PCAOB has the authority to 3 of 4
investigate any registered firm for acts in violation of standards or omissions of acts
The PCAOB has the authority to 4 of 4
enforce rules through various measures, including revoking registrations, filing civil lawsuits or changing fines
what else does SOX address?
corporate responsibility, financial disclosures, analysts, and fraud.
PCAOB standards are what in longer terms?
After SOX, the PCAOB adopted the original AICPA auditing standards as interim standards and has since then been issuing its own series of standards to supplement the original standards
What are the 3 categories of the PCAOB Standards
- General Standards
- Standards of Fieldwork
- Standards of Reporting
What are the PCAOB standards? (General Standards)
technical training and proficiency - independence - due professional care
what are the PCAOB standards? (Standards of Fieldwork)
planning of supervision - understanding internal control - sufficient competent evidential matter
what are the PCAOB standards? (standards of reporting)
financial statements prepared according to GAAP - Note inconsistencies with previous report - note inadequacies in disclosures - express opinion or provide reason why none provided
Specific standard of the AICPA
statements on auditing standards - identified two ways, through the original SAS numbering system and new codification, AU system, or AU-C for the recognized standards
PCAOB specific standard
PCAOB pronouncements - for audits of publicly traded companies
AICPA specific standard
attestation standards - for non audit attestation engagements
IAASB specific standard
international auditing and assurance standards board
quality control in auditing firms who is relevant?
AICPA –> peer review process - concurring partner review - licensing requirements / continuing education - limits on non audit services
GAAS
the general standards and are not really used for the basis of enforcement actions against CPAs, but often as the basis for determining negligence in legal liability cases
the code
provides more detailed guidance in the form of explicit rules, which are enforceable. They outline the minimum level of service a CPA is expected to perform and apply to all services performed by CPAs, not just as audit services as is the case with GAAS
what are two character rules of a CPA
independence rule & objective and integrity rule