MIPP - Non-idenpendence rules Flashcards
examples of conflicts
- simultaneously advising two clients trying to acquire same company
- preparing valuation of assets to two clients who are simultaneously the potential seller and buyer of same asset
- representing both a husband and wife in divorce
- advising client to invest in business owned by a member relatives
- advising client on acquisition of assets that firm also seeks to acquire
- providing forensic acct services to one client to assist iit in deciding whether to sue another client
- providing personal financial planning services to several members of family knowing to have conflicts of interest
- referring a client to a service provider that, in turn, refers clients to member under an exclusive arrangement
when an actual conflict is identified by a member…
conceptual framework should be applied and engagements should be refused or terminated if risk of violation is unacceptably high.
disclosure of conflict should be disclosed to…
conflicts should be disclosed to clients and affected thrid parties, even if threats to compliance are at an acceptable level
director positions
objectivity is threatened when a member serves as a client entity’s director
it is preferable to serve as a mere consultant to a client’s board
Conceptual framework should be applied to determine whether threat to objectivity is unacceptably high
gifts and entertainment - when is objectivity and integrity threatened
objectivity and integrity are threatened if client (including officers, directors, and 10% shareholders) give gifts or entertainment to the firm or its members
what procedures are taken when members have disagreements with superior over how to record potential earnings, or other issue
- evaluate if threat is at unacceptable level, would result in MM or legal violation.
- discuss matter with superior
- if discussion does not resolve disagreement, talk to supervisor’s boss
- if after discussion up the chain, the right thing is not going to be done, invoke the following safeguards
- -do org’s policies and procedures have any addl requirements for reporting differences of opinion
- -determine whether there is a duty to report to external authorities
- consult legal counsel
- -fully document situation - consider quitting if threat is not reduced to acceptable level
client advocacy
- members doing attest work may not advocate for their attest clients
- members providing non-attest services may advocate for their clients, but should be careful and conservative so as to preserve credibility and avoid the “zealous” advocacy that lawyers often provide
use of a third party service provider
-threats to objectivity and integrity
- outsourcing work to third party service providers can threaten objectivity or integrity
- there is no problem if the third party service provider provides only administrative support (record storage, software application hosting, authorized efile transmittal services)
- if substantive services are outsourced, clients should be notified, preferably in writing, before any confidential information is provided to the third party service provider
- if client objects, the member should: not outsource or decline the engagement.
competence of a member means that…
means that the member or his/or her staff has appropriate technical qualifications and the member can supervise and evaluate quality of work performed
if competence doesn’t exist, what should cpa do
decline an engagement unless you have necessary knowledge or can acquire it through research or consolation with others
-if you employ a specialist to provide consulting services, you should have the ability to define the tasks and evaluate the results.
what should a member do before using third party service providers
- ensure any third party service providers you use have the required professional qualifications, technical skills and needed resources
- adequately plan and supervise third party service providers services and obtain the data needed to evaluate the job
circumstances justifying departure include
- new legislation
- evolution of a new for of business
departure from gaap is permitted when other accounting principles apply
- financial reporting frameworks generally accepted in foreign country
- frameworks prescribed by contract
- other special purpose frameworks required by law or by domestic or foreign regulatory agency
discreditable acts
members shall not commit discreditable acts
client provided records
records given by the client to the member
member prepared records
example, adjusting, closing, combining or consolidating journal entries and supporting schedules and comments that the member proposed or prepared as part of an engagement
member’s work product
deliverables set forth in the engagement letter such as a tax return
working papers
are all other items prepared solely for purposes of engagement, including items prepared by both the member (audit program, analytical review schedules, and statistical sampling and analysis) and the client (papers prepared at the member’s request and reflecting testing or other work done by the member)
what is the proper treatment of requests from client with respect to client provided records
should be delivered to the client at the client’s request, even if client has not paid its bill to the member
what is the proper treatment of requests from client with respect to member prepared records
related to a completed and issued work product should be delivered to the client at client’s request, except that they may be withheld if fees are due for that specific work product