IAASB: Similarities And Differences

* Common history shows that prior to PCAOB, the accounting industry was self-regulated through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Create an argument that the public is either better or worse off since PCAOB assumed the

In general, the main criticisms of the PCAOB are that it has not made sufficient it’s regulatory power, it is slow to act in its investigations of enforcement cases, and that it targets enforcement on smaller firms in order to protect the Big 4 firms, which are regarded as “too big to fail.” While I do not disagree with the fact that the PCAOB is slow and has not produced a significant amount of regulation, I do disagree with the criticism of the PCAOB as a regulatory body in general. I feel that certain members of the public desire absolute transparency in financial reporting, but do not understand the economy required to so. It is nearly impossible, not to mention impractical, to breakdown every aspect of a multi-billion dollar corporation to ensure that every transaction is accounted for

3 – Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) (source: PYP7-6 Kimmel textbook.) The PCAOB was created as a result of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It has oversight and enforcement responsibilities over CPA firms in the United States.

CAS 300 requires auditors to their audit using a risk based model where the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures are based on the assessed risk of material misstatement. Pickett (2006) argues that for audits to be effective and efficient, much of the audit effort should be focused on areas that are considered to pose the highest audit risk. Additional audit procedures should be linked to individual audit assertions whereas other audit procedures need to be performed as and when needed. Thus, for an audit plan to be put in place, it is necessary for an auditor to come up with a risk profile of the client comprising an understanding of the business operating by the audit client, assess business risk and also perform its preliminary analytical review.

In general, the main criticisms of the PCAOB are that it has not made sufficient it’s regulatory power, it is slow to act in its investigations of enforcement cases, and that it targets enforcement on smaller firms in order to protect the Big 4 firms, which are regarded as “too big to fail.” While I do not

First, Congress saw the need to create an independent body to oversee the audit of public companies that are subject to the securities laws. PCAOB was established to protect the investors and further the public interest in the preparation of informative, accurate, and independent audit reports for public companies. Before the SOX, The

The auditor must review disclosures for adequacy, and if the auditor concludes that information disclosures are not reasonably adequate, the auditor must state so in the auditor’s

AS 3 goes on to state in paragraph A9 that “the documentation requirements in this standard should result in more effective and efficient oversight of registered public accounting firms and associated persons, thereby improving audit quality and enhancing investor confidence”.

Properly prepared audit documentation should provide 1) a basis for planning the audit, 2) a record of evidence collected and results of tests performed on the evidence, 3) a basis for determining the appropriate audit report and 4) a basis for review by supervisors of the work performed. Achievement of these four purposes aids the auditor in providing reasonable assurance that the audit was conducted in accordance with the auditing standards.

It was believed that Johnson conducted all audits in accordance with the PCAOB standards for the 2012 and 2013 year-end financial statements. Unqualified opinions that were issued were done in two different forms: 10-K and S-1. Six of the clients were affected by the unqualified opinion, and the other two clients had issues with the registration statements.

The objectives an audit team hopes to accomplish by preparing a proper set of audit workpapers is to facilitate the planning, performance, supervision of the engagement, and provide evidence supporting significant conclusions by the auditor in accordance with the PCAOB. A record of the evidence, samples tested and the conclusions are presented to supervisors and partners for review

Also any maintenance done to system since last audit. These are things that need disclosed so verification of changes can be verified within the system and that those requiring and not requiring access have appropriate access (PCAOB, 2014).

The PCAOB gives a new meaning to the public accounting industry. The board must be composed of five members, appointed for a 5-year term, two of which are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) or have previously been CPAs, and three of which have never been CPAs. The chair of the PCAOB may be a CPA, but only if he has been out of practice for at least five years. "The members must be independent of the accounting profession as no member may, concurrent with service on the board, share in any of the profits of, or receive payments from, a public accounting firm, other than fixed payment such as retirement payments" (4). All members of the PCAOB must be appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The board performs various jobs which include: "oversee the audit of public companies, establish audit report standards and rules, inspect, investigate and enforce compliance on the part of registered public accounting firms and those associated with the firms" (4). Not only do public accounting firms who audit the financial reports of public companies have to register with the PCAOB, but foreign public accounting firms must register as well. The standards of auditing include:

blic interest entities. According to the IAASB project summary (IAASB 2013), in developing the proposed other information standard, the Board considered the IAASB's recent proposal, the responsibilities of the auditor relating to the other information in documents accompanying or containing audited financial statements and henceforth the auditor's report.

It is very important to understand the client’s business. The standards require it; the 2nd standard of Fieldwork also requires it. It is necessary in order to plan and perform our work. The auditor is expected to plan and perform an audit that provides reasonable assurance that material misstatements will be detected. Audit documentation should be prepared in sufficient detail to provide a clear understanding of its purpose, source, and the conclusions reached. Two of the most important things though are to validate compliance with PCAOB standards and demonstrate support basis for conclusions on every relevant assertions. Auditors maintain