Statements on
Quality Control Standards are issued by the Auditing Standards Board. Firms that are enrolled in an Institute-approved practice-monitoring program are obligated to adhere to quality control standards established by the Institute. This section provides guidance on how a CPA firm implements the monitoring element of a quality control system in its accounting and auditing practice.
fn 1 Section 20, System of Quality Control for a CPA Firm's Accounting and Auditing Practice, describes Monitoring as one of the five elements of quality control. It provides that a CPA firm
fn 2 should establish policies and procedures to provide the firm with reasonable assurance that the policies and procedures relating to each of the other elements of quality control are suitably designed and are being effectively applied. Monitoring involves an ongoing consideration and evaluation of the— When monitoring, the effects of the firm's management philosophy and the environment in which the firm practices and its clients operate should be considered. Monitoring Procedures.03Monitoring procedures taken as a whole should enable the firm to obtain reasonable assurance that its system of quality control is effective. Procedures that provide the firm with a means of identifying and communicating circumstances that may necessitate changes to or the need to improve compliance with the firm's policies and procedures contribute to the monitoring element. A firm's monitoring procedures may include—
.04Inspection procedures evaluate the adequacy of the firm's quality control policies and procedures, its personnel's understanding of those policies and procedures, and the extent of the firm's compliance with its quality control policies and procedures. Inspection procedures contribute to the monitoring function because findings are evaluated and changes in or clarifications of quality control policies and procedures are considered. .05The need for and extent of inspection procedures depends in part on the existence and effectiveness of the other monitoring procedures. Factors to be considered in determining the need for and extent of inspection procedures include, but are not limited to—
.06The nature of inspection procedures will vary based on the firm's quality control policies and procedures and the effectiveness and results of other monitoring procedures. The adequacy of and compliance with a firm's quality control system are evaluated by performing such inspection procedures as—
Inspection procedures with respect to the engagement performance element of a quality control system are particularly appropriate in a firm with more than a limited number of management-level individuals fn 6 responsible for the conduct of its accounting and auditing practice. .07Inspection procedures may be performed at a fixed time(s) during the year covering a specified period(s) of time or as part of ongoing quality control procedures, or a combination thereof. .08Procedures for carrying out preissuance or postissuance review of engagement working papers, reports, and clients' financial statements by a qualified management-level individual (or by a qualified individual under his or her supervision) may be considered part of the firm's monitoring procedures provided that those performing or supervising such preissuance or postissuance reviews are not directly associated with the performance of the engagement. Such preissuance or postissuance review procedures may constitute inspection procedures provided—
A preissuance and, except as described in paragraph .09, a postissuance review of engagement working papers, reports, and clients' financial statements by the person with final responsibility for the engagement does not constitute a monitoring procedure. .09In small firms with a limited number of qualified management-level individuals, postissuance review of engagement working papers, reports, and clients' financial statements by the person with final responsibility for the engagement may constitute inspection procedures, provided the provisions in paragraph .08a-d are followed. (See also paragraph .11.) Monitoring in Small Firms With a Limited Number of Management-Level Individuals.10In small firms with a limited number of management-level individuals, monitoring procedures may need to be performed by some of the same individuals who are responsible for compliance with the firm's quality control policies and procedures. To effectively monitor one's own compliance with the firm's policies and procedures, an individual must be able to critically review his or her own performance, assess his or her own strengths and weaknesses, and maintain an attitude of continual improvement. Changes in conditions and in the environment within the firm (such as obtaining clients in an industry not previously serviced or significantly changing the size of the firm) may indicate the need to have quality control policies and procedures monitored by another qualified individual. .11The performance of inspection procedures in firms with a limited number of management-level individuals can assist the firm in the monitoring process. An individual inspecting his or her own compliance with a quality control system may be inherently less effective than having such compliance inspected by another qualified individual. When one individual inspects his or her own compliance, the firm may have a higher risk that noncompliance with policies and procedures will not be detected. Accordingly, a firm in this circumstance may find it beneficial to engage a qualified individual from outside the firm to perform inspection procedures. The Relationship of Peer Review to Monitoring.12A peer review does not substitute for monitoring procedures. However, since the objective of a peer review is similar to that of inspection procedures, a firm's quality control policies and procedures may provide that a peer review conducted under standards established by the AICPA may substitute for some or all of its inspection procedures for the period covered by the peer review. Effective Date.13The provisions of this section are applicable to a CPA firm's system of quality control for its accounting and auditing practice as of January 1, 1997. Which of the following is an element of a CPA firm's quality control policies and procedures applicable to the firm's accounting and auditing practice?The quality control policies and procedures applicable to a firm's accounting and auditing practice should encompass the following elements: Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity. Personnel Management. Acceptance and Continuance of Clients and Engagements.
Which of the following is a necessary part of the practice monitoring requirement for AICPA membership?Which of the following is a necessary part of the practice-monitoring requirement for AICPA membership? Peer review. Which of the following is an element of a CPA firm's quality control policies and procedures applicable to the firm's accounting and auditing practice? Engagement performance.
Which of the following rules of the aicpa code of professional conduct must be observed only by a member who is in public practice?Which of the following rules of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct must be observed only by a member who is in public practice? Independence. The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct does not include enforceable Rules of Conduct on which of the following? Responsibilities to colleagues.
Which of the following activities would be most helpful to a CPA in deciding whether to accept a new audit client quizlet?Which of the following activities would be most helpful to a CPA in deciding whether to accept a new audit client? -Evaluating the CPA's ability to properly service the client.
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