The PCAOB oversees audits of which types of companies?
Public only (issuers)
SOX Title I created which entity?
PCAOB
SOX Title I established the role of the PCAOB to include
Registration of public accounting firms
Establishing the rules related to preparation of audit reports
Inspecting, investigating, and invoking disciplinary action concerning registered public accounting firms
A PCAOB inspection occurs how frequently
If you audit >100 issuers, the inspection is every year
If you audit <100 issuers, the inspection is every 3 years
True / False: only registered firms can audit an SEC issuer
True
How long must audit documentation be retained under the PCAOB rules?
Minimum of 7 years
For quality purposes, the PCAOB mandates this type of review of each audit report.
Concurrent or second partner review
What are the SOX Title II services that are prohibited when auditing an issuer
Bookkeeping
Financial information systems design and implementation
Appraisal and valuation services
Actuarial services
Management functions or HR services
Internal audit outsourcing services
Services as a broker, dealer, investment adviser, or investment banker
Legal services
Expert services unrelated to the audit
True / False: Tax services (doing the corporate tax return) provided to an issuer are permissible if approved by the CEO and CFO.
False
It is permissible but only if preapproved by the audit committee
The audit engagement partner must rotate from the client how frequently
Every 5 years
The reviewing partner must rotate from the client how frequently
Every 5 years
SOX states it is a conflict of interest if a partner of the firm leaves the firm and becomes employed as a senior manager (CFO, CEO, CAO, etc) within what period of time.
One year
SOX states it is a conflict of interest if a senior manager (CFO, CEO, CAO, etc) leaves the company and becomes employed in a registered firm within what period of time.
One year
When determining independence of a registered auditor, SOX considers these conceptual framework items.
Is there a mutual or conflicting interest between the auditor and client
Is the auditor acting as management for the client
Does the engagement place the auditor in a position of auditing his own work
Is the auditor acting as an advocate for the audit client
According to the SOX, what types of financial relationships impair the auditor’s independence?
All direct investments and material indirect investments
Loans to/from an audit client or its upper management of >10% of the audit client’s equity securities
Savings and checking account balances that exceed the amount insured by the FDIC
Broker-dealer accounts if other than cash or securities, or more than the insured amount
Futures commission merchant accounts
Credit card balances >$10,000
Insurance products issued by an audit client
Direct investments in a client include:
Any stocks, bonds, notes, options, or other securities, even if held through an intermediary
Beneficial ownership of more than 5% of the client’s equity securities
Serve as a voting trustee of a trust containing securities of the client
Serve as the executor of an estate containing securities of the client
Who is a covered person.
Anyone in the chain of command, including review or quality control, performance evaluation, or a managerial employee who provided >10 hours of service or expects to provide >10 hours on a recurrent basis, plus all other partners in which the lead audit partner practices
True / False: You receive client’s stock in an inheritance and dispose of the stock as soon as possible. The auditor may not participate in the audit during the period the stock is held.
False
The auditor could not control its receipt and disposed of the stock as soon as practicable
What types of employment relationships impair independence
Client officer joins the CPA firm
Family works for the client
CPA firm employee joins the client as an executive (requires 1 year cooling-off period)
True / False: For an auditor of an issuer, the auditor may accept contingency fees when the fee is set by the courts.
False
All contingency fees impair independence
True / False: The audit committee and only the audit committee can approve audit services for a issuer.
True
What types of information are required reporting to the audit committee?
Critical accounting principles and practices used
Alternative accounting treatments discussed with mgmt and the ramifications of the use of the alternatives, and which treatment was preferred by the audit firm
Material written communications between the audit firm and management, including
** the management letter
** the schedule of unadjusted audit differences (SOAP = Summary of Adjustments Passed)
True / False: Auditor independence is impaired if an audit partner earns or receives compensation based on selling engagements to an audit client for services other than audit, review, or attest.
True
True / False: The auditor of a client may perform tax preparation for the officers or other senior managers of the client
False
The auditor may be engaged to prepare tax returns for the entity, but not for its employees