University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
ACCT 460 | Auditing Principles and Analytics
Academic year:

2024
Views:

409

Pages:

39
Author:

8n5en2t1nz5m

Auditing & Assurance Services General Ethics • Ethics that branch of philosophy which is the systematic study of reflective choice, of the standards of right and wrong by which it is to be guided, and of the goods toward which it may ultimately be directed. - Wheelwright, 1959 • Key elements – Decision problems – Moral principles – Consequences Mod B-4 What is an Ethical Problem? • A problem situation exists when an individual must make a choice among alternative actions and the right choice is not absolutely clear. • An ethical problem situation may be described as one in which the choice of alternative actions affects the well-being of other persons. • More often, there is a conflict between what we should do and what we want to do. Mod B-5 An Ethical Decision Process 1. Define all facts and circumstances 2. Identify stakeholders 3. Identify stakeholders’ rights and obligations in general and to each other 4. Identify alternatives and consequences 5. Choose superior alternative with respect to consequences and/or rules Mod B-6 Philosophical Principles in Ethics • The Imperative Principle • The Principle of Utilitarianism – Act-utilitarianism – Rule-utilitarianism • Virtue Ethics Mod B-7 The Imperative Principle (Kant) • Directs a decision maker to act according to the requirements of an ethical rule • Strict versions of imperative ethics maintain that a decision should be made without trying to predict whether an action will create the greatest balance of good over evil • Ethics in the imperative sense is a function of moral rules and principles and does not involve a situation-specific calculation of the consequences Mod B-8 The Principle of Utilitarianism (J.S. Mill) • Emphasizes examining the consequences of an action rather than following rules • The criterion of producing the greater good is made an explicit part of the decision process • In act-utilitarianism, the center of attention is the individual act as it is affected by the specific circumstances of a situation • Rule-utilitarianism emphasizes the centrality of rules for ethical behavior while still maintaining the criterion of the greatest universal good Mod B-9 The Generalization Argument • A judicious combination of the imperative and utilitarian principles • Considers the consequences of a decision made by similar persons acting under similar circumstances • “What would happen if everyone acted in that certain way?” • If the answer to the question is that the consequences would be undesirable, the conclusion is that the way of acting is unethical and should not be done. Mod B-10 Virtue Ethics (Aristotle) • Setting self-focused standards for instilling intra-personal excellence and building character: – Virtues such as honesty, openness, integrity, etc. – Behavior you would be proud to have widely reported. Mod B-11 Ethical Codes of Conduct • U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) • The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) • The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) • The Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) • Applicable State Society of CPAs • Applicable State Board of Accountancy Mod B-12 Ethical Codes of Conduct Mod B-13 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Principles Rules of Conduct • Ideal standards of ethical conduct • Minimum standards of ethical conduct stated as specific rules Interpretations • Interpretations of the rules by the AICPA division of professional ethics Ethical Rulings • Published explanations and answers to questions about rules of Conduct Mod B-14 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct: Principles Basic tenets of ethical conduct • Responsibilities - exercise sensitive professional and moral judgment • Public Interest - honor the public trust • Integrity - perform responsibilities with the highest sense of integrity • Objectivity - impartial, unbiased, and independent, free of conflicts of interest and independent in fact and appearance • Due care - diligence, competence, thorough, prompt • Scope and nature of services - observe the principles when considering the scope and nature of services provided Mod B-15 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct • • • • Rules of Conduct Interpretations Ethics Rulings Authority is derived from the Bylaws of the AICPA Mod B-16 AICPA Rules of Conduct Mod B-17 An Emphasis on Independence Rule 101: Independence – A member in public practice shall be independent in the performance of professional services as required by standards promulgated by bodies designated by Council. Mod B-18 Conceptual Framework for AICPA Independence Standards In April 2006, the PEEC adopted the Conceptual Framework for AICPA Independence Standards, which describes the PEEC’s risk-based approach to analyzing independence issues that arise: 1. Identify and evaluate threats to independence. 2. Determine whether safeguards eliminate or sufficiently mitigate the identified threats. 3. Determining whether independence is impaired. Mod B-19 Threats to an Auditor’s Independence • Familiarity threat. CPAs having a close or longstanding relationship with a client. • Adverse interest threat. CPAs acting in opposition to clients (e.g., through litigation). • Undue influence threat. Attempts to coerce or otherwise influence the CPA member (e.g., significant gifts or threats to replace the auditor over an accounting principles disagreement). • Self-review threat. CPAs reviewing their own work. • Financial self-interest threat. CPAs having a financial relationship with a client. • Management participation threat. CPAs taking on the role of client management or otherwise performing management functions. • Advocacy threat. CPAs promoting a client’s interests or position. Mod B-20 Who is a Covered Member? Covered members include • All individuals participating in an engagement. • An individual in a position to influence the engagement. • A partner or manager who provides nonattest services to an attest client. • A partner in the office where engagement partner practices. • The firm’s benefit plan. • An entity that can be controlled by any person considered a member. Mod B-21 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence • Applies to attestation engagements (audits and reviews) • Financial relationships – No direct financial interest – No material indirect financial interests – No material joint ventures with client, officers, directors, or shareholders – Loans - normal lending practices, collateral required • Managerial relationships – Cannot act as a promoter, underwriter, or equivalent to an employee (i.e., no decision making) Mod B-22 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence For the purpose of independence • Immediate family members have the same restrictions as the member – Spouse, spousal equivalent, or dependent cannot have • • • • A direct financial interest A material indirect financial interest Hold a position of influence with an audit client • • Ownership or control of an audit client Employment with a client in an audit sensitive position Close relative – All immediate family members and parents, siblings, or nondependent child cannot Mod B-23 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence Write-up services are allowed if: • • • • Client understands and accepts the statements as their own Auditor does not assume a role of employee or management No other relationship that impairs integrity and objectivity Exception: Cannot do write-up services for public company clients Mod B-24 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence Loans from financial institutions are permitted if: • Obtained prior to 2/5/01 under old rules. • Obtained prior to the lender becoming a client. • The loan was sold to an attest client. • The loan was obtained before the CPA became a member. • Loans on life insurance. • Fully collateralized by cash deposits, loans, leases, etc. • Credit cards and cash advances less than $10,000. Mod B-25 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence Threatened litigation impairs independence if management and the auditors are suing each other. Management Auditor But, Lawsuits from 3rd parties do not effect independence. Mod B-26 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 101: Independence Financial interest in a nonclient may impair independence when the nonclient has a financial interest in the client. Auditor Owns Nonclient Owns Client Audit Mod B-27 SEC & PCAOB Independence Rules An auditor’s independence depends on auditors both having the proper mental state and passing the appearance test. Thus they must have: • Independence in fact – A mental state of objectivity and lack of bias • Independence in appearance – depends on whether a reasonable investor, with knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances, can conclude that the auditor is not capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment. Mod B-28 SEC & PCAOB Independence Rules The SEC and PCAOB rules prohibit or place restrictions on the following types of nonaudit services provided to audit clients: • • • • • • • • • • • Financial information systems design and implementation; Appraisal or valuation services; Actuarial services; Internal audit services; Management functions; Human resources; Broker-dealer services; Legal services; Expert services; Any service for an audit client for a contingent fee or commission; Tax services that are based on judicial proceedings or aggressive interpretations of tax law; • Planning or opining on the tax consequence of a transaction; • Tax services for key company executives. Mod B-29 SEC & PCAOB Independence Rules SEC rules require that companies (not auditors) disclose the following in proxy statements delivered to their shareholders : • Total audit fees to the public accounting firm for the annual audit and the reviews of quarterly financial information; • Total fees to the public accounting firm for tax and other advisory work; • Whether the audit committee or the board of directors considered the public accounting firm’s advisory work to be compatible with maintaining the auditor’s independence; • If more than 50 percent, the percentage of the audit hours performed by persons other than the principal auditor’s full-time, permanent employees. Mod B-30 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 102: Integrity and Objectivity • CPAs must remain free of conflicts of interest – A conflict of interest may exist when there is a significant relationship with a person, entity, product, or service that could be viewed as impairing the members objectivity • Do not knowingly misrepresent facts. • May not subordinate judgments to others. • Do not knowingly make false or misleading entries in an entity’s financial records. Mod B-31 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 102: Integrity and Objectivity • If disagreements exist concerning the preparation of financial statements or the recording of transactions, accept the supervisor’s position if acceptable. – Report to higher level if supervisor’s position is not acceptable. – Consider resigning if upper management will not take appropriate action. Mod B-32 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 201: General Standards Rule 202: Compliance with Standards Rule 203: Compliance with Accounting Principles • • • • • Follow professional standards and interpretations. Perform only those services that can be completed with professional competence. Exercise due care. Adequately plan and supervise all engagements. Obtain sufficient relevant data to afford a reasonable basis for all conclusions and recommendations. Mod B-33 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 301: Confidentiality of Client Information • A CPA cannot disclose confidential information without client's consent. • Exceptions: – To remain in compliance with standards (Rule 203) – If workpapers are subpoenaed by court – As part of a PCAOB peer or quality review of practice – As part of an ethics violation for a state board of accountancy investigation Mod B-34 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 302: Contingent Fees Contingent Fees: Those fees based on a particular finding or outcome • Not permitted for attest engagements • Not contingent if: – Fixed by courts – Based on hours worked or services provided • Allowed for non-attest (tax, consulting, litigation support) engagements Mod B-35 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 501: Acts Discreditable A member shall not commit an act discreditable to the profession (including, but not limited to): • • • • • • Discrimination Failure to follow GAGAS on a Governmental audit Making false or misleading journal entries Failure to met requirements of a Governmental body, commission, or regulatory body Failure to file personal income tax return Disclosure of CPA examination questions or answers Mod B-36 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 502: Advertising and Solicitation • Advertising and solicitation of new clients is permitted. • Advertising: Cannot be “false, misleading, or deceptive” – Cannot create false or unjustified expectations of favorable results – Cannot state ability to influence third parties – Cannot underestimate fees (“low balling”) Mod B-37 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 503: Commissions and Referral Fees • Commissions: Receiving fees for recommending the products or services of clients or third parties (non-CPA) – Permitted for non-attest, if disclosed – Prohibited for attest engagements • Referrals: Receiving fees for recommending the services of CPAs – Permitted for any engagement, if disclosed Mod B-38 AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Rule 505: Form of Organization and Name • A firm can practice in any form permitted by state including: – Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) • Firm name should not be misleading. • All partners must be CPAs or members of AICPA if included in firm name. Mod B-39 International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Code • The IESBA Code must be followed by auditors whenever an audit engagement is completed for a multinational client. • The importance has increased dramatically in recent years with the globalization of companies and their audits. • As a result, the PEEC of the AICPA has recently undertaken a project to recodify the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct to converge with the IESB ethical standards. • Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. Mod B-40 Regulation and Quality Control • Self-Regulatory Discipline – AICPA – State Societies of CPAs • Public Regulation Discipline – – – – State Boards of Accountancy SEC PCAOB IRS Mod B-41

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