2020 - 2021 Edition Principles of AUDITING AND ASSURANCE _ Sewdces y. Based on ISAs, PSAs, Framework, PSQC, PAPSs, PSREs, PSAEs, PSRSs, Revised Code of Ethics (2018)it Preface UNITI Chapter UNIT II Chapter UNIT II Chapter sO naw - 10 12 Contents in Brief INTRODUCTION TO ASSURANCE AND AUDITING. ‘SERVICES THE DEMAND FOR AUDITING AND ASSURANCE § PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTANCY: AN OVERVIEW ‘THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING PROFESSION ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING PRACTICE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSURANCE AND FINANCIAL, ‘STATEMENT AUDIT FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSURANCE SERVICES INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT RISK-BASED AUbIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OVERVIEW OF RISK-BASED AUDIT RISK ASSESSMENT — PARTI PHASE I-A. PERFORMANCE OF PRELIMINARY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES PHASE I-B. PI_ANNING THE AUDIT TO DEVELOP AN OVERALL AUDIT STRATEGY AND AUDIT PLAN RISK ASSESSMENT — PART I! PHASE I-C. 1, PERFORMANCE OF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES 0 IDENTIFY / ASSESSED RISKS OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE ENTITY RISK ASSESSMENT — PART III PUIASE I-C.2, CONSIDERATION OF INTERNAL CONTROL IN APINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT FRAUD AND ERROR i 33 65 14 152 174 199 216 224 255 279 151 198UNIT IV Chapter 13 14 15 16 17 18 UNITY Chapter 19 20 21 22 UNIT VI Chapter 23 24 UNIT VIL Chapter 25 26 Risk RESPONSE RISK RESPONSE — PART I DESIGNING AND EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO ASSESSED RISK Risk RESPONSE — PART IT IMPLEMENTING THE DESIGNED RISK RESPONSE AND OBTAINING AUDIT EVIDENCE BASIC AUDIT SAMPLING CONCEPTS AUDIT SAMPLING FOR TEST OF CONTROLS AUDIT SAMPLING FOR SUBSTANTIVE TESTS AUDIT DOCUMENTATION REPORTING © AUDIT EVIDENCE EVALUATION COMPLETING THE AUDIT AND POST-AUDIT RESPONSIBILITIES FORMING AN OPINION AND REPORTING ON FINANCIAL ‘STATEMENTS MODIFICATIONS TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S * REPORT (AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) ‘SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) ‘SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT ~ PARTI AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) ‘SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT — PART II OTHER SERVICES AND REPORTS PROCEDURES AND REPORTS ON SPECIAL PURPOSE AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS NON-AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS: PROCEDURES AND REPORTS, List of References 334 348 378 413 435 415 516 571 598 636 668 694 Tl iii 333 505 635, 693 782Preface UNITI Chapter Chapter Contents INTRODUCTION TO ASSURANCE AND AUDITING.SERVICES 1 THE DEMAND FOR ASSURANCE AND AUDITING SERVICES Expected Learning Outcomes Economic Demand for Auditing What are Assurance Services? Philosophy of an Audit Importance of Audited Financial Statements Users of Audited Financial Statements The Assurance Analogy and the Philippine Standards on Auditing (PSAs) Review Questions INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTANCY n Expected Learning Outcomes Accountancy as a Profession Who is a Professional Accountant? Scope of Practice Assurance, Attest, and Auditing Services Defined Assurance Services Attest Services Audit Services Relationship Among Assurance, Attest, and Auditing Services Types of Auditors External Auditors Internal Auditors Government Auditors Forensic Auditors Types of Other Audit Services Internal Audit Compliance Audit Operational Audit OAR 8] 12 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 21 21 22 22Forensic Audit Types of Other Attest Services Other Non-Assurance Services Agreed-Upon Procedures Tax Preparation and Planning Services Management Advisory Services Compilation, Accounting and Data Processing System Services Review Questions 3 THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING PROFESSION ENVIRONMENT .- Expected Learning Outcomes Practice of Public Accountancy Defined Certified Public Accountant Requirements to Enter the Accountancy Profession ‘A. Pre-Qualification Education Requirements B. CPA Licensure Examination C. Other Legal Regulatory Requirements Developing Capabilities and Competence after Admission to the Profession Core Values and Competency Requirements for CPAs in Public Practice Regulatory and Professional Organizations that Influence the Profession A. Regulatory Government Agencies B. Professional Organizations C. Standard-Setting Bodies CPA's Legal Liability Legal Concepts Related to Auditor's Liability Legal Liability of the Independent Auditor Limitation on Auditor's Respons Auditor's Defenses Against Client Suits _ Auditor's Defenses Against Third-Party Lawsuits Minimizing Exposure to Legal Liability Society's Expectations and Auditor's Responsibilities Challenges Faced by the Public Accounting Profession The Accounting Profession’s Credibility Crisis Review Questions ~ 23 23 23 24 24 25 53 53 34 56 33Chapter Chapter 4 MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC 5 ACCOUNTING PRACTICE Expected Learning Outcomes Establishment and Organization of Public Accountancy Practice Marketing Professional Services Sources of Clients Professional Fees Methods of Billing Clients Auditing in a Globalized Environment Regulation within the Firm System of Quality Control Elements of a System of Quality Control A. Leadership Responsibilities of Quality Within the Firm Ethical Requirements Acceptance and Continuance of Client Relationships and Specific Engagements Human Resources Engagement Performance Monitoring =PS Ab Review Questions PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Why do People Act Unethically The Need for Professional Ethics Characteristics and Values Associated with Ethical Behavior The Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants in the Philippines Threats to Compliance with Rules ‘Safeguards to Mitigate or Eliminate Threats Code of Ethics, Applicability 10 CPAs in Public Practice Resolving Ethical Conflict Review Questions 4 75 16 80 83 85 93 104 14 1S 116 18 119 121 123 125 127 139 140 65 114UNIT II FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSURANCE SERVICES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT Chapter 6 FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSURANCE SERVICES Expected Learning Outcomes 152 Assurance Engagements 153 Nature of Assurance Engagements 153 Objective of An Assurance Engagement 154 Types of Assirance Engagements 154 Reasonable Assurance Engagement 154 Limited Assurance Engagement * 154 7 Other Assurance Services 155, Assertion-Based Engagements vs. Direct Reporting Engagements 155 Elements of An Assurance Engagement 155 Brief Description of Assurance Services 164 Independent Financial Statements Audit 164 Review of Financial Statements 165 Other Review Engagements 165 Other Assurance Services 166 “Assurance Services and Information Technology 166 CPA Web Trust Service 166 Information System Reliability Service 166 “Assurance Services on Other Types of Information 167 Business Performance Measurement 167 Health Care Performance Measurement 167 Risk Assessment 167 Eldercare Plus 167 Brief Description of Non-Assurance Services 168 ‘Agreed-Upon Procedure Services 168 Compilation of Financial and Other Information 168 Tax Services 169 Management Consulting / Advisory Services 169 ‘Accounting and Data Processing or Information Technology System Services 169 Review Questionswill Chapter 7 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT Expected Learning Outcomes 174 Independent Auditing Defined 175 Objectives of Auditing 177 Scope of Independent Audit 178 Why Independent Auditing Is Necessary 178 How Information Risk may be Reduced 180 Advantages and Practical Benefits of An Independent Audit 181 Overview of the Audit Opinion Formulation Process 182 Activities of each Phase of the Audit Opinion Formulation Process 184 Management Assertions and Financial Statements 185 Core Concepts of Financial Statement Audit 187 Materiality’ 188 Audit Risk 188 Audit Evidence Regarding Management , Assertions 189 General Principles of an Audit 190 Compliance of Ethical Requirements 190 Reasonable Assurance 190 Responsibility for the Financial Statements 191 ‘Skills and Knowledge Needed in Financial Statement Audit 191 Parties Involved in Preparing and Auditing Financial Statements 192 The Context of Financial Statement Auditing 192 The Business Entity as the Primary Context of Auditing 193 Relating the Audit Process Components to the Business Model 193 Review Questions 104UNIT It Chapter Chapter RISK-BASED AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 8 OVERVIEW OF RISK-BASED AUDIT PROCESS Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Risk-Based Audit Process Defined Factors to Consider in Implementing the Audit Risk Modet Limitation of the Audit Risk Modet Risk-Based Audit vs. Account-Based Audit The Risk-Based Audit Process Phase I. Risk Assessment Phase Il. Risk Response Phase Ill. Reporting Relevant Philippine Standards on Auditing (PSAs) to be used in the Risk-Based Audit Process Understanding the Audit Risk Model Review Questions 9 RISK ASSESSMENT - PART I + Expected Learning Outcomes PHASE I-A. PERFORMANCE OF PRELIMINARY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Introduction Client Selection and Retention Client Acceptance / Retention Decisions Audit Firm Limitations Engagement Letters * Recurring Audits 216 217 217 218 219 220 221 PHASE I-B. PLANNING THE AUDIT TO DEVELOP AN OVERALL AUDIT STRATEGY AND AUDIT PLAN Nature and Scope of Audit Planning Benefits of Audit Planning The Overall Audit Strategy Benefits of Developing the Audit Strategy A. Materiality B. Audit Plan Review Questions and Exercises ik 198 199 216e1 RISK ASSESSMENT - PART I ae " PHASE I-C.1 PERFORMANCE OF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES TO IDENTIFY / ASSESS RISK OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THE ENTITY Expected Learning Outcomes 255 Introduction 256 L. Risk Assessment Procedures and Sources of Information About the Entity and Its Environment, Including lis Internal Control 257 Risk Assessment Procedures 257 I. Understanding the Entity and Its Environment Including Its Internal Control 259 Il. Identifying and Assessing the Risk of Material Misstatement 260 IV. Material Weakness an Internal Control 260 261 V. Documentation Assessing Inherent Risk and Control Risk at the . Assertion Level 261 Using the Audit Risk Model to Determine the Nature, Timing, and Extent of Audit Procedures 267 Audit Risk in the Small Business 272 Review Questions and Exercises 273 Chapter 11 RISK ASSESSMENT - PART IIL PHASE I-C.2, CONSIDERATION OF INTERNAL CONTROL IN A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT Expected Learning Outcomes 279 Nature and Purpose of Internal Control 280 Internal control System Defined 281 Components and Principles of Internal Control 28 A, Control Environment 284 B. Entity's Risk Assessment Process 285 C. Information System, including the Business Processes, Relevant to Financial Reporting and Communication 286 D. Control Activities 286 E. Monitoring of Controls 287 255 279Objectives of the Study of internal Control 287 Documentation of Understanding 289 How adequacy of Inadequacy of Internal Control Affects Audit Procedures Communication of Performance, Improvements and Observations in Internal Control to Management 301 Reportable Conditions 302 Reporting — Form and Content 303 Review Questions and Exercises 305 Chapter 12 FRAUD AND ERROR Expected Learning Outcomes 315 Introduction 316 Characteristics of Fraud 316 Fraudulent Financial Reporting 316 Misappropriation of Assets 317 Responsibility for the Prevention and Detection of Fraud 318 Responsibilities of the Auditor 318 Risk Assessment 318 Detection 319 Inherent Limitations of an Audit 319 Examples of Fraud Risk Factors 320 Procedures when Errors or Irregularities are Suspected 324 Reporting of Fraud and Error 324 Documentation 325 Withdrawal from the Engagement 325 Review Questions 326 UNITIV RISK RESPONSE” Chapter. 13 RISK RESPONSE - PART I DESIGNING AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO ASSESSED RISK Expected Learning Outcomes 334 Introduction 335 Types of Response 336 Nature of Audit Procedures 337 Tests of Controls or Compliance Tests 337 Types of Compliance Tests 337 Substantive Procedures 338 315xil Chapter 14 ypes of Substantive Tests The Relationship of Audit Techniques, Procedures and Assertions : Deciding the Number of Items to Audit Timing of Testing Timing of Tests of ‘Controls Timing of Substantive Procedures Audit Selecting the Audit Proce Review Questions RISK RESPONSE - PART II IMPLEMENTING THE DESIGNED RISK RESPONSE AND OBTAINING AUDIT EVIDENCE Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Nature and Significance of Audit Evidence What Constitutes Audit Evidence Sufficient Appropriate Audit Evidence Interrelationship Between Risk, Appropriateness and Sufficiency of Audit Evidence Competence or Appropriateness of Evidence Sufficiency of Evidence Procedures for Obtaining Audit Evidence Inspection of Records or Documents Inspection of Tangible Assets Confirmation Inquiry Written Representation Observation Recalculation Reperformance Analytical Procedures Relationship of Types of Evidence to Audit Objectives Evidence About Accounting Estimates Nature of Accounting Estimates Audit Procedures Reviewing and Testing the Process Used by Management Evaluation of Results of Audit Procedures Evidence for Related Party Transactions Review Questions and Exercises 338 340 341 341 342 343 dures that will be Applied 344 345 348 349 349 350 351 351 353 355 355 355 356 356 357 358 359 359 359 359 360 369 369 370 370 371 371 372 348Chapter Chapter 15 BASIC AUDIT SAMPLING CONCEPTS Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Nature and Purpose of Audit Sampling Why Auditors Sample Testing Procedures which do not Involve Sampling Sampling vs. Non-Sampling Risk Sampling Risk Non-Sampling Risk Nonstatistical and Statistical Sampling Nonstatistical Sampling Statistical Sampling Attribute and Variables Sampling Techniques Attribute Sampling Technique Design of the Sample Audit Objectives Population Risk and Assurance Tolerable Error Expected Error in the Population Stratification Performing the Audit Procedure Evaluation of Sample Results Analysis of Errors in the Sample Projection of Errors Assessing Sampling Risk Conclusion Detailed Audit Sampling Plan Definition / Description of Audit Sampling Plans Review Questions 16 AUDIT SAMPLING FOR TEST OF CONTROLS Expected Learning Outcomes Test of Controls Steps in the Application of Sampling in Test of Controls Mlustration of Attributes Sampling Nonstatistical Attributes Sampling Review Questions 378 379 379 379 380 381 381 381 382 382 383 387 387 . 388 389 389 390 392 392 393 400 400 402 403 404 405 405 408 413 414 44 415 427 428 xii 378 413xiv Chapter Chapter 17 AUDIT SAMPLING FOR SUBSTANTIVE TESTS Expected Learning Outcomes 5 Substantive Procedures ae Risks in Substantive Tests Probabllty-Proportional-To-Size Sampling (PPS) 437 Advantages and Disadvantages of PPS Sampling 2 : Classical Variables Sampling : Variations of Classical Variables Sampling 439 ‘Steps in Variables Sampling. for Substantive Tests 441 441 “Application of the Steps in Variables Sampling Plan Using PPS Technique for Substantive Tests Reaching a Conclusion in PPS Sampling 454 Application of Classical Variables Sampling Plan Using Classical Techniques 455 Review Questions 428 18 AUDIT DOCUMENTATION Expected Learning Outcomes 475 Introduction 475 Nature of Audit Documentation 475 Objectives of Audit Documentation 477 Form, Content and Extent of Audit Documentation 477 Characteristics of Quality Audit Documentation 479 Documenting Planning and Risk Assessment Procedures 479 Documenting Audit Work Performed 480 Documenting Significant Issues and Their Resolution 480 Copies of Documentation 481 Types of Working Papers 481 Relationship of Working Papers to Financial Statements 484 Content of a Year-End Audit File Index 488 Mechanics of Working Paper Preparation 491 Computer-Generated Working Papers 491 Ownership and Custody of Working Paper 492 Confidentiality of Working Papers 492 Review Questions 48 435 475UNIT V REPORTING Chapter 19 AUDIT EVIDENCE EVALUATION Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Evaluating the Sufficiency and Appropriateness of Audit Evidence Factors to Consider Final Analytical Procedures Documentation Review Questions Chapter 20 COMPLETING THE AUDIT AND POST — AUDIT RESPONSIBILITIES Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Completing the Audit Related arty Transactions Subsequent Events Review Letters of Inquiry / Review for Contingent Liabilities Evaluation of Going Concern Assumption Management Representation Analytical Procedures Evaluating Findings, Formulating an Opinion and Drafting the Audit Report Post-Audit Responsibilities Review Questions and Exercises Chapter 21 FORMING AN OPINION AND REPORTING ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Forming an Opinion on the Financial Statements Forms of Opinion Preparation of the Auditor's Report for Audits Conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing 506 507 508 510 su S12 51S 516 516 S17 523 528 $33 S41 S47 550 553 556 571 572 573 574 583 505 506 516 571xvl Responsibilities for the Financial Statement Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements Other Reporting Responsibilities Name of the Engagement Partner Signature of the Auditor ° Auditor's Address Date of the Auditor's Report ‘Supplementary Information Presented with Financial Statements Review Questions and Exercises 22 MODIFICATIONS TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Expected Learning Outcomes Introduction Types of Modified Opinions Objective Determining the Type of Modification to the Auditor's Opinion Form and Content of the Auditor's Report when the Opinion is Modified Description of Auditor's Responsibility When the Auditor Expresses a Qualified or Adverse Opinion Description of Auditor's Responsibility When the Auditor Disclaims an Opinion Communication with Those Charged with Governance Mlustrative Audit Reports with Modified Opinion Review Questions and Exercises 586 587 590 591 591 591 592 592 593 598 599 599 600 603 604 605 605 605 619 598xvii UNIT VI AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT 635 Chapter 23 AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT - PART I 636 Expected Learning Outcomes 636 Introduction 637 Nature of IT and Its Capabilities 637 Major Components of an Information System 638 Functions of an Information System 639 Characteristics of Various Types of IT-Based Systems 640 Auditor's Responsibilities 642 Internal Control in an IT Environment 642 General Controls _ . 642 Application Controls 650 Review Questions 654 Chapter 24 AUDITING IN AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT - PART II 668 Expected Learning Outcomes 668 Introduction 669 Impact of Computers on Accounting System 669 Major Types of Computer Fraud 671 ‘Effects of Computers on the Audit Process 672 Auditing Clients Using Information technology (IT). Systems 676 Audit Techniques Using Computers 678 Specialized Audit Programs and Additional. «Techniques 682 Internal Contrel Considerations 682 The Effect of Electronic Records on Audit Evidence 685 Review Questions and Exercises 686avi UNIT VII OTHER SERVICES AND REPORTS Chapter 25 PROCEDURES AND REPORTS ON SPECIAL PURPOSE AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS Expected Learning Outcomes 694 Introduction 695 A. Audits of Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with Special Purpose Frameworks 697 B. Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statements 704 C. Summarized Financial Statements 113 Review Questions and Exercises 72 Chapter 26 NON-AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS; PROCEDURES AND REPORTS Expected Learning Outcomes 731 Examination of Prospective Financial Information 732 Engagements to Review Financial Statements 741 Engagements to Perform Agreed - Upon Procedures Financial Information 752 Review Questions and Exercises 773 List of References 693 694 731 782UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO ASSURANCE AND AUDITING SERVICES Chapter 1 The Demand for Auditing and Assurance Services 2 _ Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 3 The Public Accounting Prefession Environment 4 Management of a Public Accounting Practice 5 Professional EthicsChapter THE DEMAND FOR AUDITING AND ASSURANCE SERVICES Expected Learning Outcomes After studying this chapter, you should be able to: A. Describe the role of auditing in meeting society's demands for reliable financial information Understand why individual external auditors are expected to ” make professional and ethical judgments about the information provided by business organizations. . Explain the nature of assurance services. . Explain the importance of audited financial statements. Enumerate the various parties who are interested in audited financial statements. Understand the need for increased globalization of accounting and auditing standards. LLBSCHAPTER 1 THE DEMAND FOR AUDITING AND | ASSURANCE SERVICES ECONOMIC DEMAND FOR AUDITING Why do many of the largest companies spend millions of pesos each year for their annual audit? Is it worth asking why an entity would decide to spend so much money on an audit? Is it because these audits are required by law? While true in certain circumstances, this answer is far too simplistic. Although audits are often utilized in situation where they are not required by law, audits were in demand long before Securities Laws and the Bureau of Internal Revenue required them. ¥ a . The demand for auditing can be understood as the need for‘accountability when business owners hire others to manage their businesses, as is typical in modern corporations. Until the late 18" and early 19" centuries, most organizations were relatively small and were owned and operated as sole proprietorships or partnerships. Because businesses were generally run by theif’ owners and borrowing was limited, accountability to outside parties often was minimal. The birth of modern accounting and auditing occurred during the industrial revolution, when companies became larger and needed to raise capital to finance expansion. Over time, capital markets developed, enabling companies to raise the investment capital necessary to expand new markets, finance expensive research and development, and fund the buildings, technology, and equipment needed to deliver products to market. - A capital market allows a public company to sell small pieces of ownership (i.e., stocks) or to borrow money in the form of thousands of small Joans (i.e., bonds) so that vast amounts of capital can be raised from a wide variety of investors and creditors, A public company is a company that sells its stocks or bonds to the public, giving the public a valid interest in the proper use of the company’s resources. Thus, the growth of the modern corporation led to diverse groups of owners who are not directly involved in running the business (shareholders) and the use of professional managers hired by the owners to run the corporation on a day-to-day4 Chapter 1 basis. In this setting, the managers serve as agents for the owners (who ae sometimes referred to as principals) and fulfill a stewardship function by managing the corporation’s assets. It is important to understand that the relationship between an owner and manage, often results in information asymmetry between tha two parties. Information asymmetry means that the manager generally has more information about the “true” financial position and results of operations of the entity than does the absentee owner. What are Assurance Services? The name assurance servicesvis used to describe the broad range of information enhancement services performed by a certified public accountant (CPA) that are designed to enhance the degree of confidence in the information. In general, assurance services consists of two (2):types: @ those that increase the reliability of information and (6) those that involve putting information in a form or context that facilitates decision making. A significant portion of the assurance services provided by CPAs is referred to as attestation services. To attest to information means to provide assurance as to its reliability. In an attestation engagement, CPAs provide a report on subject matter or an assertion about that subject matter. One of the most sought-after attestation services is the examination or audit of historical financial statements. In this book, we will focus on the Audit and Assurance Services that involve reliability enhancement. Philosophy of an Audit As the amount of capital involved and the number of potential owners increase, the potential impact of accountability also increases. The auditor's role is to ine whether the reports prepared by the manager conform to the contract’s ns. Thus, the auditor's verification of the financial information adds credibility to the report and reduces information-risk, or the risk that inform circulated by a company’s management will be false misleading. Reducing information risk potentially benefits both the owner and the manager. Economic decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty; there is always * risk that the decision maker will select the w . i a =: m4 rong alternative and incur significant loss. The credibility added to the information by auditors acti” SADemand for Auditing and Assurance Services § reduces the decision maker's risk. information rsh, which i the i K To be more precise, the auditors reduce at the financial information used to make a Businesses, instituti indivi Feelin ad probes and individuals must maintain records of their financial buuinieas spetationer| - These records are necessary to evaluate and guide eid Rees letermine financial status, to meet legal requirements and riay swich to ty ene Creditors and investors, present and prospective, exiciaion andi tive financial statements of many enterprises for credit Resennttaice nt purposes. Government agencies will need financial eae cy: the cutis imposed upon them by law internal Wisiness onetarions: reports for planning, directing and controlling These parties therefore, need reliable and credible financial information. The process employed to establish the reliability or unreliability of the financial statements and supporting records is referred to as an audit examination. Auditing of financial records has become an important factor in the dissemination of financial information and the services of the independent certified public accountant are considered indispensable. Increasingly, his written report is required to add credibility to the financial statements. A free-market economy can exist only if there is sharing of reliable information among parties that have an interest in the financial performance of an organization. The market is further strengthened if the information is transparent and unbiased — that is, the data is not presented in such a way that it favors one party over another. An organization’s reported information must reflect the economics of, its transactions and the current economic condition of both its assets and any obligations owed. uditors undertake to gather evidence to obtain ncial. statements are. free of - material nd that they are presented in accordance k. The external audit is intended to Ina financial statement audit, the ai high level of assurance that finan misstatements due to fraud or errors al with appropriate. accounting framewor! 1 enhance the confidence that users can place on management-prepared financial statements. When the auditor has no reservations about management's financial statements or internal controls, the report is referred to as an unqualified audit report. ee6 Chapter rties, but the most important is the Public, as represented by investors, lenders, workers, and others who make decisions based on financial information about an organization, Auditing requires the highest level of technical competence, freedom from bias, and concern for integrity of the financial reporting process. In essence, auditors should view themselves as guardians of the capital markets. ‘The.public-expects auditors to (@) find fraud, (b) require accounting principles the st portray the spirit of the concepts adopted by accounting standard setters, and be independent of management. When it comes to being independent, auditors must not only be independent in fact, but they must act in a manner that ensures that they are independent in appearance. Auditors serve a number of pai An independent auditor's opinion contained in the audit report provides both internal and external users with input to making logical and informed d ns about financial position, managerial performance and economic vulnerability. Without auditors, decisions such as these are more likely to be made from biased financial information resulting from a business entity’s undisclosed errors, irregularities or illegal acts. IMPORTANCE OF AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Audited financial statements are the accepted means by which business corporations report their operating results and financial position. The word audited, when applied to financial statements, means that the balance sheet and the statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows are accompanied by an_audit report prepared. by independent public. accountants, expressing their professional opinion as to the faimess of the company’s financial statements. Of course, reporting in accordance with an agreed-upon set of accounting principles does not solve the problem by itself. Because the manager is responsible for reporting on the results of his or her own actions, which the absentee owner cannot directly observe, the manager is in a position to manipulate the reports. Again, the owner adjusts for this possibility by assuming that the manager will manipulate the reports to his or her benefit and by reducing the manager’s compensation accordingly. It is at this point that the demand for auditing arises. If the manager is honest, it may very well be in the manager's self-interest to hire an auditor to monitor and independently report to the owner on his or her activities. The owner likely will be willing to invest more in the business and to pay the manager more if the manager can be held accountable for how he or she uses the owner's invested resources.— Demand for Auditing and Assurance Services 7 Financial statements prepared by management and transmitted to outsiders without first being audited by independent accountants leave a credibility gap. In reporting on its own administration of the business, management can hardly be expected to be entirely impartial and unbiased. Independent auditors have no material personal or financial interest in the business; their reports can be expected to be impartial and free from bias. Unaudited financial statements may have been honestly, but carelessly, prepared. Liabilities may have been overlooked and omitted from the balance sheet. Assets may have been overstated as a result of arithmetical errors or due to a lack of knowledge of financial accounting and reporting standards. Net income may have been exaggerated because expenses were capitalized or because sales transactions were recorded in advance of delivery dates. Finally, there is the possibility that unaudited financial ‘statements have been deliberately falsified in order to conceal theft and fraud or as a means of inducing the reader to invest in the business or to extend credit. Although deliberate falsification of financial statements is not common, it does occur and can cause devastating losses to persons who make decisions based upon such misleading statements. For all these reasons (accidental errors, lack of knowledge of accounting principles, unintentional bias, and deliberate falsification), financial statements may depart from financial accounting and reporting standards principles. Audits provide users with assurance that the financial statements are presented in accordance with the financial accounting principles and reporting standards. Figure 1-1 presents an overview of the potential financial statement users and the decisions they make based on the financial reports.8 Chapter 1 re 1-1: Users of Audited Financial Statements Figu User Types of Decisions | Management Review performance, make operational decisions. Report results | to capital markets Stockholders __| Buy or sell stock Bondholders Buy or sell bonds Financial Institutions | Evaluate loan decisions, considering interest rates, terms, and isk Taxing Authorities Determine taxable income and tax due Regulatory Agencies | Develop regulations and monitor compliance Make collective bargaining decisions | Labor Unions Court System Assess the financial position of a company in litigation Vendors Assess credit risk Protect employees from surprises concerning pensions and other Retired Employees post-retirement benefits THE ASSURANCE ANALOGY AND THE PHILIPPINE STANDARDS ON AUDITING (PSAs) ‘An audit provides reasonable assurance of detecting material misstatements of the financial statements (both errors and fraud) and noncompliance with laws that have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. Although an audit does not obtain reasonable assurance of detecting noncompliance with laws that have only an indirect effect on the financial statements, the auditors remain alert for such situations. If instances of noncompliance are discovered, regardless of type, the auditors should ‘caréfully evaluate their effects on the financial statements. Currently, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AASB) issues pronouncements designed to foster the development of consistent worldwide auditing standards while the Auditing and Standards Practice Council of the Philippines (AASC) reviews and recommends for approval to the PRC- BOA their adoption as the Philippine Standards on Auditing (PSAs). In the Philippines, the law that regulates the Practice of Accountancy (RA 9298) provides that the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy shall monitor the conditions affecting the practice of accountancy and adopt such measures to enhance and maintain the high professional, ethical and auditing standards including promulgation of accounting and auditing standards, domestic andDemand for Auditing and Assurance Services _9 international. International financial markets would be facilitated if auditing and accounting standards were more uniform. In summary, auditing is in demand because it plays a valuable role in monitoring the contractual relationships between the entity and its stockholders, managers, employees, and debt holders. Certified public accountants have been charged with providing audit services because of their traditional reputation of competence, independence, objectivity, and concern for the public interest. As a result, they are able to add credibility to information produced and reported by management to outside parties. REVIEW QUESTIONS Questions 1. What is the objective of financial statement audit? Describe the role of external auditing in meeting society’s demands for unbiased financial and internal control information. 2. What is the “special function” that auditors perform? Whom does the external auditing profession serve in performing this special function? 3. What factors create a demand for an independent external audit? How does an audit enhance the quality of financial statements and management's reports on internal control? Does an audit guarantee a fair presentation of a company’s financial statements? 1 tise and significance of an audit report to a large 5. What is the principal small corporation with securities listed on a stock exchange? To a family-owned enterprise? Describe the several business situations that would create a need for a 6. report by an independent public accountant concerning the fairness of a company’s financial statements. 7. Explain the following statement: One contribution of the independent auditor is to lend credibility to financial statements.10 Chapter 1 8. A corporation is contemplating issuing debenture bonds to a group of investors. a. Explain how independent audits of the corporation’s financial statements facilitate this transaction. b. Describe the likely effects on the transaction if the corporation decides not to obtain independent audits of its financial statements. 9. Discuss the major factors in today’s society that have made the need for independent audits much greater that it was 50 years ago. 10. It has been stated that auditors must be independent because audited financial statements must serve the needs of a wide variety of users. If the auditor were to favor one group, such as existing shareholders, there might be a bias against another group, such as prospective investors. Do you agree? 11. Evaluate the following quotation: “Every business, large or small, should have an annual audit by a CPA firm. To forgo an audit because of its cost is false economy”. 12. The self-interest of the provider of financial information (whether an individual or a business entity) often runs directly counter to the interest of the user of the information.Chapter PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTANCY: AN OVERVIEW Expected Learning Outcomes After studying the chapter, you should be able to: 1. Explain the attributes of a profession. 2. Describe who a professional accountant is. 3. Enumerate and explain the scope of the practice of professional accountants in the Philippines. 4. Describe the nature of assurance, attest, and auditing services of accounting professionals. 3 5. Describe the relationship among assurance, attest and auditing services. 6. Distinguish between external auditors, internal auditors, government auditors and forensic auditors. . Explain the nature of other audit services such as internal audit, compliance audits, operational audits and forensic audits. Describe the most sought-after non-assurance services such as ¢ Agreed upon procedures » Tax preparation and planning services * Management advisory services e Compilation, accounting and processing system services QL BSCHAPTER 2 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OF ACCOUNTANCY: AN OVERVIEW ACCOUNTANCY AS A PROFESSION In our society, professions are generally recognized as elite occupational classifications, Ernest Greenwood in his article Attributes.of a Profession (1957) sets forth five major characteristics of an ideal profession. These are (1) systematic body of theory, (2) professional authority, (3) community sanction, (4) regulative code and (5)-a culture. Professional accountants satisfy these said attributes of a profession. ® Systematic Theory The underlying theory of the public accounting profession consists of accounting theory — financial accounting and reporting standards and practices and auditing standards - a science of validation. Knowledge in systematic theory can be achieved best through formal college-level education in an academic environment. ® Professional Authority Clients who use the service of a professional often do not really understand their own needs. The professional thus determines what is good or bad for the client and the client accedes to this professional judgment. The basis for the professional accountant's (CPA's) authority is his expertise in the systematic theory of accounting and auditing. © Community Sanction Admission to the public accounting profession is controlled. To become a professional accountant (CPA), a candidate must satisfy government educational and experience requirements and pass the CPA Licensure Board Examinations. This licensing system is controlled by the Professional Regulation Commission through the Board of Accountancy. Also, although professional accountants (CPAs) are responsible to the community for their actions, it is generally accepted that a professional's performance should be judged by standards established by a profession itself.Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 13 @ Regulations Code The powers and Privileges granted to the public accounting profession by the community effectively constitute a monopoly. To prevent abuse of this monopoly and to discipline its members, the Rules of Professional Conduct or Code of Ethics have been promulgated and made legally binding through the Accountancy Law, @ A Culture The CPA is a member of a time-honored profession and the status of the profession and the responsibilities that accompany this status affect his/her behavior in society. Accounting’has developed a professional culture as evidenced by such factors as the formal norms of the code of ethics, the informal tules that guide relationships among practitioners and the traditions and myths that have arisen concern! ing the CPA examinations. The most recent revision in the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants in the Philippines made effective on April 6, 2016 states . “A profession is distinguished by certain characteristics including: © Mastery of a particular intellectual skill, acquired by training and education; e Adherence by its members to a common code of values and conduct established by its administering body, including maintaining an outlook which is essentially objective; and © Acceptance of a’duty to society as a whole (usually in return for restrictions in use of a title or in the granting of a qualification).” WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT? A professional-accountant is an individual who holds a valid certificate issued by the Board-of Accountancy (i.e., Certified Public Accountant), whether he/she be in public practice, industry, commerce, the public sector or education. This professional accountant may belong to any of the following sectors: Professional Accountant in Public:Practice., A professional accountant, irrespective of functional accountant in classification (for example, audit, tax or consulting) in a firm that provides professional services. This term is also used to refer to a firm of professional accountants in public practice.14 Chapter 2 Business. A professional accountant employed Professional Accountant in ; aceo ecutive capacity in such areas as or engaged in an executive or non-e i commerce, industry, service, the public sector, education, the not-for-profit sector, regulatory bodies or professional bodies, or a professional accountant contracted by such entities. The professional accountant in this group may be in any of the following sub-sectors: (a) commerce and industry; PS (b) education; and (c) government. Scope.ofEractice The Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004 (RA. 9298) Article 1, Section 4, paragraphs (a) to (d) spell out the scope of the practice of accountancy as follows: (@) Practice of Public Accountancy. This shall constitute in a person, be it in his/her individual capacity, or as a partner or as a staff member in an accounting or auditing firm, holding out himself/herself as one skilled in the knowledge, science and practice of accounting, and as a qualified person to render professional services as a certified public accountant; or offering or rendering, or both, to more than one client on a fee basis or otherwise, services such as the audit or verification of financial transaction and accounting records; or the preparation, signing, or certification for clients of reports of audit, statement of financial position, and other financial, accounting and related schedules, exhibits, statements or reports which are to be used for publication or for credit purposes, or to be filed with a court or government agency, or to be used for any other purpose; or the design, installation, and revision of accounting system; or the preparation of income’tax returns when related to accounting procedures; or when he/she represents clients before government agencies on tax and other matters related to accounting or renders professional assistance in matters relating to accounting procedures and the recording and presentation of financial facts or data. Practice in Commerce and Industry. This shall constitute in a person involved in decision making requiring professional knowledge in the science of accounting, or when such employment or position requires that the holder thereof must be a certified public accountant.‘Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview _15 (¢) Practice in Education/Academe. This shall constitute in a person in an educational institution which involves teaching of accounting, auditing, management advisory services, finance, business law, taxation, and other technically related subjects, ; @ Practice in the Government. This shall constitute in a person who holds, or is appointed to, a position in the accounting professional group in government or in a government-owned and/or controlled corporation, including those performing proprietary functions, where decision making requires professional knowledge in the science of accounting, or where a civil service eligibility as a certified public accountant is a prerequisite. ASSURANCE, ATTEST, AND AUDITING SERVICES DEFINED Accounting professionals can perform various services that provide assurance about the reliability and relevance of information given by one party to another. ‘The broadest category of such services is simply called assurance services. Attest services are a subset of assurance services, and auditing is a type of attest service. Many times these ternis are used interchangeably because they are related, and at a general level, they encompass the same process: the evaluation of evidence to determine whether information has been recorded and presented in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, together with the issuance of a report that indicates the degree of correspondence. Assurance Services In the late 1990s, the accounting profession expanded the potential breadth of auditors’ activities beyond auditing and attest services to include a broader set of assurance services. Extending auditors’ activities to assurance services allows reporting not only on the reliability and credibility of information but also on the relevance and timeliness of that information. Assurance services are defined as follows: ‘Assurance services are independent professional services that improve the quality of information, or its context, for decision makers. The definition captures some important concepts First, the definition focuses on Making good decisions requires quality information, which, in the context of the broad set of assurances services, can be financial or nonfinancial. Second, it relates to improving the quality of information or its context. An assurance service engagement can improve quality through increasing confidence in the information’s reliability and relevance. Context can be improved by clarifying the format and background with which the information16 Chapter 2 is presented. Third, the definition includes “independence”, which relates to the objectivity of the application of professional judgment and due care by the provider. To summarize, assurance services can include almost any service provided by accounting professionals that involves capturing information, improving its quality, or enhancing its usefulness for decision makers. Attest Services ‘Auditors have a reputation for independence and objectivity. As a result, various parties frequently request that auditors attest to information beyond: historical financial information. However, professional standards did not allow for such services until the profession established a separate set of attestation standards in 1986. These standards provide the following definition for attest services: Alitest-services occur when-a practitioner is. engaged to issue ... a report on subject matter, or-an assertion about subject matter, that is the responsibility of another party. Notice that this definition is broader than the one previously discussed for auditing because it is not limited to economic events or actions. The subject matter of attest services can take many forms, including prospective information, analyses, systems and processes, and even the specific actions of specified parties. Note that financial statement auditing is a particular, specialized form of an attest service. Audit Services Auditing is a systematic process of objectivity obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree ‘of correspondence - between’ those assertions and established criteria -and communicating the results to interest-users. The phrase “systematic process” implies that there should be a well-planned and thorough approach for conducting an audit. This approach involves “objectivity in obtaining and evaluating evidence”. In other words, the auditor must search for audit evidence and objectively evaluate the relevance and validity of the evidence he or she finds. The type, quantity, and reliability of evidence will vary between audits, but the process of obtaining and evaluating evidence makes up most of the auditor’s activities on any audit.Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview _17 ——___________ Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 17 As our analogy of auditing illustrates, the evidence gathered by the auditor must relate to relevant assertions, which in auditing pertain to economic actions and events. The auditor compares the evidence gathered to management's financial statement assertions in order to asses “the degree of correspondence between those assertions and established criteria.” While different types of “criteria” might be available in various settings, financial accounting and reporting standards principles usually serve as the basis for evaluating management's assertions in the context of a financial statement audit. RELATIONSHIP AMONG ASSURANCE, ATTEST, AND AUDITING SERVICES It is important to understand the relationship among the range of services that are offered by CPAs, because different professional standards apply to each type of service. Figure 2-1 illustrates the universe of services that may be offered by CPAs and the relationships among these services. As shown, CPAs provide both assurance and non assurance services but a few, specially of the management consulting type, overlap. Certain management consulting services have assurance aspects. It also illustrates that attestation services are only a portion of the assurance services that are offered by CPAs. This textbook focuses primarily on financial statements auditing because it represents the major type of assurance service offered by most public accounting firms. In addition, in.many instances, the approach, concepts, methods, and techniques used for financial statement audit also apply to other attest and assurance service engagements.18 Chapter 2 Figure 2-1: The Relationship among Assurance, Auditing, Attest, and Services ASSURANCE SERVICES Attestation Services Audits of Financial Statements + Examination of Internal Control # Trust Services, e.g, WebTrust and SysTrust ‘= Reviews of Financial Statements (oF Other Information ‘+. Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements NONASSURANCE SERVICES Management Consulting Services ‘« Fraud Investigations « Information Technology Consulting Other Assurance Services r Other Nonassurance Services CPA ElderCarePrime Plus Services © — Compilation, Accounting and Data e — CPA Performance View Services Processing System Services © CPA Risk Advisory Services e Others © Others «TYPES OF AUDITORS, (U2 External-Auditors» CPA firms have as their primary responsibility the performance of audits of the published historical financial statements of all publicly traded- companies, most other reasonably large companies and many smaller companies and noncommercial organizations. Because of the widespread use of audited financial statements, it is common to use the terms CPA firms, independent auditor, or auditor, synonymously. CPA firms can perform operational auditing as well as compliance auditing as part of their management consultancy services.@ Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview _19 Internal Auditors Internal auditors could be CPA firms hired by the entity as consultants or employees of individual companies who perform independent appraisal activity within the organization such as review of accounting, financial and other operations as a basis for service to management. They provide management with valuable information for making decisions concerning effective operation of its business. The internal auditor is therefore concerned with all kinds of financial and other data generated for both internal and external users. Likewise, the internal auditor is also engaged in evaluating the efficiency of resource utilization (operational auditing), the effectiveness with which entity objectives are attained (management or performance auditing and routine compliance auditing). To be able to operate effectively, an internal auditor must be independent of the line functions in an organization and may report directly to the audit committee or board of directors. Government Auditors Several government agencies perform a significant number of audits. These include the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. COA Auditors Government auditors from COA determine whether the government agencies and other entities that use public funds: (1) present their financial statements fairly in accordance with Financial ‘ Reporting Standards and applicable laws and regulations, (2) conduct the programs with economy and efficiency, (3) desired results are achieved. Many of the COA's audit responsibilities are the same as those ofaCPA firm, But since the authority for expenditures and receipts of governmental agencies is defined by law, there is considerable emphasis fn compliance in these audits. Also, an increasing effort of the COA’s audit efforts has been devoted to evaluating the’ operational efficiency and effectiveness of various government programs. As a result of their great responsibility for auditing government expenditures, their eligibility to be CPAs, their opportunities for performing operational20 Chapter 2 audit, their use of advanced auditing concepts, COA auditors are highly regarded in the auditing profession, BIR Examiners BIR audits affect individuals as well as businesses. A form of compliance auditing, BIR audits or examinations are designed to determine whether the taxpayers have complied with the tax laws. These audits can be regarded solely as compliance audits. An auditor involved in these areas must have considerable tax knowledge and auditing skills to conduct an effective audit. Regulatory Auditors Other auditors include SEC, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Cooperative Commission, Office of Insurance Commission and other government agency examiners who check on the solvency and compliance of the various institutions and business firms with appropriate laws and regulations, @ ke " nt Forensic auditors.are employed by corporations, government agencies, public accounting firms, and specialized consulting and investigative services firms. They are specially trained in detecting, investigating, and deterring fraud and white-collar crime (sce the discussion of forensic auditing later in this chapter). Some examples of situations where forensic auditors are often involved include. x Reconstructing incomplete or damaged accounting records to settle an insurance claim over inventory valuation. * Probing money-laundering activities by tracking and reconstructing, cash transactions. ° Identify and investigating transactions and assets in business or marital disputes. Investigating and documenting embezzlement allegations and negotiating insurance settlements,Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 24 (TYPES OF OTHER AUDIT SERVICES In addition to the financial statement audit, there are four (4) major types of audits: a) b) c) 4) & Internal audits Compliance audits Operational audits Forensic audits Internal Audit Nature Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization's opertfons It helps an organization accomplish: its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness f risk management, control, and government processes. Objective and Scope The objective of internal auditing is to assist all members of management in the effective discharge of their responsibilities, by furnishing them with analyses, appraisals, recommendations, and pertinent comments concerning the activities reviewed. The internal auditor is concerned with any phase of business activity where he or she can be of service to management. This involves going beyond the accounting and financial records to obtain a full understanding of the operations under review. The attainment of this overall objective involves such activities as: © Reviewing and appraising the soundness, adequacy, and application of accounting, financial, and other operational controls, and promoting effective control at reasonable cost. © Ascertaining the extent of compliance with established policies, plans, and procedures. co Ascertaining the extent to which company assets are accounted for and safeguarded from losses of all kinds. o Ascertaining the reliability of management data developed within the organization. © Appraising the quality of performance in carrying out assigned responsibilities. © Recommending operating improvements. |22, Chapter 2 ‘W) Compliance-Auditing ~ which is the examination, audit and settlement, in accordance with law and regulation. A compliance audit determines the extent to which rules, policies, laws, covenants, or government regulations are followed by the entity being audited. For example, a university may be required to obtain an audit to ensure that applicable rules and policies are being followed with respect to the granting of student loans. Another example of compliance auditing is the examination of tax returns of individuals and companies by the Internal Revenue Service for compliance with the tax laws. ©) Operational audit This is a future-oriented, independent and systematic evaluation performed by the internal auditor for management of the operational activities controlled by top-, middle-, and lower-level management for the purpose of improving organizational profitability and increasing the attainment of the other organizational objectives. An operational audit involves a systematic review of part or all of an organization’s activities to evaluate whether resources are being used effectively and efficiently. The purpose of an operational audit is to provide assurance, assess performance, identify areas for improvement, and develop recommendations with respect to operational effectiveness and efficiency. Sometimes this type of audit is referred to as a performance audit or management audit. Operational audits present different challenges than financial statement audit or compliance audits because operational audits often require the auditor to identify or create objective, measurable criteria against which to assess effectiveness and efficiency. Some operational audits, such as information technology (IT) or cybersecurity audits, require specialized skills and expertise. Operational auditing has increased in importance in recent years, and this trend will likely continue. An example of an operational audit is when an entity auditors to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of its use of information technology resources.Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 23 d) Forensic-Audits . The Purpose of a forensic audit is to detect a deter fraudulent activities. Forensic auditing has increased significantly in recent years. As we mentioned above in discussing forensic auditors, some examples of where a forensic audit might be conducted include business or employee fraud, various other types of criminal investigations where money or oe assets are involved, and matrimonial disputes involving division of assets. TYPES OF OTHER ATTEST SERVICES Auditors can provide numerous types of attest services regarding almost any subject matter. For example, an auditor might be asked to attest to the nature and quantity of inventory stored in an entity’s warehouse so that the entity can obtain a bank loan with the inventory as collateral. A promising new area of attestation services relates to assertions companies make about sustainability-claimed reductions in carbon emissions or appropriate handling of hazardous waste. OTHER NON-ASSURANCE SERVICES In addition to audit, attest, and assurance services, many public accounting firms perform other broad categories of non-assurance services. « Agreed-Upon Procedures An agreed-upon procedures engagement, in which the party engaging the professional accountant or the intended user determines the procedures and the professional accountant provides a report of factual findings as a result of undertaking those procedures. This is not an assurance engagement. Tax Preparation and Planning Services Many public accounting firms have tax professionals that assist clients in preparing and filing tax retums, providing advice on tax and estate planning, and representing clients on tax issues before the Internal Revenue Service or tax courts.2A Cheaper Bh © Management Advisory Services Management advisory services (MAS) involve providing advice ang assistance concerning an entity’s organization, human Tesources, finances, operations, IT systems, or other activities. Another Significany MAS service area is helping public companies implement effective internal control over financial reporting in preparation for an ii audit to be performed by a different public accounting firm. Due to independence requirements, CPA firms perform MAS primarily for private entities or for public companies for whom they do not provide a financial statement audit. The large public accounting firms all have very robust MAS consulting practices for nonaudit clients. Compilation, Accounting and Data Processing System Services Public accounting firms perform a number of accounting-related services for their nonpublic or nonaudit clients. These services include bookkeeping, payroll processing, and preparing financial statements. When a public accounting firm prepares the financial statements of companies, the services are known as compilations. These forms of services provide less assurance than a financial statement audit. ©Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview 25 REVIEW QUESTIONS Questions 2. Why is the practice of accountancy considered practice of a profession? Describe briefly the scope of practice of a professional accountant in the Philippines. State the major types of services CPAs perform, and explain each. Explain the relationships among audit services, attestation services, and assurance services, and give examples of each. Define assurance services, Describe what attest services are. What is the most common type of attest engagement? What does an operational audit attempt to measure? Does an operational audit involve more or fewer subjective judgments than a compliance audit or an audit of financial statements? Explain. To whom is the report usually directed after completion of an operational audit? Distinguish between a compliance audit and an operational audit. Is an independent status possible or desirable for intemal auditors as compared with the independence of a public accounting firm? Explain. Apart from auditing, what other professional services are offered by public accounting firms? . What are the differences and similarities in audits of financial statements, compliance audits, and operational audits? . List five examples of specific operational audits that could be conducted by an internal auditor in a manufacturing company.26 Chapter 2 audits of financial statements, it would be a serious breach of responsibility if the auditor did not thoroughly understand accounting However, many competent accountants do not have an tnderstanding of the auditing process. What causes this difference? the evidence the Bureau of Internal Revenue in the audit of Mabuhay Company’s tax return. 13. In the conduct of 14. Describe the nature of (BIR) examiner will use 15. What are the major differences in the scope of the audit responsibilities and Internal Auditors? for CPAs, COA auditors, BIR agents, Multiple Choice Questions |. The practice of accounting includes the following expect Practice in public accountancy. Practice in education / academe. Practice in the government. dustry, when the CPA is appointed as Practice in commerce and in marketing manager of the enterprise. a. b. c d. CPAs are considered professional persons because they: 2. a. holda license from a government agency. b. pass the CPA ‘examination and have qualifying practical experience. c._ serve the interests of the public im general and clients in particular. d. are members of the PICPA. Society has attached a special meaning to the term “professional”. A Bs. professional is a. someone who has passed a qualifying exam to enter the job market. b. a person who is expected to conduct himself or herself at a higher Jevel than the requirements of society’s laws or regulations. c. Any person who receives pay for the services performed. d. Someone who has both an education in the trade and on-the-job experience received under an experienced supervisor. 4. Which of the following is not an assurance engagement? a. Compilation b. Financial statements audit c. Information reliability services d. Reviews of prospective financial statementsProfessional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview _ 27 5. Non-assurance engagements include all of the following except a. agreed-upon procedures. b. management consulting ©. preparing of tax returns where no conclusion is expressed. d. compliance audit. 6. Independent auditing can best be described as a. A branch of accounting bo A discipline that attests to the results of accounting and other functional operations and data. ¢. A professional activity that measures and communicates financial and business data. d. A regulatory function that prevents that issuance of improper financial information. 7. Which of the following professional services would be considered an attestation engagement? a. A consulting service engagement to provide computer processing advice to a client. b. An engagement to report on statutory requirements. c. An income tax engagement to prepare federal and state tax returns. d. The compilation of financial statements from a client’s financial records. 8. In performing an attestation engagement, a CPA typically a. Supplies litigation support services b. Assesses control risk at a low level c. Expresses a conclusion about an assertion d. Provides management consulting advice 9. Operational audits generally have been conducted by internal auditors and government audit agencies but may be performed by certified public accountants. A primary purpose of an operational audit is to provide a. A means of assurance that internal accounting controls are functioning as planned. se b. A measure of management performance in meeting organizational goals. it i : The results of internal examinations of financial and accounting matters to a company’s top-level management. d. Aid to the independent auditor, who is conducting the audit of the financial statements.28 Chapter 2 10. 13. 14, In comparison to the external auditor, an internal auditor is more likely to be concemed with a. Internal administrative control b. Cost accounting procedures c. Operational auditing d. Internal control . Which of the following best describes the operational audit? review by intemal auditors of the a. It requires the constant ( they relate to the operations of the administrative controls as company. : i : b. It concentrates on implementing financial and accounting control in a newly organized company. : ‘ c. It attempts and is designed to verify the fair presentation of a company’s results of operations. . i d. Itconcentrates on seeking aspects of operations in which waste could be reduced by the introduction of controls. Compliance auditing often extends beyond audits leading to the expression of opinion on the fairness of financial presentation and includes audits of efficiency, economy effectiveness, as well as a. Accuracy b. Evaluation c. Adherence to specific rules of procedures d, . Internal control A summary of findings rather than assurance is most likely to be included in a(n): a. Agreed-upon procedures report. b. Compilation report. c. Examination report. d. Review report. The attest function: a. Is an essential part of every engagement by the CPA, whether performing auditing, tax work, or other services, b. Includes the preparation of a report of the CPA's findings. e. Requires a consideration of internal control. d. Requires a complete review of all transactions during the period under examination.» 15, Professional Practice of Accountancy: An Overview _ 29 . Attestation risk is limited to a low level in which of the following engagement(s}? a. ‘Both examinations and reviews. b. Examinations, but not reviews, ¢. Reviews, but not examinations, d. Neither examinations nor reviews. . An operational audit differs in many ways from an audit of financial Statements, Which of the following is the best example of one of these differences? a. The usual audit of financial statements covers the four basic statements, whereas the operational audit is usually limited to either the balance sheet or the income statement. b. Operational audits are more subjective and often involve evaluating efficiency and effectiveness of operations. c. Operational audits do not ordinarily result in the preparation of a report, d. The operational audit deals with pre-tax income. . Which of the following terms best describes the audit of a taxpayer's tax return by an BIR auditor? a. Operational audit. b. Internal audit. c. Compliance audit. d. Government audit. Inquiries and analytical procedures ordinarily form the basis for which type of engagement? a. Agreed-upon procedures. b. Audit. c. Examination. d. Review. fe Onersonn auditing is primarily oriented toward: Future improvements to accomplish the goals of management. b. The accuracy of data reflected in management's financial records. c. The verification that a company's financial statements are fairly presented. d. Past protection provided by existing internal control.Chapter 2 20. A typical objective of an operational audit is for the auditor to: a. operations. Determine whether the financial statements fairly present the entity's b. Evaluate the feasibility of attaining the entity's operational objectives. c. Make recommendations for improving performance. d. Report on the entity's relative success in attaining profit maximization. Exercises Exercise 1 Match the following definitions (or partial definitions) of the various types of services to the appropriate service. Each service may be used once or not at all. Definition (or Partial Definition) Service a. An attest engagement in which the CPAs agree to perform procedures for a specified party and issue a report that is restricted to use by that party Agreed-upon procedures engagement Assurance services Attest engagement Audit of financial statements b. An engagement designed to express limited assurance relating to subject matter or an assertion. c. An engagement in which the CPAs issue an examination, a review, or an agreed-upon procedures report on subject matter or an assertion about subject matter that is the responsibility of another party (e.g., management). Penoulawen Compliance audit Examination Integrated audit Operational audit Review d. An examination designed to provide an opinion that is the CPA's highest level of assurance that the financial statements follow —_—Philippine Financial Reporting Standards, or another acceptable basis of accounting.Professional Practice of A mancy: An Overview 31 ©. An audit that includes providing assurance on both the financial Statements and internal control over financial reporting {. Professional services that enhance the quality of information, or its context, for decision makers, g. An attest engagement designed to provide the highest level of assurance that CPAs provide on an assertion. Exercise 2 For the purposes’ of this problem, assume the existence of five types of auditors: CPA, COA, BIR, bank examiner, and internal auditor. Also assume that the work of these various auditors can be grouped into five classificatior udits of financial statements, compliance audits, operational audits, accounting services, and consulting services. For each of the following topics, you are to state the type of auditor most probably involved. Also identify tie topic with one of the above classes of work, You should organize your answer in a three-column format as follows: Column 1, the number of the topic; Column 2, the type of auditor involved; and Column 3, the class of work. 1. Financial statements of a small business to be submitted to a bank in support of a loan application. 2. Financial statements of a large bank listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange to be distributed to stockholders. 3. Review of the management directive stating the goals and responsibilities of corporation’s mail-handling department. 4, Review of costs and accomplishments of a military research program carried on within the air force to determine whether the program was cost-effective.32 Chapter 2 5. ; by a corporation that has professional-level intern . Review of transactions of a govern Examination on @ surprise basis of General Union Bank. Emphasis placed on verification of cash, marketable securities, and loans receivable and on consistent observation of the banking code. Analysis of the accounting system of a small business with the objective of making recommendations concerning installation of a computer-based system. Determination of fairness of financial statements for public distribution al auditing staff. receiving department of a large Review of the activities of the | attention to efficiency of materials manufacturing company, with special inspection and promptness of reports issued. Review of the tax return of the corporate president to determine whether charitable contributions are adequately substantiated. Review of daily attendance during the first semester at Blue Ridge Public School to ascertain whether payments received from the government were substantiated by pupil-day data and whether disbursements by the school were within authorized limits. ment agency to determine whether disbursements under the Cash Transfer program of the Department of Social Welfare followed the intent of Congress. . Compilation of quarterly financial statements for a small business that does not have any accounting personnel capable of preparing financial statements.Chapter THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING PROFESSION ENVIRONMENT Expected Learning Outcomes After studying this chapter, you should be able to: t Denna the practice of public accountancy as provided for in RA Know who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Enumerate the requirements to enter the accountancy profession in the Philippines. Describe the characteristics, capabilities and competencies that a BSA degree “holder must possess as required by CHED. Understand the CPA Licensure Examination requirements. Know the need for the professional accountant to continuously develop capabilities, and competence after admission to the profession. Describe the core values and competency requirements for CPAs in public practice. Know the regulatory agencies, professional organizations and standard-setting bodies that influence the accounting profession. . Understand the nature of legal concepts related to auditor's liability that a CPA may be confronted with. . Know the auditor's defenses against client and third-party lawsuits and how to minimize exposures to legal liability. . Understand the challenge and credibility crisis faced by the public accounting profession and how to address them. av ggCHAPTER 3 THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING PROFESSION ENVIRONMENT PRACTICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY DEFINED Articled;,Sectionsdof the PhilippineAécountancy/Act!(RA'9298) describes the scope of the practice of public accountancy as follows: nS "Practice of Public Accountancy shall constitute in a person, be it in his/her individual capacity, or as a partner or as a staff member in an accounting or auditing firm, holding out himself/herself as one skilled in the knowledge, science and practice of accounting, and as a qualified person to render professional services as a certified public accountant; or offering or rendering, or both, to more than one client on a fee basis or otherwise, services such as the audit or verification of financial transaction and accounting records; or the preparation, signing, or certification for clients of reports of audit, balance sheet, and other financial, accounting and related schedules, exhibits, statements or reports NOM] are to be used for publication or for credit purposes, or to be filed with a court or government agency, or to be used for any other purpose; or the design, installation, and revision of accounting system; or the preparation of income tax returns when related to' accounting procedures; or when he/she represents clients before government agencies on tax and other matters related to accounting or renders professional assistance in matters relating to accounting procedures and the recording and presentation of financial facts or data." Article1V;Section26 of the same law provides: "No person shaill practice accountancy in this country, or use the title "Certified Public Accountant", or use the abbreviated title "CPA" or display or use any title, sign, card, advertisement, or other device to indicate that such person practices or offers to practice accountancy, or is a certified public accountant, unless ‘such person shall have received from the Board a certificate of registration/professional license and be issued a professionat identification card or a valid temporary/special permit duly issued to him/her'by thé Board and the Commission."The Public Accounting Profession Environment _ 35 TIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT certified public accountant (GPA) is a person who, after obtaining the required education passes an extensive examination and is licensed by the country to practice as a professional accountant. Most young professionals aspiring to become CPAs usually would like start their careers working for a CPA firm. After they become CPAs, many leave the firm to work in industry, government or education. These people may continue to be CPAs but often give up theirright to practice as independent auditors. CPAs who 's independent auditors must meet registration requirements to exercise ht to practice. Itis common therefore, for accountants to be CPAs who do not practice as independent auditors. REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE ACCOUNTANCY PROFESSION Meeting the expectations of diverse groups requires considerable expertise. Because of the increasing complexity of the business environment, the demands made on the professional accountants have certainly increased. To be able to enter the professional accountancy profession in the Philippines, an individual should be able to satisfy all of the following requisites: (a) Be a holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) conferred by a school, college or institute duly recognized and/or accredited by the Commission on Higher. Education (CHED) or other authorized government office; (b) Qualify as a professional accountant by passing the CPA Licensure Board Examination administered by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy; and (c) Satisfy all other legal and regulatory requirements before the individual takes on the role of a professional accountant. A. Pre-Qualification Education Requirements ‘An individual aspiring to be a professional accountant should meet the pre-qualification education requirement that requires possession of a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) degree.36 Chapter 3 vide a foundation of professional knowledge, professional skills, and professional values, ethics ang attitudes that enable them to continue to learn and adapt to change fessional lives. These capabilities will enable throughout their profe professional accountants to identify problems, know where to find this knowledge and know how to apply it in an ethical manner to achieve appropriate solutions. The balance of these elements may vary but what is required is to develop the knowledge base, strong skills and ethical values in order to produce competent professional accountants with appropriate values, ethics and attitudes. The BSA program should pri The BSA Curriculum under the CHED Memo No. 27, Series of 2017, consists of the following components: Minimum Units Courses Prescribed 1.__General Education (GE) Courses 36. 2.__ National Service Training Program (NSTP) 6 ‘3.__ Physical Education (PE) courses 8 ‘4. Common Business and Management Education Courses 6 5. __ Core Accounting Education Courses 81 6.__ Cognates / Major / Professional Courses 36 Total 173 units ABSA degree holder under CHED Memo No. 27, Series of 2017, should possess the following characteristics, capabilities and competencies with specific measurable performance indicators: CAPABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES, PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 1. Resolve business issues and problems, with a global and strategic perspective _using knowledge ad _—_ technical proficiency in the areas of financial accounting and Teporting, cost accounting and Management, accounting and control, taxation and accounting information systems. Record financial transactions in compliance with generally accepted accounting and reporting standards (both global and local) for sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, government and not- profit organizations. Prepare Accountancy reports such as budgets and business plans using appropriate framework, Conduct financial and operational audits of all types of business enterprise and _ not-for-profit organization.The Public Accounting Profession Environment 37 CAPABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES PERFORMANCE INDICATOR ¢ Prepare individual and corporate income tax returns and conduct basic tax planning in compliance with relevant legislations and regulations. © Perform cost-benefit analysis for management decisions. e Design and implement a management control. ~=— and performance system. ¢ Communicate effectively the results of financial analysis. 2. Conduct “accountancy research through independent studies of relevant literature and appropriate use of accounting theory and methodologies, ¢ Design an appropriate research plan ¢ Prepare a critical review of related literature © Analyze results of study and discuss implications and contributions to body of knowledge © Present findings and conclusions of the study © Communicate effectively the recommendations. 3. Employ technology as a business tool in capturing financial and non-financial information, generating reports and making decisions. © Customize an —_ accounting software to a particular business entity Develop a financial model using a spreadsheet software * Analyze the performance of a | particular business entity using appropriate accounting software tools and functions. 7%. Apply knowledge and skills that will successfully respond to various types of assessments (including professional licensure and certifications). ¢ Perform accounting-related work in actual workplace based on preset standards e Pass licensure examinations or qualify for professional accreditations/certifications.38__ Chapter 3 CAPABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5. Confidently maintain a| e Promote adherence to legitimate commitment to good corporate and acceptable ethical objectives citizenship, social responsibility of an organization. and ethical. practice in] © Communicate limitations or other performing functions as an constraints that would preclude accountant. responsible judgment or activity such as in the practicum or on- the-job training. B. CPA Licensure Examination The "Philippine Accountancy Act" (RA 9298) Article II, Sections 13 to 18 provide for the requirements for the Examination, Registration and Licensure for the Practice of Accountancy as follows. I. Qualification of Applicants for the Licensure Examinations Any person applying for examination shall establish the following pre-requisites to the satisfaction of the Board that he/she: (a) is a Filipino citizen; (b) is of good moral character; (c) is a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy conferred by a school, college, academy or institute duly recognized and/or accredited by the CHED other authorized government offices; and (d) has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude. I. Scope of Examination As per PRC-BOA Resolution No. 262, Series of 2015, the licensure examination for certified public accountants shall cover, but are not limited to, the following six (6) subjects: 1) Financial Accounting and Reporting, 2) Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting 3) Management Advisory Services 4) Auditing 5) Taxation 6) ‘Regulatory Framework for Business TransactionThe Public Accounting Profession Environment 39 The foregoing changes in the examination subjects shall be applied starting May 2016 schedule of the Board Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountant (BLECP) The resolution was published in the Official Gazette on February 22, 2016 with date of effectivity of March 9, 2016. IIL. Rating in the Licensure Examination To be qualified as having passed the licensure examination for accountants, a candidate must obtain a general average of seventy- five percent (75%), with no grades lower than sixty-five percent (65%) hi any given subject. In the event a candidate obtains the rating of seventy-five percent (75%) and above in at least majority of the subjects as provided for in this Act, he/she shall receive a conditional credit for the subjects passed: Provided, That a candidate shall take an examination in the remaiaing subjects within two (2) years from the preceding examination: Provided, further, That if the candidate fails to obtain at least a general average of seventy-five percent (75%) and a rating of at least sixty-five percent (65%) in each of the subjects reexamined, he/she shall be considered as failed ill the entire examination. C. Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements I. Oath All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take an oath of profession before any member of the Board or before any government official authorized by the Commission or any person authorized by law to administer oaths upon presentation of proof of his/her qualification, prior to entering upon the practice of the profession. II, Issuance of Certificates of Registration and Professional Identification Card A certificate of registration shall be issued to examinees who pass the licensure examination subject to payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. The Certificate of Registration shall bear the signature of the chairperson of the Commission and the chairman and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal of the Commission and of the Board, indicating that the person named40 Chapter 3 therein ‘is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. The said certificate shall remain in full force and effect until withdrawn, suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act. A Professional Identification Card bearing the registration number, date of issuance, expiry date, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be issued to every registrant renewable every three (3) years. HII Indication of Certificate of Registration, Identification Card and Professional Tax Receipt The certified public accountant shall be required to indicate his/her certificate of registration number and date of issuance, the duration of validity, including the Professional Tax Receipt number on the documents he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of his/her profession. IV. For CPAs in Public Practice an accreditation from the Board of Accountancy is required. Such accreditation shall be renewed every three (3) years. DEVELOPING CAPABILITIES AND COMPETENCE AFTER ADMISSION TO THE PROFESSION ‘ The requirements of those entering the auditing profession are demanding. Audits are performed in teams where each auditor is expected to complete tasks requiring considerable technical knowledge and expertise, along with leadership, teamwork and professional skills. In terms of technical knowledge and expertise, auditors must understand accounting and auditing authoritative literature, develop industry and client-specific knowledge, develop and apply computer skills, evaluate internal controls, and assess and respond to fraud risk. In terms of leadership, teamwork, and professional skills, auditors. make presentations to management and audit committee members, exercise logical reasoning, communicate decisions to users, manage and supervise others by providing meaningful feedback, act with integrity and ethics, interact in a team environment, collaborate with others, and maintain a professional personal presence. While external auditors at all types of audit firms need thesg skills, the work environment at larger versus smaller audit firms differs.The Public Accounting Profession Environment. A1 To acquire the capabilities and competence required of professional accountants, individuals may need further education and development beyond that needed to qualify as professional accountants, Education and development for acquiring and maintaining the capabilities of professional accountants can include: (a) Advanced professional education pursued at academic institutions or through the programs of professional bodies; (b) On-the-job-training and experience programs; (©) Off-the-job training; and (d) Continuing professional development (CPD) courses and activities. The sustainability of the accounting profession depends on the quality of services provided by its members and the profession's capacity to respond effectively and efficiently to the demands of economy and society. Recent developments in technology, globalization, ethics and governance have dra business environment and the nature of the professional acti The liberalization of services requires that the academic and professional qualifications of the accountant be at par with other countries to enable him/her to perform competently in the workplace and at the same time to be recognized internationally. Professional accountants in public practice are bound by professional and accounting standards and reporting requirements in so far as the public interest is concerned. They are likewise bound by the regulatory and professional ethics framework as to their conduct of the work. Similarly, professional accountants in business who use their accounting background and their work in private practice are responsible to management and must exert all efforts to provide exemplary accounting-based business, analysis, projections and interpretations. Employers are demanding a broad range of professional and general business skills which, if developed, improves the versatility of the professional accountant. All professional accountants are obliged to.engage in lifelong learning to keep up-to-date on developments influencing the profession and the quality of the services they provide.coe’ QUIREMENTS FOR CPAs IN INCY RE! CORE VALUES AND COMPETE! UBLIC PRACTICE zs jon requires CPA's to possess the following Core Values ssion ing Profe: ps f 2 Seen i ttn St ras Sat decades. Core Values : : ; . . > cre tera ee en ie character and value as they embrace the changing dynamics of the global economy. e Integrity peek CPAs conduct themselves with integrity and honesty, holding themselves to rigorous standards of professional ethics, © Competence CPAs demonstrate superior technical Proficiency by performing with a high level of expertise and knowledge. © Lifelong Learning CPAs highly value education beyond certification and continually pursue new and broad skills and knowledge. © Objectivity CPAs maintain impartiality and intellectual honesty by remaining free of personal bias and conflicts of interest, © Commitment to Excellence CPAs continually deliver exemplary, high-quality services, © Relevance in the Global Marketplace CPAs enhance their value by meeting the ever-changing needs of the world around them.— The Public Accounting Profession Environment _43 Core Competencies > Core competencies are a unique combination of human skills, knowledge and technology that provides value and results to the user. Enhancing the profession's core competencies is a key to sustaining a competitive and differential advantage in the marketplace. © Communication Skills CPAs are able to effectively exchange reliable and meaningful information, using appropriate context and interpersonal skills. © Leadership Skills CPAs are adept at influencing, inspiring and motivating others to facilitate change and achieve excellence. © Critical-Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills CPAs are skillful in evaluating facts, challenging assumptions and applying judgment to develop relevant solutions. Anticipating and Serving Evolving Needs CPAs are adept in identifying strategic directions and opportunities to meet the evolving needs of those they serve. — Synthesizing Intelligence to Insight CPAs are expert in connecting data, performing analysis and using business acumen to provide astute guidance for better business decision making. © Integration and Collaboration CPAs are effective at building strategic alliances and ‘working collaboratively to provide multidisciplinary solutions to complex problems.44 Chapter 3 REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT INFLUENCE THE PROFESSION A. Regulatory Government Agencies Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) PRC administers, implements and enforces the regulatory policies of the * National Government with respect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions under its jurisdiction including the maintenance of professional standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto. This Commission has the overall jurisdiction over the regulatory boards in the Philippines among which is the Board of. Accountancy, ‘It derives its authority from the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA) This board, consisting of a chairman and six members, is the agency that is empowered to administer the Accountancy Law. Asa licensing agency of the government, the board is the only body that may issue and revoke CPA certificates and grant licenses to practice. Its functions are provided for in the Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEQ) This is the government agency that regulates the registration and operations of corporations, partnership and other forms of associations in the Philippines. The overall objective of the Securities and Exchange Commission, an agency of the national government, is to assist in providing investors with reliable information upon which to make~ investment decisions. To. this end, companies planning to issue new securities to the public must submit a registration statement to the SEC for approval. They are required to file detailed annual reports with the Commission. The Commission examines these statements for completeness and adequacy before permitting the company to sell its securities through the stock exchange.The Public Accounting Profession Environment 45 The SEC has considerable influence in setting financial reporting standards and disclosure requirements for financial statements as a result of its authority for specifying reporting requirements considered necessary for fair disclosure to investors, It is represented in standard-setting bodies such as the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards Council (PFRSC), Auditing Standards and Auditing and Assurance Standards Council (AASC) and in the Philippine Interpretations Committee (PIC). The SEC has power to establish tules for any CPA associated with audited financial statements submitted to the Commission. Because large CPA firms usually have clients that must file accaunting reports and the rules and regulations affecting filings with the SEC are extremely complex, most CPA firms have specialists who spend a large portion of their time ensuring that their clients satisfy all SEC requirements. Commission on Audit (COA) This is the agency that audits or determines whether government units handle their funds according to existing laws and whether their program are being conducted efficiently and economically. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) The Bureau of Internal Revenue is responsible for enforcement of the tax laws, rules and regulations. Its agents conduct compliance audits, examines and reviews income tax returns of individuals and corporations to determine that income has been computed and taxes paid as required by the National Internal Revenue Code. Professional Organizations Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) PICPA is the accredited national professional organization of CPAs. It serves all members in the different sectors of the accounting profession, namely, public practice, education, government and commerce and industry, through a set of technical and social services. Year-round professional development programs (seminars, technical sessions, symposium and dialogues) and regular fellowship and sport activities are sponsored by the association for its members, PICPA publishes the Accountants Journal.that contains technical and formal papers, bulletins and pronouncements released by the Financial