Compilations & reviews

Post-implementation issues from SSARS 19 – some good reminders – 2

Highlights of some implementation issues of SSARS 19 discussed by Michael Glynn, CPA, in the August 2011 issue of California CPA magazine. Article is called Life After SSARS No. 19.

 Previous post discussed the need to remember the transition date and that new work performed on years ending prior to 12-15-10 needs to be performed and reported under the pre-SSARS 19 rules.  Also a reminder about the option to disclose reasons for lack of independence.

Final idea from Mr. Glynn that I wanted to mention:

Focus on goal of a review and the level of work needed

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Post-implementation issues from SSARS 19 – some good reminders – 1

Highlights of some implementation issues of SSARS 19 discussed by Michael Glynn, CPA, in the August 2011 issue of California CPA magazine. Article is called Life After SSARS No. 19.

A few ideas Mr. Glynn mentions:

Transition date

If you are doing a review or comp on financial statements for periods before 12-15-10, you need to use the pre-SSARS 19 rules. Mr. Glynn says:

Some CPAs have mistakenly concluded that after Dec. 15, 2010, SSARS No. 19 was the rule of the land, and that they could disregard the pre-SSARS No. 19 literature. Not so fast. …

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All of the ethics rules are being reorganized and restructured – here’s an intro to the project

All of the ethics rules are being restructured and redrafted. They will be put together around a conceptual framework. Although the changes are in the distant future, efforts to rewrite the code are underway right now. It would be wise for us to start paying attention.

A good place to start is an article in the June 2011 Journal of Accountancy.

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Compilation and Review: Practice Issues (Third Edition) CPE course now available online

(duplicate post from Nonprofit Update).

I have written a 3-hour online CPE course called Compilation and Review: Practice Issues (Third Edition). It is now available at the CCH Learning Center website.

Here’s what the course covers, from the CCH site:

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Should you get legal advice if you have a possible fraud or illegal act in a compilation or review?

SSARS 19 suggests that if an incident of possible fraud or illegal acts rises above the level of clearly inconsequential, then the accountant should consider getting legal advice. 

Duh! 

Should you get legal advice if you have a possible fraud or illegal act in a compilation or review? Read More »

What about inconsequential fraud or illegal acts under SSARS 19?

SSARS 19 says that an accountant does not need to report inconsequential instances of illegal acts to management – – doesn’t apply to fraud, just illegal acts.

At first glance that appears rather odd.  As long as you are breaking the law in little ways it’s okay?  When you think about it, the answer to the question is: yes, don’t worry about it.

What about inconsequential fraud or illegal acts under SSARS 19? Read More »

How to handle fraud or illegal acts under SSARS 19 – part one

What should you do if something comes to your attention during a compilation or review that suggests that fraud or an illegal act may have taken place?

SSARS 19 starts this discussion with two intriguing phrases.  First is the comment saying if information comes to your attention.  Second is the comment that this information indicates a fraud or illegal act “may have occurred”. 

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Going concern issues in SSARS 19 – part two

Previous post introduced the issue of what to do when something comes to an accountant’s attention during a review or compilation that there is some uncertainty whether the client will be around for a year after the balance sheet date.

What to do if you find yourself in that situation?  Here is a casual translation of the SSARS description:

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Going concern issues in SSARS 19 – part one

What should you do if it seems like there is a going concern issue on a review or compilation?

SSARS 19 discusses how to handle the situation when something comes to the accountant’s attention that there is some uncertainty about the organization’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. 

Wow, how’s that for a sentence that begs for some definition?

Going concern issues in SSARS 19 – part one Read More »

Materiality in SSARS 19

SSARS 19 says misstatements are material when they could influence the economic decisions of users who are reading the financial statements.  If errors or misstatements in financial statements accumulate to the point where it could change decision-making, then you are in the range of material.  If there is something missing that should be present and it would change someone’s actions, that something is material. 

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Posts on documentation requirements from SSARS #19 combined into a page

The series of posts written on documentation of reviews and comps under SSARS 19 have been combined into a single page.  This means you can read all the posts in chronological order, which means they are in logical order.  Click on the “SSARS 19 documentation requirements” tab above or click here.

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