Learn from data to improve audits
To help audit firms develop more-focused remedies for their
accounting and auditing practices, the AICPA Peer Review team has been
collecting data since December 2012 on Matters for Further
Consideration (MFCs). An MFC form is used by peer reviewers to
electronically capture “matters” detected during a peer review that
are the most granular level of information indicating accounting and
auditing deficiencies.
The AICPA Peer Review team is using the data to identify problem
areas in order to provide firms with tools to increase audit quality.
Reviewing these trends can help raise awareness of potential problems
at audit firms and significantly improve audit quality.
This list describes the most frequent matters the Peer Review team
has found related to the following professional standards and practice areas:
U.S. GAAP AUDITS
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
Clarified Auditing Standards
Accounting and Review Services
Compilations
Reviews
Attestation Standards
Service Organization Control (SOC) Reports
For SOC 1 engagements, MFCs were most frequently related to:
In the sole MFC discovered related to SOC 2 audits, the report
issued nonstandard wording regarding complementary user entity controls.
PRACTICE AREAS
Governmental, A-133, Housing and Urban Development
Reporting
Documentation
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
Banking, Including Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Improvement Act
Broker-Dealer
The Peer Review team has developed a webpage, available at tinyurl.com/mdvh896, to be
updated quarterly with new MFC data. The page will keep auditors
updated on the matters most commonly found in peer reviews.
In addition to reporting on MFC data, the Peer Review team is an
integral part of the AICPA’s Enhancing Audit Quality (EAQ) initiative.
EAQ is a holistic effort looking at auditing from multiple facets that
is expected to bring changes for the peer review process that will be
designed to continue to improve audit performance.
To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another
article, contact Ken Tysiac, editorial director, at
ktysiac@aicpa.org
or 919-402-2112.
AICPA RESOURCES
JofA article
“Introducing
the New Principles-Based Peer Review Standards,” May 2009, page 39
Publication
AICPA Peer Review Program Manual (#QR-XX)
CPE self-study
Conference
Governmental and Not-for-Profit Training Program, Oct. 20–22, Las Vegas
For more information or to make a purchase or register, go to cpa2biz.com or call the Institute at 888-777-7077.
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