AICPA proposes changes in standards for quality management

The American Institute of CPAs' Auditing Standards Board issued an exposure draft for some proposed changes in the attestation standards for quality management and is asking for comments.

The Proposed Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements, Amendments to the Attestation Standards for Consistency With the Issuance of AICPA Standards on Quality Management, aims to align some of its concepts about standards for audits, reviews and compilations. 

The amendments would take effect for engagements performed in accordance with the SSAEs starting on or after Dec. 15, 2025. The AICPA would like to receive comments by Dec. 1, 2023, from any professional involved in auditing, attestation and reporting. Feedback can be emailed to CommentLetters@aicpa-cima.com.

The following standards would be amended:

• No. 18, Attestation Standards: Clarification and Recodification, as Amended;
  
  • Section 105, Concepts Common to All Attestation Engagements;
  • Section 320, Reporting on an Examination of Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to User Entities' Internal Control Over Financial Reporting;
• No. 19, Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagements;
• No. 21, Direct Examination Engagements; and,
• No. 22, Review Engagements.

The changes would reflect four interrelated quality management standards that were issued in June 2022. The proposed SSAE would become effective for engagements performed in accordance with the SSAEs starting on or after Dec. 15, 2025.