Audit standards

Auditing firms appear to be making headway on fixing some of the problems identified by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Knowing how to distinguish between what is required by standards and what is opinion is crucial for auditors to confidently navigate these reviews and inspections.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is also offering insights on improving audit committee communications and a video on the new confirmation standard.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board introduced two pieces of guidance to help auditing firms apply its new quality control standard.

The American Institute of CPAs is still concerned about the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's new firm and engagement metrics standard, despite some modifications from the original proposal.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board voted to adopt new requirements to report on various metrics for the firm and its engagements.

The U.S. Defense Department failed for the seventh straight year to score a clean financial audit, highlighting the challenge of tracking the finances of a sprawling organization that has some $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities.

Facing a backlash about its proposal to toughen standards for failing to detect noncompliance with laws and regulations, the board is putting off action on the standard.

The rule change addresses situations in which a firm has ceased to exist, is nonoperational or no longer wishes to remain registered.

Board members face the likelihood of a deregulatory emphasis under the incoming Trump administration and probable changes in board composition.