...Enron Case 10.8.2014 Melissa Becker Boya Du Sidi (Fiona) Chen Wei (David) Yu In June of 2001 Enron’s new CEO, Jeff Skilling, was heralded as the “No. 1 CEO in the entire country and Enron was saluted as “America’s most innovated company.” Just six months later, in December, Enron filed for bankruptcy. The failure shocked the public and angered investors. How could this have happened? Did no one see this coming? Where were the accountants? Where were the controls? Enron’s public troubles began on October 16th of 2001 when management released a third quarter earnings report with a “mysterious $1.2 billion dollar reduction.” The following month the company restated earnings for the previous five years and erased $600 million in profits. It turned out that the October report began to reveal Enron’s gross abuse of special-purpose entities (SPEs) and the mark-to-market accounting method. The company used SPEs to keep enormous amounts of losses off its books while inflating earnings from supply contracts by booking all profits from a contract in the quarter the deal was made. What also became clear was that Enron did not accomplish their gross manipulations without the help from their accountant’s at Arthur Andersen. Enron shareholders and executives were not the only groups negatively affected by Enron’s aggressive accounting practices. Arthur Andersen was also unraveled because of the role it played in Enron’s materially misstated financial statements. In a letter to...
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...As defined the objective of the standard is to have a clear management structure with defined authority and responsibility, clear objectives for improvement, with measurable results and a structured approach to risk assessment (Montero, Araque, and Rey, 2009).This also includes the monitoring of health and safety management failures, auditing of performance and review of policies and objectives according to the standard. In my previous organization in Bangladesh, we have started working towards qualifying for the OHSAS 18001 certificate and I was responsible as an internal auditor for the process. In this process, I also had the opportunity to work with the external auditor (certification audit). In the auditing process, I have monitored health and safety management failures, auditing of performance and managed to review of policies and objectives as suggested by the external auditor. In this report, some brief discussion has been made about the literature review about the framework and challenges in the auditing process (internal and external). Lastly, some propositions have been made to improve the quality of the audit process (both internal and external). Introduction It is becoming a popular practice in today’s business world that, companies have started to invest in human capital to exceed the demands...
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...Oversight Board (PCAOB) and Auditing Standard 5 (AS 5). Due to the increased demand for oversight in auditing standards, this paper also examines the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and the reasons for the creation of the PCAOB, as well as the implementation of the rules and regulations. Additionally, this paper examines the impact of AS 5. Keywords: audit, AS 5, financial statements, PCAOB, SEC, SOX Table of Contents Introduction ………….……………………………………………………..……………………4 Scandals ...…..……………………………………...……………………………………………4 PCAOB Mission and Vision …………………… ……………………………………………….5 Structure ………………………….……………..……………………………………………5, 6 PCAOB's Objective….…….……..…………………………………………………………….6, 7 Duties ………………………….…..………………………………………………….……… 7, 8 Standard Setting………..………………………………………………………………..……..…8 Inspection ………………………………………………………………………………………..8 Enforcement…………..………………………………………………………………..……...8, 9 AS5 .…………………….…………………………………………………...…………….…9, 10 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….....……. 10 References …………………………………………………………………………………….. 11 History of PCAOB …………………………………………………………………… 13-19 Introduction Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) was passed in 2002 and as a result brought numerous changes to auditing. The Sarbanes-Oxley was passed in direct response to business failures, allegations of corporate improprieties and financial statement restatements. Prior to the SOX passage, auditors used a risk-based approach to perform audits of a company's internal controls. The auditors would...
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...换一个你的 School of Management, University of Glamorgan Research on Internal Audit Participate in Risk Management-Based on the ERM Framework of COSO By: Weichen Zhu Candidate no: 学号 September 2012 Supervised by: 你导师的名字 The dissertation is submitted as part of the requirement for the award of Masters of Science: 你专业的名字 Declaration This Dissertation has been prepared on the basis of my own work and that where other published and unpublished source materials have been used, these have been acknowledged. Word Count: Student Name: __________________ Signature: ______________________ Date of Submission:______________ Acknowledgement This is my first time to go aboard for studying. During different campus life in the UK, it is wonderful with deep impression. I learned how to use my internal power to make things happen and how to live my own life. All efforts contribute to my growth, but I cannot forget people who encourage and help me. Probably, I am not happy to study in my whole postgraduate time without support. Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor 你导师的名字. He helps me develop the ideas and complete this dissertation. Especially, when I make a survey in China, I communicate with him through email. Sometimes, I am afraid that my timetable could have bad effects on him. However, he usually gives me feedback as soon as possible. Therefore, I only use 20 days to finish my survey. This kind of strong professional ethic is worth to learn...
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...available at www.emeraldinsight.com/0268-6902.htm An empirical comparison of non-Big 4 and Big 4 auditors’ perceptions of auditor independence Non-Big 4 and Big 4 auditors’ perceptions 917 Philip Law Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau Abstract Purpose – Perceived independence is one of the corner-stones in auditing theory. Despite prior research on auditor independence, the results are inconclusive. The lack of research in the Hong Kong ´ˆ auditing environment motivates this study, particularly following the Enron debacle. The purpose of this paper is to examine the non-audit services (NASs), competition, rank and types of auditors, in respect of the independence problem as it relates to the practices of Hong Kong auditors in the post-Enron environment. Design/methodology/approach – Four independent variables identified from literature gaps are examined, namely NASs, levels of competition, auditors of different ranks and types of auditors. Mixed ANOVA are employed to analyze survey responses from 207 “Big 4” and 185 “non-Big 4” auditors. Findings – Results of the study show that the provisions of NASs and high competition could have a negative influence on auditors’ perceptions of independence. Second, auditors’ perceptions that the influence of NASs on independence depends on an individual auditor’s rank are supported. Senior managers have the highest mean rating on perceptions, while partners...
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...org/Resources/Sarbanes+Oxley/Sarbanes-Oxley+–+The+Basics.htm. II. Recommended Technical Knowledge The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Section 103 Section 201 Section 203 Section 204 Section 206 Section 301 Section 302 Section 305 Section 401 Title IX PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5 Paragraph #2 Paragraph #9 Paragraph #11 Paragraph #21-22 Paragraph #25 Paragraph #28-30 Paragraph #69 Paragraph #A5 (in Appendix A) Paragraph #A8 (in Appendix A) III. Case Questions – Answer Key 1. Refer to the second general standard of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). What is auditor independence and what is its significance to the audit profession? What is the difference between independence in appearance and independence in fact? The second general standard of generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) is, “In all matters relating to the assignment, an independence in mental attitude is to be maintained by the auditor or auditors.” If the auditor is not independent, the financial statements are considered unaudited for all practical purposes. In case where the SEC has found that a CPA firm was not independent, it has required that the financial statements be re-audited by another firm. A lack of independence can result in disciplinary action by regulators and/or professional organizations and litigation by those who relied on the financial statements (e.g., clients and investors). The profession,...
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...function of the PCAOB and AS 5 and AS 11 Ramecha Davis This paper is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Auditing BUS5423 Section 70 Texas Woman’s University Dr. John Nugent April 20, 2015 Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to provide an in depth review of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and how it contributes to the interest of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The research highlights the importance of the PCAOB’s role in the accounting profession as well as prospective changes that may evolve in the future related to PCAOB. Upon reading this research the reader will be familiar with PCAOB’s roles and functions, as well as auditing standards (AS) released such as AS5 and AS11. The PCAOB’s significance in the protection of investors is revealed as well. Keywords: SEC, PCAOB, SOX, AS 5, AS 11, Internal Control, Materiality Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………….5 PCAOB…………….……………………………………..……………………………….……….……5-6 a) The PCAOB Mission, Vision, & Core Values………………………………….………........6-7 b) Current Standards…………………………………………………………….…..............…7-8 c) Future Standard Plans…………………………………………………………………….…8-9 Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Section 404……………………………………………………………...….9 a) Auditing Standard 5…………………………………………………………………….….9-10 b) Auditing Standard 11……………………………………………………………………..10-12 c) Communication Requirements..............................................
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...A CONTEMPORARY AUDITING REAL ISSUES AND CASES Seventh Edition Michael C. Knapp University of Oklahoma ; \ 1% SOUTH-WESTERN CENGAGE Learning- Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States CONTENTS SECTION 1 Comprehensive Cases 1 Case 1.1 Enron Corporation 3 Arthur Edward Andersen established a simple motto that he required his subordinates and clients to invoke: "Think straight, talk straight." For decades, that motto sewed Arthur Andersen & Co. well. Unfortunately, the firm's association with one client, Enron Corporation, abruptly ended Andersen's long and proud history in the public accounting profession. K Y TOPICS: history of the public accounting profession in the United States, scope of E professional services provided to audit clients, auditor independence, and retention of audit workpapers. ; Case 1.2 Just for FEET, Inc. 23 In the fall of 1999, just a few months after reporting a record profit for fiscal 1998, Just for Feet collapsed and filed for bankruptcy. Subsequent investigations by law enforcement authorities revealed a massive accounting fraud that had grossly misrepresented the company's reported operating results. Key features of the fraud were improper accounting for "vendor allowances" and intentional understatements of the company's inventory valuation allowance. K Y TOPICS: applying analytical procedures, identifying inherent risk and control risk E factors, need for auditors to monitor...
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...Accounting and Taxation Full Length Research Paper Auditors’ perceptions on impact of mandatory audit firm rotation on auditor independence –Evidence from Bahrain Kousay Said* and Hussein Khasharmeh Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box: 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain. st th Received 21 November 2013; Accepted 13 February 2014; Published April 2014 The current study examined several issues regarding auditor independence from the perspective of an emerging market such as Bahrain. Factors affecting the ability of auditors to remain independent include long audit tenure, financial dependence on a single audit client, non-audit services provided to audit clients, ex-auditor employment with an audit client and the existence of audit committees. It is therefore timely to examine the importance of auditor independence in the provision of reliable and credible financial information. The current study uses a questionnaire survey to examine auditors’ perceptions of the impact of mandatory audit firm rotation on auditor independence. The results of the study revealed that the majority of auditors agreed that MAR could safeguard auditor independence. The results also reveal that there is a significant relationship between mandatory audit firm rotation and auditor independence. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were also conducted to test for the possibility of confounding effects arising from participants’ background...
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...exam, keep time limits in mind Numbers in red are incomplete or need additional information. Some in red may not need additional information, but if additional information can be provided that will help with essays add it. 1. Code of Professional Conduct as it relates to the cases that we discussed -Rule 101 Independence-A member in public practice shall be independent in the performance of professional services. Fact and Appearance -Rule 102 Integrity and objectivity-In the performance of any professional service, a member shall maintain objectivity and integrity, shall be free of conflicts of interest, and shall not knowingly misrepresent facts or subordinate his or her judgment to others. -Rule 201 General Standards-A member must comply with the following standards in all engagements: Professional competence Due professional care Planning and supervision Sufficient relevant data used -Rule 202 Compliance with Standards- A member who performs auditing, review, compilation, management consulting, tax, or other professional services must comply with standards: Auditing standards board and PCAOB (Issue statements on auditing standards) -Rule 203 Accounting Principles- A member shall not express an opinion or state affirmatively or negatively that financial statements are presented in conformity with GAAP if there is any departure from an accounting principle that has material effect on the financial statements. -Rule 301 Confidential Client...
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...Statement Analysis is used by interested parties such as inventors, creditors, and management to evaluate the past, current and projected condition and performance of the firm. Its analysis helps user make better desiccations. Ration analysis is the most common form of financial analysis. It provides relative measures of the firm’s conditions and performance. Horizontal analysis and Vertical analysis are also popular forms. Horizontal analysis is used to evaluate the trend in the accounts over the years, while vertical analysis, also called a common size Financial Statement discloses the internal structure of the firm. It indicates the existing relationship between sales and each income statement account. It shows the mix of assets debt that produces income and the mix of the sources of capital, where by current or long-term debt of by equity funding. Financial Statement Analysis prepared for the internal auditors, Many different financial measures are used to analyze financial statements and rank the performance of competing investment opportunities, including growth in sales, return to stockholders, profit margin, and return on equity. These are just four possible measures considered and evaluated by investors and creditors. Financial statements presented in various formats to help facilitate analysis. A classified set of financial statements groups items with similar characteristics together. Groupings include categories such as current assets; property, plant, and equipment; current...
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...Licensed to: iChapters User Licensed to: iChapters User CONTEMPORARY AUDITING REAL ISSUES & CASES MICHAEL C. KNAPP SEVENTH EDITION MAKE IT YOURS! SELECT JUST THE CASES YOU NEED Through Cengage Learning’s Make It Yours, you can — simply, quickly, and affordably — create a quality auditing text that is tailored to your course. • Pick your coverage and only pay for the cases you use. • Add cases from a prior edition of Knapp’s Contemporary Auditing. • Add your course materials and assignments. • Pick your own unique cover design. We recognize that not every program covers the same cases and topics in your auditing course. Chris Knapp wrote his case book for people to use either as a core e book or as a supplement to an existing book. If you would like to use a custom auditing case book or supplement the South-Western accounting book you are currently using, simply check the cases you want to include, indicate if there are other course materials you would like to add, and click submit. A Cengage Learning representative will contact you to review and confirm your order. G E T S T A R T E D Visit www.custom.cengage.com/makeityours/knapp7e to make your selections and provide details on anything else you would like to include. Prefer to use pen and paper? No problem. Fill out questions 1-4 and fax this form to 1.800.270.3310. A Custom Solutions editor will contact you within 2-3 business days to discuss the options you have selected...
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...------------------------------------------------- Background This course is designed for government officials, development consultants and practitioners, students of development, and those who have keen interest in governance and financial management. Nowadays, effective public financial management is considered critical in combating corruption, alleviating poverty, and ensuring the effective use of internal and external resources. This course is a fundamental course that aims to provide basic understanding of effective public financial management systems to the participants in a better, quicker and efficient way by making them familiar with various internal and external techniques available to strengthen the fiscal transparency and management that is catalyst for economic growth and development. This UNITAR e-learning course will give a holistic overview of the concept and techniques of public financial management. The course will discuss the role of internal controls and audit system as well as the role of external audits in ensuring efficiency and integrity in public financial management and in combating corruption. The course is designed especially for public officials and development practitioners, but is also open to the general public who want to be aware of public financial management instruments and techniques. Some previous knowledge of public financial management and familiarity with financial concepts will be assumed in this course. ------------------------------------------------- ...
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...International Journal of Accounting & Information Management The role of corporate governance in convergence with IFRS: evidence from China Yu Chen Zabihollah Rezaee Downloaded by UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH At 05:16 06 October 2015 (PT) Article information: To cite this document: Yu Chen Zabihollah Rezaee, (2012),"The role of corporate governance in convergence with IFRS: evidence from China", International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, Vol. 20 Iss 2 pp. 171 - 188 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/18347641211218470 Downloaded on: 06 October 2015, At: 05:16 (PT) References: this document contains references to 50 other documents. To copy this document: permissions@emeraldinsight.com The fulltext of this document has been downloaded 1824 times since 2012* Users who downloaded this article also downloaded: Songlan Peng, Kathryn Bewley, (2010),"Adaptability to fair value accounting in an emerging economy: A case study of China's IFRS convergence", Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Vol. 23 Iss 8 pp. 982-1011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09513571011092529 Randy Moser, (2014),"IFRS and convergence in China and the USA", Journal of Technology Management in China, Vol. 9 Iss 1 pp. 56-66 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JTMC-12-2013-0042 Ronita D. Singh, Susan Newberry, (2008),"Corporate governance and International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS): The case of developing countries", Research in Accounting in...
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...International Accounting Ch 13. 1. A strategy indicates the general direction in which a firm plans to move to attain its goals. The strategies of any business organization, whether purely domestic or multinational, are determined by matching two key ingredients: core competencies and available opportunities. Internal factors relate to the identification of core competencies of a firm focusing on strengths and weaknesses with regard to the expertise available within the firm in the areas of technology, manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. 2. A strategy indicates the general direction in which a firm plans to move to attain its goals. The strategies of any business organization, whether purely domestic or multinational, are determined by matching two key ingredients: core competencies and available opportunities. The external factors relate to the identification of the opportunities available to the firm, the second key ingredient in formulating strategy. Identification of opportunities also includes the threats facing the firm in the areas of competitors, customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies, as well as socio-political circumstances. 3. Accounting provides the skills necessary to quantify in financial terms the factors that influence strategy formulation -- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats --, and to develop projections of costs and benefits as financial expressions of strategy. Capital budgets are a prime example of the contribution...
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