"For new accountants, the focus on documentation can be a difficult transition — the world of texting, Facebook postings, and tweeting may not fully prepare you. And, of course, communication skills are important even beyond the accountant's documentation of audit procedures. Being able to express yourself effectively is key to your relationships with your co-workers and supervisors, clients, potential clients and many others. Verbal communication is a large part of this. Whether presenting before a large group like this, or sitting down with a member of the accounting staff of an audit client, making your point effectively is critical. I remember being a young staff accountant, going through a questionnaire with a client, and keeping my fingers crossed that I would not be asked to clarify or rephrase a standard question! The ability to do just that, though, is a sign that the person understands the subject matter, can provide context, and, most importantly, can tell when an answer just doesn't make sense." Jay Hanson, "A Call to Action for Future Auditors" [PCAOB]
Related Posts
The Truth About Public Accounting, Part III: The ‘A’ In PCAOB Stands For ‘Accounting’
An article titled “PCAOB Inspections: Public Accounting Firms on Trial” describes the results from an […]
Which KPMG Scandal Is Worse: PCAOB ‘Steal the Exam’ or CPE Training Exam Cheating?
Since Monday when the SEC announced it had fined KPMG $50 million for not one […]
PCAOB Wants Broker-Dealers to Pony Up for the Privilege of Increased Enforcement
Yesterday, Caleb shared the details on a tentative new plan hatched by Dodd-Frank that would require nonpublic brokers and dealers to open their doors to that special brand of attention known as PCAOB inspections. We also learned that if the PCAOB gets their way, those special little broker-dealers will be asked to pony up the cash for the privilege of getting PCAOB patdowns.
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board may require the biggest U.S. broker-dealers to pay more than $1 million a year to fund auditor inspections required under the Dodd-Frank Act.
PCAOB board members voted unanimously Tuesday to seek comment on the proposal, which would create a mechanism for raising the $15 million needed to perform reviews dictated by the financial- regulation overhaul enacted in July.
Unlike audit firms, of which 97% of the littler ones get constantly pestered by the PCAOB while the big boys get their boxes checked and can hit the ranges by noon for cocktail hour on the putting green, the new funding requirement would only affect 14 percent of broker-dealers large enough to meet the PCAOB’s tentative net-capital requirements.
These fees would account for seven percent of the PCAOB’s total funding, guesstimated terminally-acting PCAOB chair Dan Goelzer.
PCAOB board member Bill Gradison is sure that the PCAOB is serious about identifying issues and doing its job protecting the public or whatever the hell it is they are there to do. That means no working things out as they go, I suppose. He swears the interim inspection program is not “just a learning experience for the PCAOB” and “could have consequences for the firms involved.” That’s if anyone finds anything fishy, I am guessing.