New York CPAs Want Better Audit Committee Communication

The New York State Society of CPAs expressed its support for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s proposals for improving communications between auditors and audit committees, but objected to several of the new requirements.

In a comment letter on the proposed new requirements sent to the PCAOB on February 28, the NYSSCPA said it supported the updated provisions outlined in PCAOB Release No. 2011-008. The group noted that audit committees play an important role in enhancing audit quality. The NYSSCPA said it welcomes the focus on improving the audit committee’s oversight of the audit and the auditor, in addition to giving auditors even more access to the audit committee’s views on accounting and audit matters.

One of the comment letter’s principal drafters, NYSSCPA Auditing Standards Committee member Robert Waxman, said the proposal is an improvement from a similar one issued by the PCAOB in March 2010. The proposal was reopened for revision due to new oversight granted to the PCAOB to oversee audits of brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to align communication requirements with performance requirements.

“It’s a step in the right direction to what’s been called ‘effective two way communications’,” Waxman said.
The proposal includes several required communication standards, including a new requirement for auditors to communicate their overall audit strategy. They must also describe the involvement of other individuals or firms that are involved in the audit, along with any complaints or concerns regarding accounting or auditing matters that have come to the auditor's attention.

The NYSSCPA objected to several of the proposals, though. One of the updates in the proposal would require the auditor to communicate to the audit committee significant unusual transactions that are outside the normal course of business for the company or that otherwise appear to be unusual. The NYSSCPA does not agree with that requirement, however. In its comment letter, the society suggested that the auditor should be required to communicate such transactions only when those transactions have been determined to represent a significant risk. This, however, would not prohibit an auditor from discussing any matter the auditor feels need to be communicated.

The NYSSCPA also took issue with the portion of the proposal that allows for oral acknowledgement by the audit committee. In its comment letter, the group noted that such communications should be put in writing to avoid any misunderstanding about the nature of the engagement and the responsibilities of both parties.

Waxman also said the NYSSCPA disagrees with the requirement that the auditor should have the primary responsibility for communicating significant accounting policies and practices, and critical accounting estimates to the audit committee. “We don’t believe that the auditors should monitor management’s communications about these matters with the audit committee,” he said.

In the comment letter, the NYSSCPA urged the PCAOB to provide transitional guidance to brokers and dealers that have been previously following the provisions of the American Institute of CPAs since there are different governance structures. The NYSSCPA also asked the PCAOB to update the proposal to recognize the importance of Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single, or FOCUS, report filings by brokers and dealers with the SEC.

“The PCAOB should require communications regarding this report with the audit committee,” said Waxman.

The comment period for the proposal closed on February 29. The PCAOB estimates the proposal could be put into effect, subject to SEC approval, for audits with fiscal years beginning on or after Dec. 15, 2012.

The NYSSCPA said it supports this anticipated effective date.