Premium Essay

Audit Governance

In:

Submitted By kimyvlad
Words 5512
Pages 23
THE AUDIT FIRM GOVERNANCE CODE
A PROJECT FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL

Audit Firm Governance Working Group Chairman: Norman Murray January 2010

The ICAEW operates under a Royal Charter, working in the public interest. Its regulation of members, in particular in respect of auditors, is overseen by the Financial Reporting Council. As a world leading professional accountancy body, the ICAEW provides leadership and practical support to over 132,000 members in more than 165 countries, working with governments, regulators and industry in order to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. The ICAEW is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance with over 775,000 members worldwide. © ICAEW 2010 All rights reserved. Laws and regulations referred to in this document are stated as of December 2009. No responsibility for any persons acting or refraining to act as a result of any material in this document can be accepted by the ICAEW or the Audit Firm Governance Working Group. January 2010 ISBN 978-1-84152-863-2

THE AUDIT FIRM GOVERNANCE CODE
A PROJECT FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL

Audit Firm Governance Working Group Chairman: Norman Murray January 2010

Contents
Page

Introduction A B C D E F Leadership Values Independent non-executives Operations Reporting Dialogue

2 5 5 6 7 9 10

Appendix 1: Involvement of independent non-executives Appendix 2: Independence considerations Appendix 3: Working Group members and terms of reference

11 13 14

Contents

1

INTRODUCTION
The Audit Firm Governance Code (the Code) is intended to assist in promoting continuing confidence and choice in the market for the audit of listed companies and should be relevant to everyone who sees audit as playing a vital role in a market economy. The primary purpose of the Code is to provide a formal benchmark of good governance practice against

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Corporate Governance and the Role and Internal Audit Within Higher Education in United Arab Emirates (Uae)

...Title CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE ROLE AND INTERNAL AUDIT WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) Why I am interested in this area I am working as Senior Internal Auditor in the Education Industry from last 4 years and for this reason, I consider it as a great opportunity to explore and research, that, any importance is available and provided in this aspect or not and what are the preventive and mitigating measures taken by the Institutions to overcome towards any shortfalls or problems. The term “Corporate Governance” is relatively new in this area and specially in the field of Education and it will not only be a great learning curve for me but will also help me understand the Industry practices, and for sure it will help towards my future development and getting more experience in this field. Introduction to the focus of study Similar to the counterpart of the industries, Educational institutes are facing increasing demand for accountability. Students for example requires a strong institutional commitment towards their future growth and quality teaching, agencies and donors requires assurance that institutions are contributing towards public good moreover they are also concern about the correct utilization of their funds/ donations i.e. are they being utilized according to their desires and requirements. For government and related agencies, they are concern with the implementation of regulations and other procedures. Alumni want an assurance...

Words: 2460 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

What Is Transparency in the Context of It Governance, and Why Is It Important?

...What is transparency in the context of IT governance, and why is it important? The transparency of IT Governance is that it covers the culture, organization, policies and practices. According to the consulting portal in Necessary Frameworks for IT Governance; The Definition IT Governance directs and controls how an IT organization administers necessary IT services to its clients. IT Governance specifies the rights and responsibilities of the parties involved, such as customers, regulators and stakeholders. It defines the policies and procedures under which an IT organization functions, as well as the mechanism to ensure compliance with those rules and regulations. IT Governance also provides the structure through which the IT Organization’s objectives are set, and the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring its performance IT governance is important simple because it guarantees value and eliminate majority of risks and limits future risk. IT determines how well services are provided and how well the company is reaching its customers. Providing service can also expose the business to risk that can interfere with daily operations. Management must be able to make good decision that will minimalize risk. IT governance has the management’s ability to organize, control and direct the  company’s IT activities and its objectives. In IT governance organizational structure,  leadership and processes are utilized to control the resources and align IT. This also  includes...

Words: 766 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Test

...documentation of policies and procedures and evidence of their implementation, and ongoing education and enforcement. * Security Policies like information security risk analysis, information security risk, information aaaaaaqaaasecurity audit controls, system activity review policy, security incident response policy, data backup and storage policy, data disposal policy, media re-use policy, workstation policy, electronic PHI movement policy * Privacy policies PHI uses and disclosures, patient access, accounting of disclosures, sanctions policy, breach policies and procedures. * Healthcare Trends Bring New Compliance Challenges * EHRs and Additional Points of Disclosure * Increased Risk from Physician Practice Acquisitions * HIE and Information Governance * Broadening HIM’s Role to Meet Evolving PHI Disclosure Management Needs Comprehensive review of policies and procedures, ensuring proper PHI disclosure management on an ongoing basis and should include policies related to the HIE environment such as the Data Use and Reciprocal Support Agreement (DURSA) and the sub-data set available through the DURSA, and audits of the HIE environment. Conducting internal audits in a variety of ways (planned, unplanned, or even “mystery” audits, when the staff doesn’t know it’s being audited) can promote better compliance. Ensure software...

Words: 514 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Add Friends Pics to Your Moments

...The Good Governance Standard for Public Services The Independent Commission for Good Governance in Public Services The Independent Commission for Good Governance in Public Services, chaired by Sir Alan Langlands, worked throughout 2004. Through two rounds of consultation, the Commission drew on the views of a wide range of people with experience of governance, and of service users and citizens, to produce the Good Governance Standard for Public Services. The Standard presents six principles of good governance that are common to all public service organisations and are intended to help all those with an interest in public governance to assess good governance practice. The Independent Commission for Good Governance in Public Services was established and supported by the Office for Public Management (OPM®) and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The Good Governance Standard for Public Services The Independent Commission on Good Governance in Public Services Good Governance Standard for Public Services © OPM and CIPFA, 2004 OPM (Office for Public Management Ltd) 252b Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8XG tel: 020 7239 7800 fax: 020 7837 5800 email: office@opm.co.uk web: www.opm.co.uk CIPFA (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) 3 Robert Street London WC2N 6RL tel: 020 7543 5600 fax: 020 7543 5700 web: www.cipfa.org.uk ISBN: 1 898531 86 2 This book may not, in part...

Words: 11986 - Pages: 48

Free Essay

What Are Policies, Standards, Specifications, Procedures and Exception

...What are policies, standards, specifications, procedures and exceptions Policy An Information Technology Policy is the highest level of the Information Technology (IT) Governance Standards documents. An IT Policy sets the direction, tone and limits for the enterprise and IT, and the IT Standards which are developed under the authority of the Policy. A Policy should seldom change. IT Policies require compliance; failure to comply may result in disciplinary action. Exceptions can only be approved by the CIO. A Policy focuses on desired results, not on the means of implementation. Accountabilities: Oversight of IT Policies is the responsibility of IT Governance. Policies must be approved by the Chief Information Officer and the Enterprise Policy Council. Standard Information Technology Standard Information Technology Standards are the most often used documents in the IT Policies and Standards Library serving as a reference for employees, contractors, consultants, and other persons. An IT Standard: • Defines requirements around a topic. The requirements may range from very specific (i.e., only 3DES and AES encryption algorithms may be used.) to broad (i.e., Web applications must check for common vulnerabilities). • Provides requirements without stating dynamic details. When dynamic details are important, an IT Standard may identify a requirement for the existence of a Specification or Procedure to contain those details. • Reviewed annually. The frequency of...

Words: 666 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Language Policy

...Act fall into three broad categories: s justice and equality; s responsiveness to the needs of the society; and s co-operative governance. An elaboration on each of these provisions is found below. Justice and equality The new framework is designed to meet the educational needs of South Africa through significantly changed national economic, social and political structures.2 It seeks to guide fundamental changes in higher education to correct, redress and overcome the legacies of apartheid, so that higher education becomes more socially equitable and promotes social justice more generally. The government makes a commitment to ‘equity, justice, and a better life for all’.3 The White Paper stipulates greater efficiency in terms of student throughput and output rates and in terms of the success rates of black students. Social responsiveness The national framework seeks responsiveness to address societal interests and needs by producing graduates who are equipped to participate in a globally competitive economy, enabling them to contribute to the reconstruction and development needs of society. Specifically, the White Paper calls for shifting enrolments towards science/technology and career-oriented fields and programmes, and urges the growth of basic and applied research within the framework of a national research plan. Co-operative governance The...

Words: 2071 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Management

...STAGES OF PROCUREMENT * * Receipt of RL * Opening of File * Getting Clarification of Specs * Seeking approval for calling Quotations * Preparation of Bid documents * Selection of suppliers * Inviting Bids * Bid Opening * Bid Evaluation by TEC * PSO recs * Seeking Financial Approval * Entering to contract * Award of Tender Government Policy on procurement *  The process be * efficient, effective, speedy, fully transparent * Honesty and integrity in all public procurement * Obtain financially the most advantage and quality item Need best services and supplies for the country * Public Accountability Regulatory frame work governing public procurements * Financial Regulations * Government Procurement Guidelines and Manual * Duly adopted manual of procedure of Public corporations & Government Owned Companies * Provincial Financial Regulations * Rules governing Municipal Councils, Pradeshia sabahs & Urban Councils * Government Procurement Guidelines supersede all other rules, regulations & procedures until such time they are amended Importance of Public Procurement * Procurement of vital inputs for Public Sector Investments which are fundamental for National Development * Such inputs are grouped under works, goods and services * Works covers bridges, Buildings, Harbor, Highways etc * Goods covers equipment and machineries...

Words: 361 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Jetsgo

...March 2011 Changing the agenda – The role of corporate governance and risk management in financial regulatory reform As regulators and policymakers continue their efforts to find the best way to prevent a repetition of the financial crisis that almost engulfed the world economy, re-evaluating how corporate governance and risk management can make the financial system more secure has become a crucial question. Clifford Chance organised three round-table debates between 2009-2010 to assess this issue. With financial regulatory reform continuing to dominate the global political agenda, Clifford Chance has decided to publish a summary of these discussions as part of its commitment to promoting a balanced and informed analysis of the challenges that lie ahead. Much has been written and spoken about the causes of the financial crisis. Most people accept it is time to learn the lessons and move on. While the need to reform the banking and the financial services sector is beyond question, there is a tension between the desire to ‘get it right’ and the intense pressure for politicians and regulators to act quickly and decisively. In the ensuing debate over regulation and reform, the real issues of corporate governance and risk management have been largely obscured by the remuneration question. “There are some conflicting imperatives,” said Michael Bray, a partner in Clifford Chance’s London office. “We still have a long way to go.” Among a host of challenges facing the global financial...

Words: 3107 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Nice One

...University of Aberdeen Examination for the Degree of MA AC1009: Accounting and Accountability Wednesday 26 January 2011, 15.00 – 17.00, Games Hall, Butchart Centre Session 2010-2011 Rubric: Answer all questions from SECTION A, and two from the SECTION B. SECTION A (Answer all questions from this section) Question 1 (20 sub questions 2 marks each, total 40 marks) Select the correct answer (only one choice is correct) 1.1 The main purpose of a _______________ is to generate surpluses and use the wealth for social and community objectives. a. partnership b. sole proprietorship c. not-for-profit organisation d. private limited liability company 1.2 According to the Companies Act 2006, the _____________ are required to prepare a _____________ report. a. shareholders, business prospect b. auditors, business review c. stakeholders, business prospect d. directors, business review 1.3 In a partnership, the partners make decisions collectively and are accountable to one another. This is a form of ________________ accountability. a. hierarchical b. market c. legal d. participatory 1.4 The directors are responsible for filing the company’s accounts and reports with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). a. True b. False 1.5 ___________________ is a network-based organisation which develops the framework for voluntary sustainability reporting. a. Global Reporting Initiative b. Global Sustainability Reporting c. Global Environmental Reporting d. Global Voluntary...

Words: 1259 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Principle Agent Problem

...Principal-agent problems arise through the misalignment of interests between individuals or groups within an organisation. They can occur in various parts of an organisational structure, for instance in Labour; between an employer and an employee, Franchises; the franchisor and franchisee, Regulation; the regulator and the regulated company through to Investors; between the Shareholders and company Executives (Fingleton, J. 2012) The strength and alignment of these relationships are vital for the smooth successful operation of organisations, problems can occur in both the public sector in healthcare through doctor-patient-pharmaceutical company relationships and also in government, whilst more commonly known in the private sector through labour and investor related problems. This report will evaluate the effects of the principal-agent problem within firms by considering real world examples of where they may have occurred and what methods organisations use to address the issue.   Empirical Evidence Empirical evidenceThere is however considerable empirical evidence of a positive effect of compensation on performance (although the studies usually involve “simple” jobs where aggregate measures of performance are available, which is where piece rates should be most effective). In one study, Lazear (1996) saw productivity rising by 44% (and wages by 10%) in a change from salary to piece rates, with a half of the productivity gain due to worker selection effects. Research shows...

Words: 1571 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Violations

...CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Introduction States and nations since the existence of the first known civilization have been struggling to establish stability on the administration of its affairs. One of these, which is inevitable is to suppress corruption that seems to worsen. (Olivares-Cunanan, 2013) Although there is no known document that will lead us to where corruption began and who started this practice, there are already existing documents that proposes how it started and the reason why this exists. Corruption began in the early period as far back as the old Egyptian kingdom. There is also a clear founding that corruption through its most common form existed in other civilizations that existed in the early ancient world. In the Athenian state council, bribery is common in order for the major power the so-called elite to implement what they want. The same practice was committed by roman emperors who used give lands to the senate members in order for the latter body to be on their side. (Freille, 2007). In the modern era, documents from the past that can possibly tell us where and when corrupt practices have begun may seem to be impossible to retrieve, and if ever possible, these documents may have a little relevance to no use at all in the study on how we can curtail at least corrupt practices on the national scale. ( Co, 2007) Defining what is corruption and determining its root cause is one of the center of interest of analysts and international organizations...

Words: 23159 - Pages: 93

Premium Essay

International Accountant

...Risk & Compliance International Financial Reporting Standards Global outlook Banking & Finance Feature Is corporate governance a modern fantasy? Andrew Higson discusses the reality of financial reporting and asks if corporate governance still has a role to play in the modern business world. W hat is the difference between the collapse of Enron and the recent collapse of the banking sector? Well, the obvious answer is that Enron’s demise was not as significant. Yet, in the wake of Enron’s collapse, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was rushed into law in the USA in order to cure the perceived corporate ills of, and give back credibility to, corporate America. Organisations around the world have since spent thousands of hours becoming Sarbanes-Oxley compliant in order to be able to continue trading with companies in the USA. At the centre of Sarbanes-Oxley was its focus on strengthening corporate governance procedures to prevent fraud and mismanagement – but the chaos in the banking sector must raise a question over the success of Sarbanes-Oxley and, more significantly, over the whole idea of corporate governance. way in which an organisation is run and the way in which its results are presented to the outside world. So where does this leave the non-executive directors? One of the main elements in the recent development of corporate governance has been the growth in the use of non-executive directors. One of their roles is to challenge and contribute to the development...

Words: 1559 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Auditing

...Corporate governance heavily refers to the whole structure of rights, processes and controls established internally and externally over the management of a business entity with the objective of protecting the interests of its stakeholders from any type of loses incurring. To begin with, firstly there are three types of auditors in the corporate governances, internal, external and government auditors. The role of the internal auditors in the corporate governance is to evaluates corporate activities, controls or procedures and ensures that they are adequate and in compliance with senior management's recommendations and human resources guidelines. An internal audit also helps a firm adhere with regulatory standards and industry practices.An internal auditor evaluates a firm's processes, "controls" and mechanisms to ensure that they are "adequate" and "functional". A control is a group of instructions that top management puts into place to avoid losses due to human error, technology breakdowns or fraud. A "functional" control provides corrections to internal problems. A control is "adequate" when it clarifies instructions for job performance and problem reporting. An auditor also ensures that a firm's activities and controls abide by government mandates or industry regulations. (Codjia, 2013) Moreover the role and responsibility of an external auditor is to provide assurance to the general public regarding the truth and fairness of the information presented in the audited reports...

Words: 2531 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Deficiency

...Internal Control Related Matters Identified in an Audit (Supersedes SAS No. 112.) Source: SAS No. 115. Effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after December 15, 2009. Earlier implementation is permitted. Applicability .01 This section establishes standards and provides guidance on communicating matters related to an entity's internal control over financial reporting identified in an audit of financial statements. It is applicable whenever an auditor expresses or disclaims an opinion on financial statements. In particular, this section • • • defines the terms deficiency in internal control, significant deficiency, and material weakness. provides guidance on evaluating the severity of deficiencies in internal control identified in an audit of financial statements. requires the auditor to communicate, in writing, to management and those charged with governance,1 significant deficiencies and material weaknesses identified in an audit. .02 This section is not applicable if the auditor is engaged to examine the design and operating effectiveness of an entity's internal control over financial reporting that is integrated with an audit of the entity's financial statements under AT section 501, An Examination of an Entity's Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Its Financial Statements. Introduction .03 Internal control is a process—effected by those charged with governance, management, and other personnel—designed to provide...

Words: 4151 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Flat Cargo Berhad

...Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..1-2 Issues………………………………………………………………………………………………2 The Discovery of Fraud……………………………………………………………………..…..3-4 Corporate Governance of FCB……………………………………………………………………5 Auditor Dilemma……………………………………………………………………….……….5-7 Using the Fraud Triangle Model to analyze the situation in Flat Cargo Berhad……………..…8-9 Who is responsible in the fraud of Flat Cargo Berhad ……………………………………..…10-11 Prevention Measures for Fraud ……………………………………………………………….12-13 Detection Measures for Fraud…………………………………………………………...……14-15 Recommendation…………………………………………………………………….……….16-17 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………...……….18-19 References………………………………………………………………………………………..19 Introduction The case is related to one company known as Flat Cargo Berhad (FCB), FCB was one of the largest air freight companies in Malaysia which servicing several government linked companies including Freight Malaysia Berhad. FCB is a listed company and was registered as an investment holding company with several subsidiaries. Among its subsidiaries are FC Spare Sdn Bhd, Cargo Management Sdn Bhd, FCB (SPV) Ltd, Cargo Air Services Sdn Bhd and FC Air Ltd. FCB started its operations in 1997 with two aircrafts: a Boeing 737-200F and a Cessna Grand Caravan. FCB’s major shareholder in 1997 had been Bangor Berhad, which was part of a diversified international family owned conglomerate, the Miri Group. On September 2001 the company was listed in Bursa Malaysia. The...

Words: 5971 - Pages: 24