OCBOA Accounting and Auditing. Publish Date

Transcription

1 OCBOA Accounting and Auditing by Publish Date

2 Contents Chapter 1 - Other Comprehensive Bases of Accounting OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW Pure Cash Basis Modified Cash Basis Income Tax Basis HISTORY OF OCBOA AND ACCOUNTING STANDARDS DETERMINING WHETHER TO ISSUE OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 17 BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Economic Resources and Obligations Changes in Economic Resources and Obligations Cash Flows Financial Statement Titles KEY ISSUES IN PREPARING OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Recognition Measurement Presentation Disclosures Reporting GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES CHAPTER OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW THE AICPA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT Form and Content Rule 201: General Standards Professional Competence Due Professional Care Planning and Supervision Sufficient Relevant Data Rule 202: Compliance with Standards Interpretations of Rules of Conduct Ethics Rulings OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENT GUIDANCE AU Section Financial Statement Titles Disclosures AU Section 623 Interpretation AR Section 100 and Related Interpretation Technical Practice Aids STATEMENTS ON QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS Elements of a Quality Control System Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity Personnel Management Acceptance and Continuance of Clients and Engagements

3 Engagement Performance Monitoring Administration of the Quality Control System Monitoring a Firm's System of Quality Control Inspection Procedures Pre Issuance or Post Issuance Review of Selected Engagements Practitioner-in-Charge Personnel Management Competencies Gaining Competencies Competencies Expected in Performing Accounting, Auditing, and Attestation Engagements Interrelationship of Competencies and Other Elements of a Firm's System of Quality Control The Relationship of the Competency Requirement of the Uniform Accountancy Act to the Personnel Management Element of Quality Control History of Peer Review Objectives of Peer Review Strategies for Peer Review Philosophy at the Top Communicate the Philosophy Identify a Coordinator Institute an Internal Inspection Process Prepare for the Recommendations Peer Review Follow up Chapter 3 Engagement Planning and Consideration OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW CLIENT ACCEPTANCE AND RETENTION Ethical Considerations Independence Management Integrity Professional Competency and Staff Availability CLIENT ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURES Evaluate Prospective Clients Interview the Prospective Client Read the Prospective Client's Financial Statements Develop a Preliminary Understanding of the Prospective Client's Accounting Records Contact Third Parties Familiar with the Prospective Client Identify Intended Users of the Financial Statements Assess the Firm's Capabilities OTHER ENGAGEMENT ACCEPTANCE CONSIDERATIONS Recognizing Danger Signs Valuable Lessons from Litigation

4 Documentation INDEPENDENCE CONSIDERATIONS Understanding the Nature of the Services Evaluating the Client's Understanding of Its Responsibilities Bookkeeping Payroll and Other Disbursement Benefit Plan Administration Investment Advising and Investment Managing Corporate Finance Consulting and Advising Appraisal, Valuation, and Actuarial Executive and Employee Search Business Risk Consulting COMMUNICATION WITH THE PREDECESSOR CPA Audit Engagements Compilation and Review Engagements ESTABLISHING AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CLIENT Audit Engagements Engagement Letters Other Engagement Letter Considerations Compilation and Review Engagements Scope of the Engagement Identification of Financial Statements Presented Identification of the Number of Reporting Periods Identification of Accounting Methods Used and Any Departures Footnote Disclosures Required Presentation of Supplementary Information The Engagement Letter Other Documentation Methods Chapter 4 - Primary Financial Statement Considerations OBJECTIVES PRIMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Economic Resources and Obligations Changes in Economic Resources and Obligations Cash Flows Statement of Retained Earnings Comprehensive Income Presentation FINANCIAL STATEMENT TITLES Balance Sheet Title Alternatives Income Statement Title Alternatives Statement of Cash Flows Title Alternatives FINANCIAL STATEMENT CAPTIONS Classified versus Unclassified Presentation OTHER PRESENTATION ISSUES Consolidation Accounting Change from GAAP to OCBOA

5 REFERENCES IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS References to the Notes References to Selected Information References to the Accountant's Report Management-Use-Only Financial Statements Placing the Reference FINANCIAL STATEMENT DISCLOSURES Format of Disclosures Title of Notes Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Specific Disclosures Cash basis Tax basis Interim Financial Statements Financial Statement Items Assets and Liabilities Stockholders' Equity Subsequent Events Risks and Uncertainties Omission of Disclosures SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Reporting on Supplementary Information FORM AND STYLE OF PRESENTATION Title Page Accountant's Report Chapter 5 - Cash and Modified Cash-Basis Financial Statements OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW OF CASH-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Pure Cash Basis of Accounting Modified Cash Basis of Accounting ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN CASH-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Choosing the Appropriate Basis of Accounting Change in Basis of Accounting Change in Accounting Principle Changes in Equity Accounts Statement of Cash Flows PURE CASH BASIS Measurement and Recognition Considerations Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Property, Plant, and Equipment Debt Agency Transactions Income Taxes MODIFIED CASH BASIS Acceptable Modifications

6 Modified Cash Basis versus GAAP Measurement and Recognition Considerations Inventory Non Trade Receivables Investments Prepaid Expenses Property, Plant, and Equipment Depreciation Current and Long Term Liabilities Revenue Income Taxes DISCLOSURES IN CASH-BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Recommendations Basis of Accounting Pure Cash Basis Modified Cash Basis Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Income Taxes Consolidation Inventory Property and Equipment Commitments and Contingencies Uncertainties Subsequent Events Asset Impairment Changes in Accounting Principles or Estimates Investments Property and Equipment Terms of Debt Agreements Restrictions on Assets and Equity Employee Benefit Plans Income Taxes Disclosures in Pure Cash-Basis Presentations Chapter 6 - Income Tax Basis Financial Statements OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW IRS ACCOUNTING METHODS Inventories Exceptions Qualifying Small Business Taxpayer Qualifying Taxpayer Methods Permitted C Corporations S Corporations

7 Partnerships Sole Proprietorships ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN INCOME TAX BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Nontaxed Entities Nontaxable Revenues and Nondeductible Expenses Tax Changes Change in Basis of Accounting Change in Tax Law or Accounting Principle Change in Fiscal Year Changes in Equity and Capital Accounts ACCRUAL METHOD Safe Harbor Rule Recurring Item Exception Revenue and Expense Measurement and Presentation Issues Revenues Rental Income and Expense Nontaxable Revenues and Nondeductible Expenses Balance Sheet Measurement and Presentation Issues Receivables Inventories Investments Prepaid Expenses Property and Equipment Intangible Assets Liabilities CASH METHOD Constructive Receipt Expenses Measurement and Presentation Issues Inventories Prepaid Expenses DISCLOSURES IN INCOME TAX BASIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Recommendations Basis of Accounting Accrual Method Cash Method Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Income Taxes Consolidation Inventory Receivables Depreciation Start Up Costs

8 Related- Party Transactions Commitments and Contingencies Uncertainties Subsequent Events Asset Impairment Changes in Accounting Principles or Estimates Investments Property and Equipment Terms of Debt Agreements Restrictions on Assets and Equity Employee Benefit Plans Income Taxes Chapter 7 Other Basis of Accounting OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION REGULATORY BASIS OF ACCOUNTING Insurance Companies Regulatory Basis versus Contractual Basis Insurance Companies Financial Institutions Not-for-Profit Organizations Construction Contractors Prescribed Forms OTHER BASES OF ACCOUNTING Substantial Support Definite Criteria All Material Items Price-Level Basis Current Value Basis Liquidation Basis Agreed-Upon Basis Incomplete Presentations Presentation That Is not in Conformity with GAAP or OCBOA Chapter 8 Unique Entities OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION PERSONAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Issues to Consider in Personal Financial Statements Ownership of Assets Choosing the Basis of Accounting Basic Financial Statements Cash Basis Financial Statements Pure Cash Modified Cash Historical Cost Basis Financial Statements Establishing Historical Cost of Assets

9 Cash and Cash Equivalents Life Insurance Policies Receivables Business Interests Real Estate Future Interests Income Taxes Commitments Other Liabilities Accounting Methods Receivables Business Interests Income Taxes Disclosures in Personal Financial Statements Recommendations Basis of Accounting Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Other Disclosures Personal Financial Statement Engagement Issues Accepting the Client Understanding the Client's Accounting Records Consider Obtaining a Representation Letter Audit of Personal Financial Statements Reporting Standards NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Issues to Consider in Not-for-Profit Financial Statements Fund Accounting Statement of Functional Expenses Cash-Basis Financial Statements Pure Cash Modified Cash Pledges Investments Property and Equipment Net Assets FAS Income Tax Basis Financial Statements Accounting Methods Pledges Grants Receivable Investments Grants Payable Deferred Revenue

10 Net Assets Contributions Depreciation Taxes FAS Disclosures in Not-for-Profit Financial Statements Basis of Accounting Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Tax Exempt Status Pledges Investments Deferred Revenue Net Assets Donated Services Donated Materials, Equipment, or Facilities Functional Expenses Chapter 9 - Auditing OCBOA Financial Statements OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCEDURES AUDIT REPORTS Auditor's Standard Report TYPES OF AUDIT OPINIONS Unqualified Opinion Qualified Opinion Adverse Opinion Disclaimer of Opinion Conditions Precluding an Unqualified Opinion Scope Limitations Qualified Opinion Due to a Scope Limitation Disclaimer of Opinion Due to a Scope Limitation Departures from the OCBOA Qualified Opinion Due to a Departure from the OCBOA Adverse Opinion Due to a Departure from the OCBOA Accounting Changes Lack of Independence Unqualified Audit Reports with Explanatory Language Added Substantial Doubt about the Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern204 Reissued Reports and Going Concern Matters Reliance on Third Party Funding Lack of Consistency in Accounting Principles or in the Method of Their Application Modification to the Standard Auditor's Report as a Result of a Lack of Consistency

11 Emphasis of a Matter Change from GAAP to OCBOA Part of the Audit is Performed by Other Auditors REPORTING ON COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REPORTING ON INFORMATION ACCOMPANYING THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Reporting on Voluntary Additional Information DATING OF THE AUDITOR'S REPORT Events Occurring after Completion of Fieldwork but before Issuance of Report Effect of Subsequent Events Requiring Adjustment of the Financial Statements Effect of Subsequent Events Requiring Disclosure Methods Available for Dating the Auditor's Report for a Subsequent Event RESTRICTING THE USE OF AN AUDITOR'S REPORT Circumstances Requiring Reports to Be Restricted Specified Parties in Restricted-Use Reports Restricted-Use Report Language Chapter 10 - Compiling and Reviewing OCBOA Financial Statements OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION COMPILATION ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURES Traditional Compilations Knowledge of the Industry Knowledge of the Client Necessity to Perform Other Accounting Services Awareness Concerning Information Supplied Reading the Financial Statements Management-Use-Only Compilations Understanding with the Client Third Parties Management Use Only Compilation Program REVIEW ENGAGEMENT PROCEDURES Accounting Principles and Practices Analytical Procedures Inquiries Types of Inquiries Other Review Procedures Management Representations Documentation REPORTING STANDARDS Compilation Reports Review Reports Association with Financial Statements Financial Statement Legends Report Address

12 Report Date Report Signature Reporting on a Single Financial Statement MODIFICATIONS TO THE STANDARD REPORT Lack of Independence Departures from the OCBOA Report Modification Is Adequate Report Modification Is Inadequate Restricted Use Financial Statements Omission of Substantially All Disclosures Inclusion of More than a Few Disclosures Scope Limitations Uncertainties Uncertainties Related to Going Concern Change in Accounting Principles Change in an Accounting Principle (Correction of an Error) Supplementary Information Supplementary Information Presentation of Supplementary Information Supplementary Information Prepared by the Client Emphasis of a Matter REPORTING ON COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS GLOSSARY

13 Chapter 1 - Other Comprehensive Bases of Accounting OBJECTIVES At the end of this section, the student should be able to: Recognize what the term OCBOA means. Identify the three basis of accounting that are recognized and the types of organizations that would use each type. Indicate the different reasons why OCBOA financial statements are beneficial to clients and why they might be used by a CPA. OVERVIEW The term" other comprehensive bases of accounting" (OCBOA) refers to bases of accounting other than generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The primary guidance for OCBOA financial statements is SAS-62 (AU 623) (Special Reports). Unlike GAAP, there is no standard-setting organization for OCBOA. Instead, preparers and accountants have interpreted the audit guidance in AU 623 for purposes of preparing OCBOA financial statements. AU states that "an independent auditor's judgment concerning the overall presentation of financial statements should be applied within an identifiable framework." Ordinarily, that framework is provided by GAAP; but AU 623 allows a comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP to be used. AU recognizes the following OCBOAs: The basis of accounting that a reporting entity uses to comply with the requirements or the financial reporting provisions of the governmental regulatory agency under whose jurisdiction the entity is included The basis of accounting that the reporting entity uses or expects to use to file its income tax return for the period covered by the financial statements The cash receipts and disbursements basis of accounting, and modifications of the cash basis that have substantial support, such as recording depreciation on fixed assets or accruing income taxes A definite set of criteria having substantial support that is applied to all material items appearing in financial statements, such as the price-level basis of accounting NOTE: The Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) promulgated by the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board are codified in the AICPA Professional 14

14 Standards, Volume 1, as AU sections 100 through 900. The Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) are codified in the AICPA Professional Standards, Volume 1, as AR sections 50 through 600. The Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) are codified in the AICPA Professional Standards, Volume 1, as AT sections 101 through 701. References in this book to AU sections, AR sections, and AT sections refer to these AICPA standards. Pure Cash Basis Under the cash receipts and disbursements basis of accounting ("pure cash basis"), only transactions that increase or decrease cash and cash equivalents are reflected in the financial statement. The pure cash basis recognizes all cash disbursements as expenses and all cash receipts as revenues. In practice, the pure cash basis of accounting is rare. Entities that use the pure cash basis of accounting typically have the following characteristics: They are not profit-oriented Their operations are simple Their accounting and finance functions are unsophisticated There is only one major activity Capital expenditures and long-term debt are not significant Entities that use the pure cash basis of accounting can include school activity funds, civic ventures, trusts and estates, political action committees, and political campaigns. Modified Cash Basis The modified cash basis of accounting is described by AU as the pure cash basis incorporating modifications that have substantial support. These modifications generally include the recognition of certain transactions on an accrual basis, as entities would recognize them under GAAP. However, the appropriate modifications and the extent of those modifications are not clearly defined in the literature. Entities that use the modified cash basis of accounting generally possess the following characteristics: They are profit-oriented They distribute profits as collected (e.g., through bonuses and retirement plan contributions) 15

15 They have significant inventory and credit arrangements with vendors They make material capital expenditures or incur material amounts of debt Their operations are somewhat sophisticated, and accounting for them may be complex Examples of entities that use the modified cash basis of accounting are professional associations of doctors, lawyers, and CPAs. Income Tax Basis The income tax basis of accounting is typically based on federal income tax laws. However, income tax laws generally do not address financial statement presentation or disclosure considerations. Typically, entities that use the tax basis of accounting are either Profit-oriented enterprises (such as small closely held companies for which conversion to GAAP would be costly) Partnerships whose partnership agreements require the use of the tax basis of accounting Not-for-profit organizations seeking relief from the requirements of FAS- 116 and FAS-U7 HISTORY OF OCBOA AND ACCOUNTING STANDARDS The AICPA has commissioned several studies to examine the problem of standards overload. In 1976, the AICPA's Committee on GAAP for Smaller and/ or Closely Held Businesses recommended that the FASB distinguish disclosures required by GAAP from those that merely provide additional data. The committee also recommended that the AICPA develop a method of reporting on financial statements where some or all footnote disclosures are omitted. In 1981, the Special Committee on Accounting Standards Overload was given the following charge: To study accounting standards overload and to consider alternative means of providing relief from accounting standards which are found not to be cost effective, particularly for small, closely held businesses, and to report thereon to the board of directors. The committee recommended the use of the income tax basis of accounting as an alternative to GAAP financial statements for small businesses for the following reasons: 16

16 Taxpaying entities already must maintain records of the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Preparing tax basis financial statements would eliminate the need to also maintain records of the GAAP basis of assets and liabilities. Most financial statement users recognize and understand the tax basis of accounting. Many users are satisfied with financial statements prepared on the tax basis; those who need more information are generally able to require GAAP statements. Few measurement guidelines need to be established. The committee also recommended minimum disclosure, measurement, and reporting guidelines for income tax basis financial statements. In addition, in 1983 the FASB issued a special report entitled "Financial Reporting by Privately Owned Companies: Summary of Responses to FASB Invitation to Comment" that summarized the responses to a FASB Invitation to Comment issued in 1981, which included questionnaires tailored to three groups: (1) managers of private and small public companies, (2) users of financial statements of those companies, and (3) public accountants who served those companies. The report did not draw any conclusions or make any recommendations concerning accounting standards. DETERMINING WHETHER TO ISSUE OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OCBOA financial statements are beneficial to clients for many reasons. One of the major benefits is that some clients can understand OCBOA financial statements better than GAAP financial statements. It is not uncommon for the owner / manager of a privately held company to fully understand the measurement issues represented in tax returns but have little grasp of the measurement and disclosure complexities in GAAP financial statements. Another major advantage: Because accountants do not need to consider the measurement requirements of GAAP, the OCBOA financial statements can often be prepared on a more timely and cost-efficient basis. For cash-basis financial statements, many of the measurement principles associated with GAAP simply do not exist; for tax-basis financial statements, the CPA has already addressed the measurement issues in the tax returns. It is estimated that CPAs can save up to 20% to 30% or more in certain cases because of the reduced time and cost in preparing and reporting on OCBOA financial statements. 17

17 In advising clients about the use of an OCBOA, accountants should consider the following issues: Does the entity have inventory? (If so, the pure cash basis may not be helpful.) What basis of accounting does the entity use in preparing its income tax return? (If the accrual basis is used, preparing financial statements on the same basis makes sense.) Is the entity highly leveraged? (Lenders may require GAAP financial statements.) Are there outside investors? (GAAP financial statements may provide information required by such users.) Does the entity's cash flow parallel its income and expenses? (The pure cash basis may be appropriate.) Does the entity anticipate going public? (If so, the entity will need a history of GAAP financial statements.) Was the entity formed for tax purposes? (If yes, the owners are probably interested in the tax effects of transactions and the income tax basis would be appropriate.) Is the entity subject to bonding requirements? (Most bonding companies only accept GAAP financial statements.) OCBOA financial statements may be prepared for any entity that is not required, contractually or otherwise, to issue GAAP financial statements. As a practical matter, OCBOA financial statements may be considered anytime the following conditions are met: The users of the financial statements-those who are internal as well as those who are external to the entity-understand an OCBOA presentation and find it relevant to their needs. It is cost-effective to prepare OCBOA financial statements. The operations of the entity are conducive to an OCBOA presentation. The AICPA's nonauthoritative practice aid Preparing and Reporting on Cash- and Tax-Basis Financial Statements lists the following characteristics of entities that should consider issuing cash- or tax-basis financial statements: General Condition User needs: third parties Specific Characteristic The entity has no third-party users of the financial statements (e.g., the entity is a small closely held business with no third-party debt). The entity's debt is secured rather than unsecured. 18

18 User needs: owners and managers Cost-effective Operations The entity's creditors do not require GAAP financial statements. The owners and managers are closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and have a fairly accurate picture of the entity's financial position The business's owners are primarily interested in cash flows (e.g., a professional corporation of physicians that distributes its cash-basis earnings through salaries, bonuses, and retirement plan contributions). The owners are primarily interested in the tax implications of transactions (e.g., partners in a partnership who are concerned about the tax effects of transactions that will be reflected on their personal tax returns). The entity's cost of complying with GAAP would exceed the benefits (e.g., a small construction contractor would be required to account for long-term contracts using the percentage-ofcompletion method and would be required to compute deferred taxes). The entity is not subject to Internal Revenue Code rules that would require it to prepare its tax return on the accrual method of accounting (If the entity is required to use the accrual method for income tax purposes, the differences between a tax-basis presentation and GAAP might not be sufficient to provide substantial cost savings.) Capital expenditures and long-term financing are not significant to the entity. As the foregoing table indicates, understanding the needs of the financial statement users is the most important step in helping clients decide whether to issue OCBOA financial statements. Note: Financial statement users may be more inclined in certain situations to accept OCBOA financial statements if the client also provides additional information outside the basic financial statements. For example, a lender 19

19 might accept tax-basis financial statements from a borrower if the borrower also provides the lender with an aged listing of receivables. OCBOA financial statements should not be issued if the results will be misleading. AU includes the following guidance: The auditor should apply essentially the same criteria to financial statements prepared on an other comprehensive basis of accounting as he or she does to financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Therefore, the auditor's opinion should be based on his or her judgment regarding whether the financial statements, including the related notes, are informative of matters the may affect their use, understanding, and interpretation. The foregoing statement indicates that the auditor has a responsibility to determine whether the financial statements are misleading. The AICPA's nonauthoritative practice aid Preparing and Reporting on Cash- and Tax-Basis Financial Statements states that the accountant should consider whether OCBOA financial statements could be misleading whenever the following conditions are present: The entity has substantial unfunded obligations, commitments, and contingent liabilities that would not be recorded on the cash or tax basis. The entity has delayed paying accounts payable and other current liabilities not shown on a cash-basis statement. The financial statements have been compiled with substantially all disclosures omitted. BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS By default, generally accepted accounting principles are applicable when a CPA conducts an audit, compilation, or review of and reports on any financial statement. A financial statement may be, for example, that of a corporation, a consolidated group of corporations, a combined group of affiliated entities, a notfor-profit organization, a governmental unit, an estate or trust, a partnership, a proprietorship, a segment of any of these, or an individual. The term "financial statement" refers to a presentation of financial data, including accompanying notes, derived from the accounting records and intended to communicate an entity's economic resources or obligations at a point in time or the changes therein for a period of time in conformity with a comprehensive basis of accounting. The following financial presentations are examples of financial statements: Balance sheet 20

20 Statement of income Statement of comprehensive income Statement of retained earnings Statement of cash flows Statement of changes in owners' equity Statement of assets and liabilities (with or without owners' equity accounts) Statement of revenues and expenses Statement of financial position Statement of activities Summary of operations Statement of operations by product lines Statement of cash receipts and disbursements In an OCBOA presentation, the basic financial statements typically present financial position and results of operations as measured under the OCBOA, descriptions of accounting policies, and notes to the financial statements. However, an exception to this exists for entities that use the pure cash basis of accounting. Under the pure cash basis of accounting, a statement of assets, liabilities, and equity is needless because the cash balance is the only item that appears. Consequently, entities using the pure cash basis of accounting present a single statement titled "Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements." Economic Resources and Obligations By definition "financial statements" are a presentation of financial data intended to communicate an entity's economic resources or obligations on a specific date. When GAAP financial statements are prepared, a financial statement of this nature is referred to as a "balance sheet" or "statement of financial position." Changes in Economic Resources and Obligations By definition "financial statements" are a presentation of financial data intended to communicate changes in an entity's economic resources or obligations. When GAAP financial statements are prepared, a financial statement of this nature is referred to as an "income statement" or "statement of operations." Cash Flows FAS-95 (Statement of Cash Flows) states that "a business enterprise that provides a set of financial statements that reports both financial position and results of operations shall provide a statement of cash flows for each period for which results of operations are provided." However, Interpretation No. 14 of SAS- 21

21 62 (AU ) states that "a statement of cash flows is not required" in presentations using the cash, modified cash, or income tax basis of accounting. Note: Whether a statement of cash flows is necessary for a basis of accounting established by a governmental regulatory agency depends on the specific requirements established by the agency. Although a statement of cash flows is not required in cash, modified cash, or income tax basis presentations, if a presentation of cash receipts and disbursements is presented in a format similar to a statement of cash flows, or if the entity chooses to present a statement of cash flows (for example in a presentation on the accrual basis of accounting used for federal income tax reporting), the statement should either conform to the requirements for a GAAP presentation or communicate their substance. Financial Statement Titles When OCBOA financial statements are prepared, it is inappropriate to use titles that would normally be associated with GAAP financial statements. AU addresses the issue of OCBOA financial statement titles. Terms such as "balance sheet," "statement of financial position," "statement of income," "statement of operations," "statement of cash flows," and similar unmodified titles are generally understood to be applicable only to financial statements that are intended to present financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in conformity with GAAP. Consequently, CPAs should modify such titles to ones that are appropriate for OCBOA financial statements. Care must be exercised in titling OCBOA financial statements so that readers of the statements will not infer that OCBOA financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. For example, cash-basis financial statements might be titled" statement of assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions" or "statement of revenue collected and expenses paid," and a financial statement prepared on a statutory or regulatory basis might be titled "statement of income-statutory basis." KEY ISSUES IN PREPARING OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A basis of accounting (including an OCBOA) is a framework for determining what information is presented in the financial statements and related notes and how it is presented. However, many issues arise in practice for which there is no authoritative guidance. These issues are summarized as follows. 22

22 Recognition Recognition deals with when an item should be reported in the financial statements. Transactions should be recognized in the financial statements based on the basis of accounting used. More specifically, an item and the information about it should be recognized in the financial statements when the following four criteria are met: 1. Definition: The item meets the definition of an element of a financial statement. 2. Measurability: The item has a relevant attribute that can be reliably measured. 3. Relevance: The information about the item may make a difference to financial statement users. 4. Reliability: The information is representationally faithful, verifiable, and neutral. For example, cash-basis financial statements recognize transactions when cash is received or paid. Tax-basis financial statements recognize transactions when they would be recognized in the entity's tax return. Measurement "Measurement" is how an item is quantified. The item must have a relevant attribute that can be quantified monetarily with sufficient reliability. Some items that meet the definition of a financial statement element are not measurable. Cash-basis financial statements measure an item based on the amount of cash received or paid. Tax-basis financial statements measure items based on amounts that would be reported in the entity's tax return. Recognition and measurement issues for cash-basis financial statements are addressed in Chapter 5, "Cash and Modified Cash-Basis Financial Statements." Recognition and measurement issues for income tax basis financial statements are addressed in Chapter 6, "Income Tax Basis Financial Statements." Presentation Although transactions are recognized and measured according to the OCBOA, they are generally presented in the financial statements according to GAAP presentation guidelines. That is, revenues and expenses (measured in accordance with the OCBOA) are presented in a statement of income and assets, liabilities, and equity (measured in accordance with the OCBOA) are presented in a statement of financial position. 23

23 Financial statement form and style considerations are discussed further in Chapter 4, "Primary Financial Statement Considerations." Disclosures Some information is better provided, or can only be provided, by notes to the financial statements, by supplementary information, or by other means. A common misconception about OCBOA financial statements is that the requirements for disclosure are significantly different from those for GAAP financial statements. According to AU , OCBOA financial statements should include all informative disclosures that are appropriate for the basis of accounting used. Thus, the disclosures required for OCBOA financial statements are essentially the same as those required for GAAP financial statements. Specifically, informative disclosures can be classified in the following categories: Summary of significant accounting policies Financial statement items Presentation requirements Other information Disclosure issues relevant to each basis of accounting are discussed further in the pertinent chapters throughout this book. Reporting Certain modifications must be made when reporting on OCBOA financial statements. The statement titles in the reports must reflect the OCBOA statement titles. Audit reports must disclose the basis of presentation, refer to the note that describes the basis, and include a statement that the basis is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP. When compiled financial statements omit substantially all disclosures, the compilation report must reflect OCBOA titles and disclose the basis of accounting. Other compilation and review reports must reflect the OCBOA statement titles. Chapter 9, "Auditing OCBOA Financial Statements: Procedures and Reporting," discusses audit reports on OCBOA financial statements in further detail. Chapter 10, "Compiling and Reviewing OCBOA Financial Statements: Procedures and Reporting," discusses compilation and review reports on OCBOA financial statements in further detail. GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES 24

24 Because OCBOA refers to a comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP, it is important to understand what is meant by the term "GAAP." What is GAAP? The phrase generally accepted accounting principles is a technical accounting term that encompasses the conventions, rules, and procedures necessary to define accepted accounting practice at a particular time. It includes not only broad guidelines of general application, but also detailed practices and procedures. Those conventions, rules, and procedures provide a standard by which to measure financial presentations. Generally accepted accounting principles GAAP are concerned with the measurement of economic activity, the time when such measurements are to be made and recorded, the disclosures surrounding this activity, and the preparation and presentation of summarized economic information in the form of financial statements. GAAP develops when questions arise about how to best accomplish those objectives - measurement, timing of recognition, disclosure, or presentation. In response to those questions, GAAP is either prescribed in official pronouncements of authoritative bodies empowered to create it, or it originates over time through the development of customary practices that involved when authoritative bodies fail to respond. Thus, GAAP is a reaction to and a product of the economic environment in which it develops. As such, the development of accounting and financial reporting standards has lagged the development and creation of increasingly intricate economic structures and transactions. There are two broad categories of accounting principles-recognition and disclosure. Recognition principles determine the timing and measurement of items that enter the accounting cycle and impact the financial statements. These are quantitative standards that require economic information to be reflected numerically. Disclosure principles deal with factors that are not always numeric. Disclosures involve qualitative information that is an essential ingredient of a full set of financial statements. Their absence would make the financial statement misleading by omitting information relevant to the decision making needs of the reader. Disclosure principles complement recognition principles by explaining assumptions underlying the numerical information and providing additional information on accounting policies, contingencies, uncertainties, etc., which are essential to fully understand the performance and financial condition of the reporting enterprise. Who Created GAAP? From time to time, the bodies given responsibility for the promulgation of GAAP have changed, and indeed more than a single such body has often shared this 25

25 responsibility. GAAP established by all earlier standard-setting bodies, to the extent not withdrawn or superseded, remains in effect at the present time. These bodies are: Committee on Accounting Procedure Accounting Principles Board Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Other sources Accounting Standards Codification The Hierarchy of GAAP after Codification On July 1, 2009, the FASB Accounting Standards Codification became the single official source of authoritative, nongovernmental US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). It superseded all extant FASB, AICPA, EITF, and related literature. After that dale, only one level of authoritative GAAP existed, excluding the guidance issued by The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All other literature is nonauthoritative. In effect, therefore, the formerly five-level US GAAP hierarchy was compressed to two levels. The Codification did not change GAAP, but rather introduced a new structure one that is organized into an easily accessible, user-friendly online research system. The Codification reorganizes the large number of discrete US GAAP pronouncements into roughly 90 accounting Topics, and displays all Topics using a consistent structure. Also included in the Codification is relevant SEC guidance, which follows the same topical structure, used throughout the Codification. This represents a departure from past practice, since it was not previously included in official GAAP guidance, (although it obviously was binding on publicly held reporting entities, and was to be given some consideration as "category E" hierarchy literature even by nonissuers). To increase the utility of the Codification for public companies, relevant portions of authoritative content issued by the SEC and selected SEC staff interpretations and administrative guidance are being included for reference in the Codification. The sources include Regulation S-X, Financial Reporting Releases (FRR) / Accounting Series Releases (ASR), Interpretive Releases (IR), and SEC staff guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletins (SAB), EITF Topic D. and SEC Staff Observer comments. The Codification does not. however, incorporate the entire population of SEC rules, regulations, interpretive releases, and staff guidance, such as content related to mailers outside of the basic financial statements, including Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), or to auditing or independence matters. 26

26 The Codification includes all category A-D GAAP issued by accounting standard setters, including pronouncements issued by the FASB, EITF, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee (AcSEC), the Accounting Principles Board, etc., to the extent still binding on financial reporting practice. The source of materials used to create the Codification is the as-amended versions of those original accounting standards. Therefore, the Codification does NOT identify as sources any documents that solely amend other standards. For example, FAS 149 was an amendment of FAS 133. so the content of FAS 149 is included through the as-amended version of Statement 133. Similarly, a great deal of literature (FASB statements, technical bulletins, and interpretations, as well as scores of EITF Issues, etc.) amended the venerable lease accounting standard, FAS 13, and those also are no longer referenced. The Codification content is arranged within Topics, Subtopics, Sections, and Subsections. Topics represent a collection of related guidance. Topics reside in four main areas as follows: Presentation - Topics relating only to presentation matters: they do not address recognition, measurement, and derecognition matters. Examples of these topics are-income statement, balance sheet, and earnings per share. Financial Statement Accounts The Codification organizes topics into a financial statement order, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Topics include, for example, receivables, revenue recognition, and inventory. Broad Transactions - These topics relate to multiple financial statement accounts and are generally transaction-oriented. Topics include, for example, business combinations, derivatives, and nonmonetary transactions. Industries - These topics relate to accounting that is unique to an industry or type of activity. Topics include, for example, airlines, software, and real estate. Subtopics represent subsets of a topic and are typically identified by type or by scope. For example, operating leases and capital leases are two separate subtopics of the leases topic, distinguished by type of lease. Each topic contains an overall subtopic that generally represents the pervasive guidance for the topic, which includes guidance that applies to all other subtopics. Each additional subtopic represents incremental or unique guidance not contained in the overall subtopic. Sections represent the nature of the content in a subtopic for example, recognition, measurement, and disclosure. The sectional organization for all subtopics is the same. In a manner similar to that used for topics, sections correlate closely with sections of individual International Accounting Standards. 27

27 Sections are further broken down into subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, depending on the specific content of each section. 28

28 CHAPTER 2 - AUTHORITATIVE GUIDANCE FOR PREPARING AND REPORTING ON OCBOA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OBJECTIVES At the end of this section, the student should be able to: Recognize the purpose of The Code of Professional Conduct and the responsibilities that CPAs have to follow the Code when performing their professional responsibilities. Identify the four parts of The Code of Professional Conduct. Recognize the guidance that is provided by The Code of Professional Conduct when preparing OCBOA financial statements. OVERVIEW Individual CPAs and CPA firms follow standards that were specifically established to provide guidance in preparing and reporting on OCBOA financial statements; others applicable standards are general in nature. The standards discussed here include the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, SAS-62 (AU 623), SSARS-1 (AR 100), and Statements on Quality Control Standards (SQCSs). THE AICPA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct provides guidance for the CPA in conducting his or her professional practice. A CPA must observe all of the rules and interpretations in the Code of Professional Conduct. The Code of Professional Conduct is made up of two sections: (1) the Principles and (2) the Rules. The Principles provide the framework for the Rules, which govern the performance of professional services by CPAs. The Council of the AICPA is authorized to designate bodies to promulgate technical standards under the Rules. The Code of Professional Conduct was adopted by the membership of the AICPA to provide guidance and rules to all members-those in public practice, industry, government, and education-in the performance of their professional responsibilities. 29

29 Compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct, as with all standards in an open society, depends primarily on members' understanding and voluntary actions, secondarily on reinforcement by peers and public opinion, and ultimately on disciplinary proceedings, when necessary, against members who fail to comply with the Rules. The Code applies to all services performed by a practitioner while holding him- or herself out as a CPA. According to the Code, a practitioner holds out as a CPA if he or she informs others of his or her status as a CPA or AICPA-accredited specialist. This includes, for example: Oral or written representation to another regarding CPA status Use of CPA designation on business cards or letterhead The display of a certificate evidencing the CPA designation Listing as a CPA in local telephone directories The Code also applies to other people in the practitioner's firm. Ethics Interpretation No states that A member may be held responsible for compliance with the rules by all persons associated with him or her in the practice of public accounting whom the member has the authority or capacity to control. A member shall not permit others to carry out on his or her behalf, either with or without compensation, acts which, if carried out by the member, would place the member in violation of the rules. Form and Content The Code of Professional Conduct consists of four parts: (1) principles, (2) rules, (3) interpretations, and (4) rulings. Principles of professional conduct provide the framework for the Code s specific rules. Rules of conduct govern the performance of professional services. The AICPA Council establishes the rules and can designate bodies to establish technical standards under the rules. The rules consist of the following: Rule 101: lndependence Rule 102: lntegrity and Objectivity Rule 201: General Standards Rule 202: Compliance with Standards Rule 203: Accounting Principles Rule 301: Confidential Client Information Rule 302: Contingent Fees Rule 501: Acts Discreditable Rule 502: Advertising and Other Forms of Solicitation Rule 503: Commissions and Referral Fees 30