Reference no: EM131810257

Problem

Each of the following situations involves possible violations of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. For eachsituation, state whether it is a violation of the Code. In those cases in which it is aviolation, explain the nature of the violation and the rationale for the existing rule. LOADING...

a. The audit firm of Miller and Yancy, CPAs, has joined an association of other CPA firms across the country to enhance the types of professional services the firm can provide. Miller and Yancy share resources with other firms in the association, including audit methodologies and audit manuals, and common IT systems for billing and time reporting. One of the partners in Miller and Yancy has a direct financial interest in the audit client of another firm in the association.

b. Bruce Sullivan, CPA, is the audit partner on the engagement of Xylium Corporation, which is a public company. In structuring the agreement with the audit committee for the audit of Xylium's financial statements, Sullivan included a clause that limits the liability of Sullivan's firm so that shareholders of Xylium are prohibited from suing Sullivan and the firm for performance issues related to the audit.

c. Connor Bradley is the partner in charge of the audit of Southern Pinnacle Bank. Bradley is in the process of purchasing a beach condo and has obtained mortgage financing from Southern Pinnacle.

d. Jennifer Crowe's audit client has a material investment in Polex, Inc. Jennifer's non-dependent parents also own shares in Polex, and Polex is not an attest client of Jennifer's firm. The amount of her parent's ownership in Polex is not significant to Jennifer's net worth.

e. Joe Stokely is a former partner in Bass and Sims, CPAs. Recently, Joe left the firm to become the chief operating officer of Lacy Foods, Inc., which is an audit client of Bass and Sims. In his new role, Joe has no responsibilities for financial reporting. Bass and Sims made significant changes to the audit plan for the upcoming audit.

f. Odonnel Incorporated has struggled financially and has been unable to pay the audit fee to its auditor, Seale andSeale, CPAs, for the 2011 and 2012 audits. Seale and Seale is currently planning the 2013 audit.

g. Jessica Alma has been serving as the senior auditor on the audit of Carolina BioHealth, Inc. Because of her outstanding work, the head of internal audit at Carolina BioHealth extended her an offer of employment to join the internal audit department as an audit manager. When the discussions with Carolina BioHealth began, Jessica informed her office's managing partner and was removed from the audit engagement.

h. Morris and Williams, a regional CPA firm, is providing information systems consulting to one of their publicly traded audit clients. They are assisting in the implementation of a new financial reporting system selected by management.

i. Audrey Glover is a financial analyst in the financial reporting department of Technologies International, a privately held corporation. Audrey was asked to prepare several journal entries for Technologies International related to transactions that have not yet occurred. The entries are reflected in financial statements that the company recently provided to the bank in connection with a loan outstanding due to the bank.

j. Austin and Houston, CPAs, is performing consulting services to help management of McAlister Global Services streamline its production operations. Austin and Houston structured the fee for this engagement to be a fixed percentage of costs savings that result once the new processes are implemented. Austin and Houston perform no other services for McAlister Global.

1. When audit firms create a network with other firms to share certain characteristics, such as the sharing of audit methodologies and audit manuals, interpretations of the Code require each network firm to be independent of audit and review clients of other network firms. The ownership by a firm who are partners in one of the network firms in the stock of a client of another network firm would impair independence.

2. When audit firms create a network with other firms to share certain characteristics, such as the sharing of audit methodologies and audit manuals, interpretations of the Code require each network firm to be independent of audit and review clients of other network firms. The ownership by a firm who are partners in one of the network firms in the stock of a client of another network firm would impair objectivity and client confidentiality.

3. An interpretation of the Code prohibits the inclusion of indemnification clauses and other limitations of liability provisions in engagement letters for audit and other attest services.

4. An investment by a client in a firm that is also an investment of a related party to the CPA firm constitutes a violation of independence according to interpretations of the Code.

5. An interpretation of the code states that no member of top-level-management can be a former employee of the auditing firm.

6. Interpretations and rulings note that independence is impaired if billed or unbilled fees remain unpaid for professional services provided more than six months before the date of the auditor's report.

7. Interpretations and rulings note that independence is impaired if billed or unbilled fees remain unpaid for professional services provided more than one year before the date of the auditor's report.

8. Only new and pre-existing mortgage loans provided by a new audit client that is a bank are permissible.

9. Only pre-existing mortgages provided by a new audit client that is a bank are permissible. No new mortgage loans are permitted, however.

10. Being offered a job from a client constitutes a discreditable act.

11. The Code prohibits the solicitation and disclosure of the Uniform CPA examination questions and answers without permission of the AICPA.

12. Two rules are violated whereby an individual knowingly included false and misleading transactions in the financial statements that were provided to the bank.

13. Setting a fee based on financial results is in violation of multiple rules of the Code.

14. Providing financial information systems design and implementation services to a publicly-traded client is prohibited under independence rules.