Guide: Preparation, Compilation, and Review Engagements, 2017: (AICPA)

Issued under the authority of Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC) and a go-to guide for accountants performing preparation, compilation and review engagements, this version contains the most up-to-date guidance, including the recently issued Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information, and SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services – 2016. This edition also contains some enhancive updates related to materiality in review engagements, professional skepticism, and more illustrative accountant’s reports.

Table of Contents:
1 Review of Financial Statements 01-239 Introduction 01-02 Applicability 03 Consideration of Materiality in a Review Engagement 04-10 Requirements 11-234 General Principles for Performing and Reporting on Review Engagements 11 Professional Skepticism in a Review Engagement 12-16 Engagement Level Quality Control in a Review Engagement 17-21 Independence 22-24 Preconditions for Accepting a Review Engagement 25-30 Communications With Predecessor Accountants 31-34 Agreement on Engagement Terms 35-38 Understanding of the Industry 39 Knowledge of the Entity 40-68 Designing and Performing Review Procedures 69-72 Analytical Procedures 73-113 Illustrative Analytics 114-119 Inquiries and Other Review Procedures 120-143 Illustrative Inquiries 144-145 Reading the Financial Statements 146-148 Reconciling the Financial Statements to the Underlying Accounting Records 149 Evaluating Evidence Obtained From the Procedures Performed 150-153 Written Representations 154-160 Communicating to Management and Others Regarding Fraud or Noncompliance With Laws and Regulations 161-168 Reporting on the Financial Statements—General 169-170 Reporting on Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance With a Special Purpose Framework 171-175 Reporting on Comparative Financial Statements 176-182 Reporting on Known Departures From the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 183-188 Emphasis-of-Matter and Other-Matter Paragraphs in the Accountant’s Review Report 189-193 Alert That Restricts the Use of the Accountant’s Review Report 194-197 Reporting on Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance With a Financial Reporting Framework Generally Accepted in Another Country 198-201 The Accountant’s Consideration of an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern 202-207 Subsequent Events and Subsequently Discovered Facts 208-214 Initial Review Engagements—Opening Balances 215-217 Reference to the Work of Other Accountants in an Accountant’s Review Report 218-220 Supplementary Information That Accompanies Reviewed Financial Statements 221-223 Required Supplementary Information 224-226 Change in Engagement From Audit to Review 227-231 Review Documentation 232-234 Illustrative Engagement Letters 235 Illustrative Representation Letter 236-238 Illustrative Accountant’s Review Reports on Financial Statements 239 2 Compilation of Financial Statements 01-102 Introduction 01-02 Applicability 03 Requirements 04-86 General Principles for Performing and Reporting on Compilations of Financial Statements 04 Engagement Level Quality Control in a Compilation Engagement 05-09 Independence 10-11 Preconditions for Accepting a Compilation Engagement 12-17 Agreement on Engagement Terms 18-21 Knowledge and Understanding of the Entity’s Financial Reporting Framework 22-26 Reading the Financial Statements 27 Other Compilation Procedures 28-35 Reporting—General 36-37 Reporting—Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance With a Special Purpose Framework 38-41 Reporting—Financial Statements that Omit Substantially All the Disclosures Required by the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 42-49 Reporting—Comparative Financial Statements 50-62 Reporting—When the Accountant Is Not Independent 63-65 Reporting—Known Departures From the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 66-71 Reporting—Supplementary Information That Accompanies Financial Statements and the Accountant’s Compilation Report Thereon 72-74 Reporting—Required Supplementary Information 75-77 Reporting—Alert That Restricts the Use of the Accountant’s Compilation Report 78-79 Reporting—Emphasis-of-Matter or Other-Matter Paragraphs 80 Reporting—Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance With a Prescribed Format 81-86 Compilation of Specified Elements, Accounts, or Items of a Financial Statement 87-90 Change in Engagement From Audit or Review to a Compilation Engagement 91-96 Documentation Requirements 97-99 Illustrative Engagement Letters 100 Illustrative Examples of the Accountant’s Compilation Report on Financial Statements 101 Exhibit—Compilation Reporting Requirements When Independence Is Impaired 102 3 Preparation of Financial Statements 01-50 Introduction 01 Applicability 02-07 Independence 08-09 Requirements 10-49 General Principles for Performing Engagements to Prepare Financial Statements 10 Engagement Level Quality Control in an Engagement to Prepare Financial Statements 11-15 Preconditions for Accepting an Engagement to Prepare Financial Statements 16-18 Agreement on Engagement Terms 19-22 Knowledge and Understanding of the Entity’s Financial Reporting Framework 23-27 Preparing the Financial Statements 28-34 Preparation of Financial Statements in Accordance With a Special Purpose Framework 35-36 Preparation of Financial Statements That Contain a Known Departure or Departures From the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 37-38 Preparation of Financial Statements That Omit Substantially All Disclosures Required by the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 39-41 Preparation of Financial Statements Included in a Prescribed Form 42-44 Communication With Management 45-46 Documentation Requirements 47-49 Illustrative Engagement Letters 50 4 Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information 01-24 Introduction 01 Applicability 02-03 Requirements 04-22 General Principles for Compilations of Pro Forma Financial Information 04-06 Acceptance and Continuance of Client Relationships 07-09 Agreement on Engagement Terms 10-13 The Accountant’s Knowledge and Understanding of the Entity’s Financial Reporting Framework 14 Compilation Procedures 15-16 The Accountant’s Compilation Report on Pro Forma Financial Information 17-20 Documentation 21-22 Illustrative Engagement Letter for a Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information 23 Illustrative Accountant’s Compilation Report on Pro Forma Financial Information 24 5 Preparing or Performing a Compilation or Review of Personal Financial Statements 01-26 Introduction 01 Accounting Considerations 02-05 Internal Control With Respect to Personal Financial Statements 06-08 Agreement on Engagement Terms 09-11 Fraud and Illegal Acts in an Engagement to Prepare or in a Compilation or Review of Personal Financial Statements 12-14 Representation Letters 15-17 Compilation and Review Reports on Personal Financial Statements 18-20 Departures From the Applicable Financial Reporting Framework 21-22 Illustrative Engagement Letters 23 Illustrative Representation Letter 24-25 Illustrations of Accountant’s Compilation and Review Reports on Personal Financial Statements 26 Appendix A Overview of Statements on Quality Control Standards Glossary Index of Pronouncements and Other Technical Guidance Subject Index

About the Author :
Founded in 1887, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) represents the CPA and accounting profession nationally and globally regarding rule-making and standard-setting, and serves as an advocate before legislative bodies, public interest groups and other professional organizations. The AICPA develops standards for audits of private companies and other services by CPAs; provides educational guidance materials to its members; develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination; and monitors and enforces compliance with the accounting profession's technical and ethical standards. The AICPA's founding established accountancy as a profession distinguished by rigorous educational requirements, high professional standards, a strict code of professional ethics, a licensing status and a commitment to serving the public interest.