Wednesday 22 January 2014

REFORMING!THE!PROVISION!OF!EXTERNAL!AUDIT!SERVICES!

During'the'late'1990s'and'early'2000s'public'faith'in'the'external'audit'function'has'been' damaged'by'a'number'of'issues'including;'a'number'of'large'company'failures,'financial'scandals' and'the'banking'crisis.'Whilst'these'problems'may'not'be'wholly,'or'even'partly,'attributable'to' external'auditors,'questions'are'being'asked'about'the'role'and'context'in'which'external'auditors' play'their'part'in'the'oversight'of'financial'reporting.'' ' Historically,'the'accounting'and'audit'profession'has'been'largely'‘selfEregulating’'and'many'times' before'there'have'been'calls'for'the'audit'profession'to'‘put'its'house'in'order’.''This'time,'in' certain'quarters,'it'is'considered'that'the'‘status'quo’'cannot'prevail.'The'audit'reform'proposals' from'the'European'Commission'(EC),'to'the'extent'that'they'are'finally'implemented,'would'have' a'major'impact'on'the'external'auditing'sector'in'its'role'of'providing'professional'services.'' ' The'attached'article'entitled'Radical'Reform'by'Rachel'Fielding'from'Accountancy'Magazine' November'2011'introduces'some'of'the'issues.' REQUIREMENTS : You are required to write an essay that explains the background to the EC audit reform proposals, and critically discusses their content, alternative solutions, and likely impact of such proposals on the audit profession, its clients and society. As a minimum your answer should encompass the following aspects: • Critical appraisal of the EC audit reform proposals and the underlying areas of concern that they seek to address. • Critical discussion of the reaction to the proposals from the audit profession, audit clients and wider society • Critical discussion and comment on the extent to which the proposals have been and are likely to be implemented and, if not, possible future alternative solutions in relation to reforming the external auditing sector • Justified conclusions and final recommendations.
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