Category Archives: restatement

SEC official: PCAOB’s standard setting too slow

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The PCAOB’s pace of developing auditing standards is too slow, SEC Chief Accountant James Schnurr said. He plans reviews of the process in hopes of speeding it up.

Click on the following link for the article: journalofaccountancy.com

Generally, I agree. The PCAOB should be up-to-date in its overview actions – shareholders deserve the best. Events simply move faster than regulatory entities can adjust.  But also interesting – the SEC criticizing the PCAOB? Looking at itself, is the SEC really in a position to criticize?

Question – if it is determined after-the-fact that an audit firm lacks independence, is the audit by that firm of any value?  In other words, can the audit still be relied upon?  One of the keystones of audit is that the auditing firm is independent of the entity that it is auditing. Perhaps it can still be determined that the issue or area causing the lack of independence did not materially impact the audit and the audit opinion?  But this is problematic.

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco / California)

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Compliance Questions That Keep Dogging the [Compliance] Profession

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A good discussion from Matt Kelly at Compliance Week – compliance questions that keep dogging the compliance profession.

Click on the following link for the discussion: www.linkedin.com

Dave Tate, Esq. (San Francisco / California)

Updated 1-Page Risk and Uncertainty Management Processes and Oversight

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Enjoy,

1-Page Risk and Uncertainty Management Processes and Oversight David Tate Esq 10302014

Dave Tate, Esq.

Protecting Your Board: Know Your Risks – Law Firms Are Going To Want To Be In This Practice Area

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This is a specific practice area that law firms are going to want to be in, and a few are starting – board and executive risk management, audit committees, compliance, and how they tie to other practice areas.

The attached link is to a NACD seminar on risk – I’m not saying you should attend the seminar, I’m just using it as an example that these issues are recognized and aren’t going away: s2843.t.en25.com

Dave Tate, Esq.

Glass Lewis – Heat on the Audit Committee to Make It Right (Restatements)

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I have been evaluating Glass Lewis’ Proxy Paper Guidelines, 2015 Proxy Season, An Overview of the Glass Lewis Approach to Proxy Advice, United States – there are many provisions pertaining to audit committees, audit committee members, and under what circumstances Glass Lewis will recommend voting for or against audit committee members and/or the entire committee. Audit committee members should read the Guidelines, to be informed. Some of the provisions are reasonable, others I believe are not or are overstated. This post discusses Standards for Assessing the Audit Committee #14 (restatements). Although we all agree that in most circumstances restatements should not occur and should be prevented, as far as deciding whether or not to vote for or against an audit committee member or the entire committee when a restatement has occurred isn’t necessarily cut and dry.

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The STANDARDS FOR ASSESSING THE AUDIT COMMITTEE are at pages 9-11 of the Glass Lewis Proxy Paper Guidelines.

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In pertinent part Glass Lewis advises: “When assessing the decisions and actions of the audit committee, we typically defer to its judgment and generally recommend voting in favor of its members. However, we will consider recommending that shareholders vote against the following: . . . .

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14. All members of an audit committee at a time when annual and/or multiple quarterly financial statements had to be restated, and any of the following factors apply:

•The restatement involves fraud or manipulation by insiders;

•The restatement is accompanied by an SEC inquiry or investigation;

•The restatement involves revenue recognition;

•The restatement results in a greater than 5% adjustment to costs of goods sold, operating expense, or operating cash flows; or

•The restatement results in a greater than 5% adjustment to net income, 10% adjustment to assets or shareholders equity, or cash flows from financing or investing activities.

My thoughts. Footnote 19 of the Paper, also states “Research indicates that revenue fraud now accounts for over 60% of SEC fraud cases . . . .” Provision #14 seems overstated and too bright line – (1) the audit committee members are significantly dependent on information provided by others including the CEO, CFO, internal audit, the independent outside auditor, foreign operations, etc. – (2) the audit committee only has oversight responsibilities – (3) what if the accounting treatment was a judgment call [i.e., see the new upcoming changes to “principles” based accounting for revenue]? – (4) why the entire audit committee as a group – each member has only one vote – really the entire committee out? – (5) what is “fraud”? – (6) fraud is often very difficult to prevent and detect – (7) what if the director is good for the company except perhaps in this instance of oversight? – (8) what if the audit committee was diligent and the restatement occurred anyway – (9) maybe recommend keeping the director, but not as an audit committee member? – (10) why is one of the criteria whether or not there was an SEC inquiry or investigation? – (11) more?

Comment if you would like. Please also tell others if you like this blog and my posts. Thanks.

Dave Tate, Esq., San Francisco / California, http://directorofficernews.com