1128125, 12551 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global P Xft) Think Ahead Q Menu = International Standards on Quality Management — part 1 (ISOM 1) Home / Students / Study resources / Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA) / Technical articles and topic explainers. J Intern: nal Standards on Quality Management — part 1 (ISQM 1) Fr auaits to be effective and maintain public trust, they must be performod in a way that ensures firms and the'r personnel ful their responsibiies in accordance with applicable legal and professional standards. Itis imperative that audit fs adopt a culture of best practice in accordance with these slandards, enabling audit partners in issuing appropriate auditor's reports. The throats of solf interest caused by increasing financial pressure on auait partners will compromise auditor reports, as wl the issues of poor planning, inadequate risk assessment and lack of resources and audit evidence. The International Auditing and ‘Assurance Standards Board (|AASB) issues qualily standards to support firms in achieving this aim, ‘The current standards inthis area are International Standard on Quality Ma agement (ISQM) 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Finan Statements and ISQM 2, Engagement Quality Reviews, alongside ISA 220 (Revised), Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements. ‘These standards are examinable in Advanced Ault and Assurance (AAA) and candidates are expected to be able to “-monstrate an understanding and application of the key principles. Quality management is pervasive to the performance {its and so its also pervasive to the AAA exam with aspects potentially arising multiple times within a single exam, tips taww-accaglobal.comvgblen/studentlexam-suppor-esourcesiprofessional-exams-study-resaurcesip7itechnical-artclesiisqm-t.himl 19112825, 1251 PM Intemational Standarés on Quay Management - part (SQM *) [ACCA Global This article focuses on ISQM 1; a second acl wil look at ISQM 2 and ISA 220 (Revised), There are examples provided demonstrating how certain aspects of quality management may be examined. These are intended to indicate potential ways candidates may encounter questions on qualy, however, these are illustrative examples only and should not be considered ‘comprehensive; alterative examples and aspects are also examinable Key principles underlying the quality standards ‘The quality standards are focused on public intrest, withthe hope of addressing some ofthe circumstances where aut failure has accurred. The nocd for audit partners and audit toams to exhibit professional scepticism, with an independent and challenging mindset, is emphasised, This is especially important when assessing client judgements and estimations. Ault teams need to have the competence and support to do this without fearing negative implications. The quality standards adopt a proactive atitude to qualty in firms rather than a compliance (tick box’) approach and one whichis scalable from small rms to large multinational networks, ‘There is a need to ensure audit quality evolves; there must be scope within quality guidance for a fimm’s processes to change as technology and business practices change ‘There is alse focus on improving both internal and extemal monitoring of firms and their networks and on improving ‘communication, both internally and to extemal parties such as those charged with governance (TCWG) and regulators. ISQM 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Statements, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements SQM 1 embeds this approach through a principle driven requirement for firms to create a system of quality management (SoM) Which is talored to the firm and its client base. This scalability enables firms to design a system which addresses their specific circumstances and risks. The SoQM must address eight components 1. Firm's risk assessment process. Firms must design and implement a risk assessment process that sets quality objectives and identifies risks. The firm's specific situation and environment is considered and will include the technologies employed by the firm, their networks, and any external ‘service providers, This is an ongoing monitoring process rather than one-off, enabling the SoQM to adapt with any changes. This approach will allow the firm to tailor to address the specific risks within their firm, and it wll vary according to the size of the audit firm and their cient portfolio. nips:aew.accaglobal.comigblen/studentlexam-suppor-resaurcesiprofessional-exams-study-resoutcesip7/technicabaticlesiisqm-t.himl 291128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global By maintaining this tallored foous on risks and their mitigation, the firm should be able to focus on ensuring the right engagement ‘oF audit report is issued for each assignment. This may be due to more competent and well-trained individuals performing ‘complex or risky ausits, audit partners feeling more empowered to issue modified audit reports, by ensuring acceptance procedures fully identify threats to independence and ensure safeguards are enacted and many other factors. The most crucial point is that this approach is talored to address the specific risks arising in specific firms and not expected to be the same for ‘every audit firm regardless of size or client portfolio. Exam focus In the AAA exam, candidates may be required to explain and/or evaluate a firm’s risk assessment process and make recommendations for improvement. 2. Governance and leadership Firs should create an environment which demonstrates a commitment to quality through is culture and recognises its roe in ‘serving the public interest. This responsibly is fm wide rather than at the individual audit level, with the chief executive or ‘managing partner assigned the responsibilty and accountability for the SoQM. This should ensure the ‘tone atthe top’ enforces a ‘commitment to quality and ethics across the whole firm. ‘Systems and policies should be in place to reward commitment to quality rather than focusing on client retention and engagement profit. This should allow audit engagement partners to challenge client judgements without fear of the negative consequences of losing the revenue arising from the loss of the client. In this way, all employees of the firm are supported to full their legal and regulatory requirements without undue commercial pressures or self-interest resulting in inappropriate decision making Exam focus Candidates may be required to explain the importance of governance and leadership in maintaining the ‘SoQM or may be required to evaluate a scenario's weaknesses in this area, alongside recommendations for improvement. 3, Relevant ethical requirements ‘The SoQM should include objectives and policies for ensuring the fullment of ethical requirements. These processes will again differ depending on fim size and client portfolio; the scalability ofthe standard requires firms to have in place mitigations for ‘ethical risks arising which are appropriate to the firm rather than a fixed response to a given risk. Not only must a firm ensure its own personnel understanding of and compliance with relevant ethical requirements, for example, through training and ethical declarations such as independence forms, fms must also ensure that any component auditors in a ‘group understand and apply the ethical regulations applicable to the group auditor. elevant ethical requirements for a firm depend on the jurisdiction it operates in; these may go beyond those set out in the ‘A International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Cade). It is also the case that many firms will have in place ~-»wiéies to mitigate ethical threats which go beyond the minimum required by the Code and regulatory requirements of the tips uaww-accaglobal.comvgblen/studentlexam-suppor-esourcesiprofessional-exams-study-resaurcesip7itechnicalarclesiisqm-t.hil a91128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global jurisdiction in which the firm operates: ISQM 1 requires firms to ensure these requirements are also captured by the SoQM, For ‘example, many firms or jurisdictions prohibit the acceptance of gits, even of trivial value. Falure to adhere to the fis policies ‘would be seen as a falure ofits SOOM despite not giving rise to a breach of the Code. Scalabilty of the standard enables firms to mitigate for ethical risks arising which are appropriate to the firm, for example, a fm which is part of a large network will require more detailed processes to identify possible conflicts of interest between clients than those in a smaller firm, Exam focus Candidates may be asked to appraise ethical threats arising in the scenario, whilst also considering whether the firm is compliant with the firm’s SoQM. The Issues of quality management and ethical issues are inherently interlinked and as such, they may need to consider the significance of such threats and the availabilty of suitable safeguards within the context of the engagement, the firm and the SoQM as well as other available information. This enables candidates to obtain professional skills marks in addition to the technical marks as they are recognising the inherent ethical requirements regarding quality management on a firm wide basis. Candidates may be asked to identify breaches of the SoQM which may not breach the Code but are relevant to the given scenario addressing any resulting implications for the engagement, the firm or making recommendations to prevent future breaches. 4. Acceptance and continuance of client relationships 1SQM 1 places aditional emphasis on the procedures addressing lient acceptance and continuance of existing business relationships. Fis must assess the integrity and ethical values ofthe cient and its management, 2s well asthe fm's ability to perform the engagement within legal and professional requirements. The SoQM should ensure that the firm's financial ane ‘operational priorities do not load to inappropriate judgements when deciding whether to accept or continue witha ciont ‘engagement. The decision to continue with or accept a new cliont should focus onthe firm's ability to provide a quality ‘engagement. Existing business relationships should be reassessed atthe start of each new year prior to reappointment as auditor. This may mean performing fresh identity checks, reperformanee of independence declarations of employees, and re-evaluating conflicts of interest andlor competence to perform the audit It wil also invalve assessing whether new information, had it been known at point of acceptance, would have prevented the fim from accepting he client. For example, a cient involved in breaches of regulations may not be a client with values compatible with the audit firm. Exam focus Candidates may have to discuss the Importance of acceptance and continuation assessments or to apply the requirements of ISQM 1 in this regard when evaluating whether to accept a new client, undertake ‘ddtional work for existing clients or accept reappointment for the audit of a continuing client. The ISQM 4 smework provides a starting point for evaluating the scenario and this may be extended into other ~ nips:iaew-accaglobal.comigblen/studentlexam-suppor-resaurcesiprofessional-exams-study-resoutcesip7/technicabatclesiisqm-t.himl 491128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) |ACCA Global professional and commercial considerations. Candidates should consider legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations as well as professional and availability of resources when considering a new client engagement. Candidates should be aware that the ability to perform the engagement within legal and professional requirements will incorporate legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations, including the availabilty of resources when considering a new client engagement. and requirements covering acceptance may be extended into other professional and commercial considerations. The cyclical nature of continuation considerations means that this aspect of quality management may impact questions at all stages of the audit process and the considerations regarding client acceptance are Tkely to apply to audit and non-audit assignments. 5. Engagement performance Engagement teams must understand their responsiblities for ensuring a quality audit, Less experienced engagement team members should be appropriately supervised and reviewed. ISQM 1 specifically references the nead for the aualt engagement partner to be sufficiently and appropriately involved throughout the engagement, ‘Audit teams should ensure professional scepticism and judgement are exorcised. Processes should ensure professional scepticism and judgement are exercised by engagement teams. If an aucit team has insuficient ime to perform necessary procedures, or team members are not experienced enough to challenge management or identity misstatements, then detection risk increases and aucit quality will be compromised. For audits tobe effective, and to maintain public trust, they must be performed in such a way as to ensuro the audit reports issued are appropriate inthe circumstances and that frms and thelr personnel ful their responsibiliies in accordance with applicable legal and professional standards. ‘The SoQM should ensure that teams can consult on contentious matters; diferences of opinion within the engagement team are ‘addressed and any issues raised by the engagement quality reviewer are brought tothe attention of the frm and resolved. Further detail on these aspects will be addressed in the second article where ISA 220 (Revised) will be examined, including ‘examples of how these may be examined 6. Resources ‘Afr must ensure that appropriate resources are available in a timely manner. Ths includes employees withthe required competence, training, and capabilities to perform the engagements to which they are assigned. Firms should ensure more ‘experienced individuals to work on areas of a complex nature requiring additional judgement and ensuring sufficient review by ‘senior team members or allowing adequate time to do sufficient testing and analysis of the issues. Consideration should be made to use independent experts where the frm does not have appropriate personnel, o ifthe fim requires additional specialist technological resources. tips uaww-accaglobal.comvgblen/studentlexam-suppor-esourcesiprofessional-exams-study-resaurcesip7itechnicalarclesiisqm-t.hil1128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) [ACCA Global Exam focus Candidates may have to evaluate scenarios where inappropriate resources have been employed within an audit and make recommendations for improvements to the firm's SOOM 7.Information and communication Information and communication are requifed to enable other components of the SoQM to operate. This includes obtaining, ‘generating and using information and communicating the information within the firm, for exemple, communicating policies to personnel, communication of information obtained during an audit with an engagement quality reviewer, or communication between group and component auditors. It also includes external communications such as to TCWG or a regulator. ISQM 1 considers information and communication to be pervasive to all components of the SOOM as without it, the system ‘cannot operate. The full range of information and communications within the SoQM is extensive; the boxed text below considers Just a few examples in some of the elements of ISQM 1 for context. Ethical and professional requirements + The firm's polices on ethics + Training material + Registers of training undertaken + Completed independence declarations Client acceptance and continuation, + Risk assessments documented + Client identity documents obtained and stored + Engagement letters issued Engagement performance + Ault programmes devised/produced + Role assignments delegated and recorded + Client information obtained and input into automated auait tools + Conclusions documented in audit fle + Reports to management and TCWG Communications should be made in a timely manner supporting te firm's culture to exchange information where appropriate, for ‘example where an ethical threat precludes the assignment of a team member to a specific client, the team member would be woected to inform the firm. tips uaww-accaglobal.comvgblen/studentlexam-suppor-esourcesiprofessional-exams-study-resaurcesip7itechnicalarclesiisqm-t.hil 591128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global ISQM 1 also makes specific reference to external communications required to maintain audit quality, This includes ‘communication within the firm's network and with service providers, communications required by law or professional standards, ‘such as when there is a specific requirement to report a client's non-compliance with certain laws and regulations to TCWG. Exam focus Candidates may have to evaluate scenarios with respect to these issues and make recommendations for improvements to the firm’s SoQM in this area, Candidates should remember that l&C is embedded within all aspects of a SoQM and may not be isolated as a topic, 8, Monitoring and remediation process Firms must putin place a process for monitoring the SoQM's effectiveness and ensure deficiencies are identified in a timely manner, allowing corrective actions to be implemented. This process is a continuous cycle which firms are specifically raquired to undertake. Exam focus Candidates may have to explain how this contributes to continuous improvement of a firm’s SoQM. Candidates may also take the role of a reviewer performing this element of the process: identifying deficiencies and making recommendations to remediate them. Conclusion ISQM 1 provides a focus on audit quality and a process of risk management with respect to quality that aims to ensure al rms have quality as a priory when performing audits and other assurance engagements, The standard is principles driven with a focus on scalability, lexibilty and continuous improvement. ‘Quality management is core to audit, and a detailed understanding of the importance of both audit quality and quality management underlies the performance of an auclt. Quality is a key part of ensuring that audits are ft for purpose and retain the public trust. As such, its key to every audit and evary stage of the audit process and candidates should expect to see aspects of ‘quality management examined at all stages of an audit in exam questions and in either section of the exam. Candidates can find more explanation of the requirements of [SQM 1 in the appendix to the standard, available on the IAASB website Further reading + Introduction to ISQM 1, Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Statements, or Other ‘Assurance or Related Services Engagements (Dec 2000), sb.org This is a useful summary of the key points of ISQM 1 prior to reading the Final Pronouncement (Dec 2020) tips uaww-accaglobal.comvgblen/studentlexam-suppor-esourcesiprofessional-exams-study-resaurcesip7itechnicalarclesiisqm-t.hil 7191128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global + The global call for high quality, independent audits (Jun 2019), www.accaglobal.com ‘Auseful summary of some of the reasons for the change S Related Links + International Standards on Quality Management — part 2 (ISQM 2 and ISA 220 (Revised) + Student Accountant hub yXee\ Think Ahead Our sites myACCA ACCA Learning ACCA Careers AGGA Career Navigator AGCA Learning Community Useful links Make a payment ACCA-X online courses ind an accountant ACCA Rulebook nips:raew.accaglobal.comigblen/studentlexam-suppor-resaurcesiprofessional-exams-study-resoutcesip7/technicabatclesiisqm-t.himl1128125, 12:51 PM Intemational Standards on Quality Management - part t(ISQM 1) | ACCA Global Work for us. 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