Attestation interpretation.Attestation The act of attending the execution of a document and bearing witness to its authenticity, by signing one's name to it to affirm that it is genuine. The certification by a custodian of records that a copy of an original document is a true copy that is demonstrated by his or her Interpretations are recommendations on the application of Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs) in specific circumstances, including engagements for entities in specialized industries, issued under the authority of AICPA AICPA See American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). senior technical bodies. If the practitioner does not apply the attestation guidance included in an applicable attestation interpretation, the practitioner should be prepared to explain how he or she complied with the SSAE SSAE Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (auditing) SSAE Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope SSAE Standard South African English SSAE Society Of Senior Aerospace Executives (Washington, DC) provisions addressed by such attestation guidance. AT SECTION 9101 Attest To solemnly declare verbally or in writing that a particular document or testimony about an event is a true and accurate representation of the facts; to bear witness to. To formally certify by a signature that the signer has been present at the execution of a particular writing so as Engagements: Attest Interpretations of AT Section 101 6. Reporting on Attestation Engagements Performed in Accordance With Government Auditing Standards (21) .56 Question--In June 2003, the U.S. Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress, and thus an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. issued its 2003 revised Government Auditing Standards, commonly referred to as the Yellow Book. Chapter 6 of the revised Yellow Book sets forth general, fieldwork field·work n. 1. A temporary military fortification erected in the field. 2. Work done or firsthand observations made in the field as opposed to that done or observed in a controlled environment. 3. , and reporting standards for attestation engagements performed pursuant to generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS GAGAS Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAO) ). Practitioners performing attestation engagements under GAGAS are also required to follow the general standards set forth in Chapter 3 of the Yellow Book. For attestation engagements performed pursuant to GAGAS, paragraph 6.28 prescribes additional reporting standards (22) that go beyond the standards of reporting set forth in AT section 101.63-.90. When a practitioner performs an attestation examination in accordance with GAGAS how should the report be modified? .57 Interpretation--The practitioner should modify the scope paragraph of the attestation report Noun 1. attestation report - a consulting service in which a CPA expresses a conclusion about the reliability of a written statement that is the responsibility of someone else attestation service to indicate that the examination or review was "conducted in accordance with attestation standards The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Please help [ improve the introduction] to meet Wikipedia's layout standards. You can discuss the issue on the talk page. established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants With over 330,525 CPA members (in August 2006), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the largest professional organization of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the United States of America. and the standards applicable to attestation engagements contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States The Comptroller General of the United States is the director of the Government Accountability Office (GAO, formerly known as the General Accounting Office), a legislative branch agency founded by Congress in 1921 to ensure the accountability of the federal government. ." .58 Additionally, GAGAS requires the practitioner's attestation report to disclose any matters that are set forth in paragraph 6.28 of the revised Yellow Book. Paragraph 6.34 of the revised Yellow Book sets forth the reporting elements that the practitioner should use, to the extent possible, in reporting a finding. The following illustration is a standard examination report modified to make reference to a schedule of findings when any of the matters set forth in paragraph 6.28 have been identified. This report pertains to subject matter for which suitable criteria exist and are available to all users through inclusion in a clear manner in the presentation of the subject matter. A written assertion has been obtained from the responsible party. While the following illustrative il·lus·tra·tive adj. Acting or serving as an illustration. il·lus  tra·tive·ly adv.Adj. 1. report modifications would comply with the Yellow Book requirement, this illustration is not intended to preclude pre·clude tr.v. pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing, pre·cludes 1. To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. a practitioner from complying with these additional Yellow Book reporting requirements in other ways. Independent Accountant's Report We have examined [identify the subject matter--for example, the accompanying schedule of performance measures of XYZ XYZ interj. Informal Used to indicate to someone that the zipper of his or her pants is open. [ex(amine) y(our) z(ipper).] Agency for the year ended December 31, 20XX]. XYZ Agency's management is responsible for the [identify the subject matter--for example, schedule of performance measures]. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our examination. Our examination was conducted in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the standards applicable to attestation engagements contained in Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting [identify the subject matter--for example, XYZ Agency's schedule of performance measures] and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our examination provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. [Additional paragraph(s) may be added to emphasize certain matters relating to relating to relate prep → concernant relating to relate prep → bezüglich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acc the attest engagement or the subject matter] In our opinion, the schedule referred to above presents, in all material respects, [identify the subject matter--for example, the performance measures of XYZ Agency for the year ended December 31, 20XX], in conformity with [identify criteria--for example, the criteria set forth in Note 1]. [When any of the matters set forth in paragraph 6.28 of the Yellow Book have been identified the following paragraph would be added.] In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we are required to report findings of deficiencies in internal control, violations of provisions of contracts or grant agreements, and abuse that are material to [identify the subject matter--for example, XYZ Agency's schedule of performance measures] and any fraud and illegal acts that are more than inconsequential in·con·se·quen·tial adj. 1. Lacking importance. 2. Not following from premises or evidence; illogical. n. A triviality. that come to our attention during our examination. We are also required to obtain the views of management on those matters. We performed our examination to express an opinion on whether [identify the subject matter--for example, XYZ Agency's schedule of performance measures] is presented in accordance with the criteria described above and not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the internal control over [identify the subject matter--for example, reporting of performance measures] or on compliance and other matters; accordingly, we express no such opinions. Our examination disclosed certain findings that are required to be reported to be spoken of; to be mentioned, whether favorably or unfavorably. See also: Report under Government Auditing Standards and those findings, along with the views of management, are described in the attached Schedule of Findings. [If a management letter has been issued, the following paragraph should be included.] In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we also noted other matters which we have reported to management of XYZ Agency in a separate letter dated March 15, 20XY. (23) [Signature] [Date] ILLUSTRATIVE SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS XYZ AGENCY SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS (24) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 20XX Finding No. 1 Criteria Condition Cause Effect Management's Response Finding No. 2 Criteria Condition Cause Effect Management's Response (21) While separate interpretations for other AT sections have not been issued to deal with attestation engagements performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, a practitioner may use this guidance to help him or her appropriately modify an attest report pursuant to other AT sections. (22) Paragraph 6.28 of the Yellow Book sets forth the additional reporting requirements: (a) reporting auditors' compliance with generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), (b) reporting deficiencies in internal control, fraud, illegal acts, violations of provisions of contracts or grant agreements, and abuse, (c) reporting views of responsible officials, (d) reporting privileged and confidential reformation Reformation, religious revolution that took place in Western Europe in the 16th cent. It arose from objections to doctrines and practices in the medieval church (see Roman Catholic Church) and ultimately led to the freedom of dissent (see Protestantism). , and (e) report issuance and distribution. (23) Paragraph 6.35 of the Yellow Book states, "The auditor should refer to the management letter in the report on the attestation engagement." (24) Refer to paragraphs 6.33-.34 of the Yellow Book regarding the content of the schedule of findings. |
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