Term
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Definition
| A committee consisting of members of the board of directors, charged with overseeing the entity's system of internal control over financial reporting, internal and external auditors, and the financial reporting process. Members typically must be independent of management. |
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Term
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Definition
| Persons elected by the stockholders of a corporation to oversee management and to direct the affairs of the corporation. |
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Term
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Definition
| Processes implemented by management to achieve entity objectives. Business processes are typically organized into the following categories: revenue, purchasing, human resource management, inventory management, and financial processes. |
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Term
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Definition
| The oversight mechanisms in place to help ensure the proper stewardship over an entity's assets. Management and the board of directors play primary roles, and the independent auditor plays a key facilitating role. |
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Term
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Definition
| A system or code of conduct based on moral duties and obligations that indicates how an individual should behave. |
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Term
| Financial Statement Assertions |
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Definition
| Expressed or implied representations by management about information that is reflected in the financial statements. The three sets of assertions relate to ending account balances, transactions, and presentation and disclosure. |
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Term
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) |
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Definition
| Accounting principles that are generally accepted for the preparation of financial statements in the United States. GAAP standards are currently issued primarily by the FASB, with oversight and influence by the SEC. |
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Term
| Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) |
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Definition
| Ten broad statements guiding the conduct of financial statement auditing. |
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Term
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Definition
| Violations of laws or government regulations. |
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Term
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Definition
| A state of objectivity in fact and in appearance, including the absence of any significant conflicts of interest. |
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Term
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Definition
| An audit of both financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, provided by the external auditor. Required for public companies. |
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Term
| Management of Advisory Services |
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Definition
| Consulting services that may provide advice and assistance concerning an entity's organization, personnel, finances, operations, systems, or other activities. |
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Term
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Definition
| An organization created to provide professional accounting-related services, including auditing. Usually formed as a proprietorship or as a form of partnership. |
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Term
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Definition
| Standards regarding the conduct of financial statement auditing for public companies. Currently consist primarily of standards and statements established by the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board, as these statements and standards were adopted by the PCAOB in 2003 on an interim basis, though the PCAOB has added a few significant standards. |
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Term
| Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) |
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Definition
| Statements issued by the AICPA's Auditing Standards Board, considered as interpretations of the 10 GAAS statements. |
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