Ethics Challenge — BTN E-3
1. Independence in fact means that the auditor maintains an objective
point of view of the client. Independence in appearance means that a
2. While auditors are hired by their clients to perform audits, auditors
have a responsibility to the company’s “stakeholders” and the public.
3. Since Erica Gray is a sole practitioner it is questionable whether she
can consult on the client’s accounting system and then remain
objective in subsequent years when she performs the audit of the
company. Large firms often separate consulting and auditing
engagements for the same client by having staff stationed in two
different geographic branches of the firm do the work. Or a large local
firm might be able to perform consulting and auditing for the same
client by assigning different personnel to the two jobs. In this
scenario, Erica Gray would need to do both jobs herself, making it
difficult to maintain independence in fact and appearance.
(Note to instructors: The Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically prohibits auditors
from providing financial information and system designs for their SEC audit
clients. This was codified by the SEC [Final Ruling 68].)
Communicating in Practice — BTN E-4
The memo should recommend the use of special journals and subsidiary
ledgers. It should explain the time-saving aspect of journalizing in labeled
columns and also the posting of column totals representing the impact of
groups of like transactions. The memo should discuss the timely
information provided by subsidiary ledgers regarding customer and
creditor balances. A discussion of the uses of a schedule for verifying the
accuracy of subsidiary ledgers should also be included.