Auditing Standard No. 5: An Audit of Internal Control over Financial Reporting that Is Integrated with an Audit of Financial Statements and Related Independence Rule and Conforming Amendments

Abstract

Since Auditing Standard No. 2 became effective, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has closely monitored the progress registered firms have made in implementing its requirements. As a result of this monitoring, two basic propositions emerged. First, the audit of internal control over financial reporting has produced significant benefits, including an enhanced focus on corporate governance and controls and higher quality financial reporting. Second, these benefits have come at a significant cost. Costs have been greater than expected and, at times, the related effort has appeared greater than necessary to conduct an effective audit of internal control over financial reporting.