Two parts assignment: Read accounting resources and case then answer some question.(SEC, KPMG)


Professional judgment framework

Tool to track, organize and evaluate considerations

Overarching considerations

Manage any personal bias and consider the bias of others:

  • Avoid making preliminary judgments.

  • Consider all points of view and alternatives.

  • Understand motivations or incentives for particular outcomes.

Consider the risk of material misstatement:

  • Evaluate quantitative and qualitative significance relative to the issue and relative to the interests of stakeholders

Consider the involvement of others:

  • Consider subject-matter specialists, consultation and necessary reviews and approvals.

Maintain professional skepticism, including fraud awareness:

  • Maintain a questioning mindset and ask probing questions.

  • Objectively evaluate the facts, address inconsistencies and corroborate evidence.

  • Assume others are neither honest nor dishonest.

  • Be alert for indicators of possible misstatement due to error or fraud.


Considerations to define the issue

What is the primary issue?


Considerations to gather the facts

What is the application guidance?


What information do you need to address the issue?


Is the information you have obtained relevant and reliable?


Considerations to perform the analysis

How does the applicable guidance apply to the issue?


Have you identified and evaluated the key assumptions?


What are the reasonable outcomes and possible alternatives?


Considerations to make the judgment

What is your conclusion based on the analysis performed?

Does your conclusion make sense in light of the business purpose and underlying economics of the issue?

Tool to document the judgment

Document your judgment. A memorandum format to do so is suggested below. Upon completing your documentation, ensure that you are able to appropriately answer the following considerations:

  • Is the documentation sufficient to support your judgment?

  • Can another professional understand how you reached your conclusion (including why reasonable outcomes and possible alternatives identified were not selected)?

Overall memorandum

Issue:

Facts:

Analysis:

Judgment:


Professional judgment framework – application template 2

© 2012 Ernst & Young Foundation (US). All Rights Reserved.

SCORE No. MM4121R