Independence Requirements for Auditors

Overview

Independence is a foundational requirement for CPAs in public practice and is critical to maintaining public trust in the profession. This course provides a practical overview of independence concepts and requirements as outlined in the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, with an emphasis on real-world application.

Participants will review key independence principles and common areas of risk, along with recently issued ethics interpretations from the Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) that impact independence requirements. The course focuses on how these interpretations apply in practice and discusses practical approaches firms and practitioners can use to implement and maintain compliance.

Designed for auditors performing attest engagements, this course helps participants better understand independence requirements and navigate evolving guidance with confidence.

Highlights

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct independence requirements
• Core independence principles for CPAs in public practice
• Common independence risk areas
• PEEC ethics interpretations affecting independence
• Real-world application of independence guidance
• Practical compliance and implementation strategies
• Independence considerations in attest engagements

Prerequisites

None

Designed For

All accounting/auditing professionals

Objectives

• Recall independence requirements under the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• Recognize recently issued ethics interpretations by PEEC that impact auditor independence

Preparation

 None