Alan Johnson, an experienced CPA and auditor has recently retired from a long career in financial accounting. Upon retiring, Alan was approached by the board of directors of Trustman Company, a large distributor of medical device products and publicly-traded entity, and asked to join its audit committee. Alan accepts the offer. During the first meeting of the audit committee, a question is raised by another committee member as to the current external auditor's independence. It has been brought to the audit committee's attention that the external auditor is having to perform certain bookkeeping and actuarial functions on behalf of the client due to a lack of expertise on the client's staff. Which of the following would be Alan's best response when asked for his opinion on the matter? Alan should express concern with the external auditor performing these functions, explaining that in so doing, the auditor is being put in a position of having to audit its own work. Alan should advise that while it is appropriate for the auditor to assist the client with these functions in the interim, an urgent effort should be made to fill these expertise gaps. Alan should express concern with the external auditor performing these functions, as the public and regulatory agencies are more likely to view the auditor as being an advocate for the furm. Alan should respond that it is appropriate for the auditor to perform these services so long as the calculations and work is checked by a member of Trustman Company thereatter