The debate of whether an auditor who performs non-attest services (e.g. Consulting) for an audit client will have their independence impaired has been going on for some time in the accounting profession. While Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 expressly restrict auditors from performing consulting and other non-attest services for their audit clients, the AICPA does not have such stringent restrictions.

Required: Present an argument why you believe that performing non attest services for an audit client would or would not impair an auditors independence for audits performed under either the PCOB auditing standards OR the AICPA auditing standards.