The two most essential qualities for a CPA to perform the attest function properly are professional competence and 1. To 2. 4. dependability. to information means to provide assurance as to its fairness and "Accounting and review services" is the term used by CPA firms to describe work done for small businesses that do not want audits, but periodically need the services of professional accountants. Such services often consist of the preparation, compilation or of financial statements. Primary responsibility for audited financial statements rests with though the statements may be drafted and processed in the auditors' office. 5. The 6. The 7. 8. 9. 10. even is a governmental organization that regulates the sale of securities. regulates all accounting firms that audit public companies. Public accounting firms are organized as sole proprietorships, partnerships, professional corporations, or The professional staff of a typical public accounting firm includes partners, managers, senior auditors and The AICPA requires members in public practice to obtain 120 hours of every three years. An operational audit is a study of a unit of an organization to evaluate the efficiency and of the unit.