What Does an Audit Engagement Letter Typically Include? Introduction and Purpose. Scope of the Audit. Auditor's Responsibilities. Client's Responsibilities. Audit Limitations. Applicable Standards. Fees and Payment Terms. Confidentiality and Data Security.
Your designated audit firm will prepare the specific terms of engagement using the appropriate AICPA-issued engagement letter template. It should be noted that there are many terms for audit engagements that are deemed required by the AICPA and therefore unable to be negotiated.
To help you protect yourself and mitigate risk, these eight critical elements should be included in every engagement letter. CLIENT NAME. SCOPE OF SERVICES. CPA FIRM RESPONSIBILITIES. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES. DELIVERABLES. ENGAGEMENT TIMING. TERMINATION AND WITHDRAWAL. BILLING AND FEES.
An engagement letter is a written agreement that describes the business relationship to be entered into by a client and a company. The letter details the scope of the agreement, its terms, and costs. The purpose of an engagement letter is to set expectations on both sides of the agreement.
The internal auditor and the auditee should agree on the terms of the engagement before commencement. The agreed terms would need to be recorded in an engagement letter.
The content of an engagement letter often includes important details such as the scope of services to be provided, fees or billing arrangements, confidentiality clauses, dispute resolution mechanisms, and any other relevant terms agreed upon by both parties.
1. ​ We are pleased to accept the instruction to act as auditor for your company and are writing to confirm the terms of our appointment. 2. ​ The purpose of this letter, together with the attached terms and conditions, is to set out our terms for carrying out the work and to clarify our respective responsibilities.
Preparation Process The audit engagement letter is typically prepared by the auditor conducting the audit. It serves as a crucial document outlining the terms and responsibilities involved in the audit process.