Section Information and Communication (Ref: Para - Auditing Standard ASQM 1 Quality Management for Firms that Perform Audits or Reviews of Financial Reports and Other Financial Information, or Other Assurance or Related Services Engagements - Information and Communication (Ref: Para. 33)

Information and Communication (Ref: ParaInformation and Communication (Ref: Para. 33)

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Information and Communication (Ref: Para. 33)

Obtaining, generating or communicating information is generally an ongoing process that involves all personnel and encompasses the dissemination of information within the firm and externally. Information and communication is pervasive to all components of the system of quality management.

The Firm’s Information System (Ref: Para. 33(a))

Reliable and relevant information includes information that is accurate, complete, timely and valid to enable the proper functioning of the firm’s system of quality management and to support decisions regarding the system of quality management.
The information system may include the use of manual or IT elements, which affect the manner in which information is identified, captured, processed, maintained and communicated. The procedures to identify, capture, process, maintain and communicate information may be enforced through IT applications, and in some cases may be embedded within the firm’s responses for other components. In addition, digital records may replace or supplement physical records.

Scalability example to demonstrate how the information system may be designed in a less complex firmLess complex firms with fewer personnel and direct involvement of leadership may not need rigorous policies and procedures that specify how information should be identified, captured, processed and maintained.

Communication Within the Firm (Ref: Para. 33(b), 33(c))

The firm may recognise and reinforce the responsibility of personnel and engagement teams to exchange information with the firm and with one another by establishing communication channels to facilitate communication across the firm.

Examples of communication among the firm, personnel and engagement teams The firm communicates the responsibility for implementing the firm’s responses to personnel and engagement teams. The firm communicates changes to the system of quality management to personnel and engagement teams, to the extent that the changes are relevant to their responsibilities and enables personnel and engagement teams to take prompt and appropriate action in accordance with their responsibilities. The firm communicates information that is obtained during the firm’s acceptance and continuance process that is relevant to engagement teams in planning and performing engagements. Engagement teams communicate to the firm information about:o The client that is obtained during the performance of an engagement that may have caused the firm to decline the client relationship or specific engagement had that information been known prior to accepting or continuing the client relationship or specific engagement.o The operation of the firm’s responses (e.g., concerns about the firm’s processes for assigning personnel to engagements), which in some cases, may indicate a deficiency in the firm’s system of quality management. Engagement teams communicate information to the engagement quality reviewer or individuals providing consultation. The group auditor communicates matters to component auditors in accordance with the firm’s policies or procedures, including matters related to quality management at the engagement level. The individual(s) assigned operational responsibility for compliance with independence requirements communicates to relevant personnel and engagement teams changes in the independence requirements and the firm’s policies or procedures to address such changes.