About Audit Conduct, LLC

• Courses
• Publications and Articles
• Professional Affiliations and Certifications
• Comments on Rule Proposals and Other Initiatives

About Audit Conduct, LLC

Cathy Allen formed consulting firm Audit Conduct, LLC in 2005 to help enhance understanding of the accounting profession’s ethics requirements, including auditor independence. Her clients include the American Institute of CPAs and CPA and law firms. Cathy develops courses and practice tools, delivers customized training, and provides expert counsel on professional ethics. She also helps CPA firms strengthen their quality controls over these critical requirements. Previously, Cathy was a senior staff member of the AICPA Professional Ethics Division and Director of Independence for two of the ‘big four’ accounting firms. She has taught accounting principles at Queens and Bernard M. Baruch Colleges of the City University of NY (CUNY) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Information Systems from Queens College (CUNY).

Cathy Allen has developed, participated in and/or contributed subject matter expertise to the following courses, publications, and articles:

Courses

• "Professional Ethics: The AICPA Comprehensive Course" (AICPA)
• "Professional Ethics: Complying With the GAO Rules" (AICPA)
• "Professional Ethics: Complying With SEC and PCAOB Rules" (AICPA)
• "Overcoming Ethical Challenges in Attest Engagements" (Strafford Publications, Inc.)
• "Ethics for Tax Practice Professionals: Circular 230 and the SSTSs” (AICPA)
• "Professional Ethics for CPAs in Business & Industry" (AICPA)
• "Independence" (AICPA)
• "Selected Topics in Professional Ethics" (AICPA)
• "Florida Ethics: Non-Attest Services, Integrity, and Objectivity" (AICPA)
• "Auditing Internal Control Over Financial Reporting" (AICPA)
• "Management’s Assessment of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting" (AICPA)

Publications and Articles:

• A Global Standard for Professional Ethics” (Journal of Accountancy, May 2008)
• "Independence Compliance, Checklists and Tools for Complying with AICPA and GAO Independence Requirements" (AICPA, 2008)
• "Independence Compliance, Checklists and Tools for Complying with AICPA and GAO Independence Requirements" (AICPA, 2008)
• "Navigating the Crossroads of Control and Independence" (Journal of Accountancy, December 2007)
• "An Update for Audit Committees: New Rules on Auditor Provided Tax Services" (Directors Monthly, May 2007)
• "PCAOB Rules on Independence and Personal Tax Services: Current Guidance for Public Company Auditors" (CPA Journal, February 2007)
• "Ethics Rules Get Tighter" (Journal of Accountancy, December 2006)
• "How Audit Committees Can Assess Auditor Independence" (Directors Monthly, December 2006)

Professional Affiliations and Certifications:

• AICPA
• Professional Ethics Executive Committee CodificationTask Force, Assisting Clients with IFRS Related Services (AICPA)
• Audit Advisory Panel, Journal of Accountancy (AICPA)
• Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Accountancy (AICPA)
• Certified Public Accountant; New York, New Jersey and Maryland

COMMENTS ON RULE PROPOSALS AND OTHER INITIATIVES:

Click on the links below to see Ms. Allen’s comments to independence, ethics, and related proposals:

• Public Company Accounting Oversight Board: Proposed Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and Proposed Amendment to Rule 3523, Tax Services for Persons in Financial Reporting Oversight Roles.
• Public Company Accounting Oversight Board: Concept Release Concerning Scope of Rule 3523, Tax Services For Persons in Financial Reporting Oversight Roles
• International Federation of Accountants: Proposed Revised Section 290 of the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, Independence - Audit and Review Engagements, and Proposed Section 291, Independence - Other Assurance Engagements
• International Federation of Accountants: Approaches to Developing and Maintaining Professional Values, Ethics and Attitudes
• Department of Labor: Request for Information – Independence of Employee Benefit Plan Accountants
• Auditing Standards Board: A Firm’s System of Quality Control