About Audit Conduct

• Courses
• Publications and Articles
• Catherine Allen's Professional Affiliations
• Comments on Rule Proposals and Other Initiatives

About Audit Conduct

Cathy Allen formed consulting firm AUDIT CONDUCT in 2005 to help promote understanding of auditor independence and ethics and cultivate excellence in compliance. Cathy’s clients include CPA and other professional firms and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Specializing in these areas, she develops timely and relevant courses and practice tools and provides expert counsel and analysis on specific issues. She also helps CPA firms to assess, update and enhance their internal policies and procedures. 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. Cathy also taught accounting principles at Queens and Bernard M. Baruch Colleges of the City University of NY (CUNY). She has 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: 2008 Update" (AICPA)
• "Professional Ethics: Complying With the GAO 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)
• "Professional Ethics: The AICPA Comprehensive Course" (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)
• "Navigating the Crossroads of Control and Independence" (Journal of Accountancy, December 2007)
• "Independence and Ethics Alert 2007/8" (AICPA, 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)
• "Independence Compliance, Checklists and Tools for Complying with AICPA, SEC and PCAOB Independence Requirements" (AICPA, January 2007)
• "Ethics Rules Get Tighter" (Journal of Accountancy, December 2006)
• "How Audit Committees Can Assess Auditor Independence" (Directors Monthly, December 2006)
• "Independence Compliance, Checklists and Tools for Complying with AICPA and GAO Independence Requirements" (AICPA, June 2006)

Cathy Allen is a member of the following bodies:

• AICPA
• Audit Advisory Panel, Journal of Accountancy (AICPA)
• Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Accountancy (AICPA)

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