Quality Management Standards  

Quality control in audits has been a focus at the AICPA for a number of years through the Enhanced Audit Quality (EAQ) initiative. Guidance has been available in the SQCSs or Statements on Quality Control. Recently, however, the Auditing Standards Board and the Accounting and Review Services Committee have released four interrelated final standards on quality management that will supersede the quality control standards. SQMS 1 and SQMS 2 focus on a firm's system of quality review and engagement quality reviews, while SAS 126 and SSARS 26 focus on quality management related to engagements themselves. Jennifer F. Louis, CPA reviews this new guidance and when it becomes effective.