Wiley Practitioner's Guide to GAAS 2015: Covering all SASs, SSAEs, SSARSs, PCAOB Auditing Standards, and Interpretations

AT 50 SSAE Hierarchy

ORIGINAL PRONOUNCEMENT

Original Pronouncement

Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) 14, SSAE Hierarchy.

ATTESTATION STANDARDS

The eleven attestation standards do not supersede existing standards in SASs and SSARSs. The practitioner who is engaged to perform an engagement subject to these existing standards should follow such standards and not look to the eleven attestation standards or the discussion of them in AT Section 101 for guidance.

The eleven standards are classified as follows:

General: 1 through 5.

Fieldwork: 6 and 7.

Reporting: 8 through 11.

1. First general standard. The engagement shall be performed by a practitioner who must have adequate technical training and proficiency to perform the attestation engagement. (AT 101.19)
2. Second general standard. The engagement shall be performed by a practitioner who must have adequate knowledge of the subject matter. (AT 101.21)
3. Third general standard. The practitioner must have reason to believe that the subject matter is capable of evaluation against reasonable criteria that are suitable and available to users. (AT 101.23)
4. Fourth general standard. The practitioner must maintain an independence in mental attitude in all matters relating to the engagement. (AT 101.35)
5. Fifth general standard. The practitioner must exercise due professional care in the planning and performance of the engagement and the preparation of the report. (AT 101.39)
6. First standard of fieldwork. The practitioner ...