[md27]

Hi Everyone,

I’m reviewing chapter 5 of the Becker material for AUD, and am having issues understanding the difference between SSAE and SSARS. A detailed explanation would be greatly appreciated!

[Cocoadough]

SSAE is used for for attestation engagements (items that are not related to the financials) and SSARS is used for preparations, compilations, and reviews primarily. Those were the main differences I took away from the material.

[lurker]

My cheat sheet for that is you use SSARS for preparation, compilation, and review (of historical financial statements). All others (examination, agreed-upon, review of PRO FORMA FS, etc.) you use SSAE.

[SONA]

SSAE : E Examination (Reasonable assurance) Opinion
A Agreed-upon-Procedure (No assurance) Findings
R Review (Limited Assurance) Conclusion Review engagement under the attestation std is one in which end
result is the expression of a conclusion with limited assurance.
Attestation : refer to any engagement in which the accountant expresses a written conclusion about the reliability of a written assertion by another party.Accountants perform engagements that go beyond reports on historical F/S.

SSARS : P Preparation (no assurance, non attest, no independence requirement, no opinion, no conclusion, mgmt.
agree each page with “no assurance provided”, if mgmt refuses : issue disclaimer or upgrade to
compilation)
C Compilation (no assurance, non attest, no independence requirement -disclose if not, no opinion, no
conclusion, 1 paragraph report required)
R Review (Attest engagement, limited assurance, no opinion, independence must, 4 paragraph report)

[Author]

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