2. SMSF Auditor Registration
New Legislation for SMSF Auditors
Exposure Draft legislation and Explanatory Memorandum
is available on Treasury’s Stronger Super website (closed
for public comment)
SMSF auditors will be required to be registered with ASIC
from 1 July 2013 to conduct SMSF audits after that date
The new regime applies to ALL SMSF auditors
Short window of opportunity to take advantage of the
proposed transitional arrangements
3. SMSF Auditor Registration
Criteria for registration as a new SMSF auditor
Hold tertiary qualifications that either includes an audit
component, or complete an audit study program via a
professional accounting body
Meet the fit and proper person test
Hold Professional Indemnity Insurance
Have 300 hours of SMSF audit experience in the three
years prior to registration
Pass a competency exam
4. SMSF Auditor Registration
Transitional arrangements for existing SMSF auditors
Competency Exam – SMSF Auditors who sign off 20 or
more SMSF audits in the 12mth period prior to applying for
registration will not be required to sit a competency exam
to become registered as an SMSF auditor
SMSF Audit Experience - SMSF Auditors who have signed
off an SMSF audit within a 12 month period will be exempt
from the hours based experience requirement when
registering
The latest ATO statistics indicate that more than 60% of
current approved auditors audit less than 20 SMSF audits
5. SMSF Auditor Registration
Cost of registration
Initial registration $100
Competency test $100
Ongoing annual renewal $ 50
Other Costs?
6. SMSF Auditor Registration
Ongoing Requirements
ASIC will be the new registration body for approved SMSF
auditors
ATO will oversee audit compliance with the relevant
standards and refer non-compliant auditors to ASIC
120 hours of relevant Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) training over three years
Adhere to APES 110 – Code of Ethics for professional
accountants as part of their ongoing registration obligations
Provide an annual statement to ASIC in the approved form
within 30 days of the end of every 12mth period following
successful registration
ASIC will maintain a register of SMSF Approved Auditors
and also a register of Disqualified SMSF Auditors.
7. SMSF Auditor Registration
Further detail required
Absence of draft regulations
Transitional arrangements are not covered in the draft
legislation and EM
The requirement for existing auditors to register prior to 1
July 2013 to utilise transitional arrangements
Requirement for a tertiary accounting qualification
Clarification of minimum PI cover requirements
A register of ceased SMSF auditors?
Fees imposed on anyone accessing the register of
approved and deregistered SMSF auditors
Amendments to Section 131A The Regulator may Refer
Matters to a Professional Association
8. Auditor Independence
APES 110 and the new regime
SMSF Auditor independence is a fundamental and
significant part of the new regime
The Federal government announced in Sep-11 that under
the new regime, all SMSF auditors must comply with the
standard of independence contained in APES110 – Code
of Ethics for Professional Accountants, section 290.
From 1 January 2013, auditors will need to include a
statement in their audit report as to the extent of their
compliance with the auditor independence requirements
9. Auditor Independence
Independence Guidelines
“Independence guide: Interpretations in a co-regulatory
environment”
Independence is defined as both:
Independence of mind, AND
Independence of appearance
Threats to independence:
Self interest
Self review
Advocacy
Familiarity
Intimidation
10. Auditor Independence
Specific Examples
Independence will not be achieved in the following
situations:
The financial statements of the SMSF are prepared by
the SMSF auditor eg sole practitioner or no segregation
of the accounting and audit roles
Auditing a partner’s personal SMSF
Auditing an SMSF where you or a family member are a
member/Trustee
Auditing an SMSF where financial planning advice has
been provided by your firm
Swapping SMSF audits between firms where threats to
independence have not been mitigated
11. Auditor Independence
Specific Examples
Independence will be achieved where:
The accounting and audit roles are segregated to be
performed by different staff AND partners, where
financial planning advice has not been provided by the
firm and all other threats to actual and perceived
independence have been mitigated
The SMSF audit function is outsourced under an
arrangement that does not impact on actual or perceived
independence
12. Auditor Independence
Other factors to consider
Your auditor plays a vital role in your quality control
Practice profitability
Risk reduction for yourself, your firm and your client
Reputation & Branding
Skills shortages or over-reliance on individuals
Expanding your knowledge pool
Turnaround
Client relationships and retention
Stress/health impact of stress in partnership relationships
Addressing perceived independence from the client’s
perspective
Access to ongoing high level technical support
13. Hot Audit Issues for 2012/13
The Auditor’s Top 5 Hot Audit Issues
In-specie off-market transfers of assets into super
Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs)
Contribution Caps
Minimum/Maximum Pension standards
Related party transactions
14. Hot Audit Issues for 2012/13
The ATO’s Hit List
The Top 200 richest SMSFs
New SMSFs
Excess contributions tax (ECT)
Non arms length income
Exempt current pension income
Losses incurred by an SMSF
Benefit reporting
Lodgement
Approved Auditors
15. The Auditor’s Role in Rectification
The Strategic Auditor
The importance of rectification
Consultation during the audit process
Accurate & complete reporting in the ACR
Rectification support to Trustees via audit management
letters
Flag potential future compliance issues for Trustees
attention (proactive compliance support)
Specialist expertise to recommend the best course of
action to rectify complex breaches
Trustee education
16. Impact of Technology on
SMSF Auditors
The growth of online SMSF audit specialists providing
greater choice and increased accessibility
Paperless audit office
Working with SMSF administration technology
Latest developments:
Audits on Demand
Strategic Audit
Enhanced audit methodologies
Capturing data from the source.
Relationships remain crucial
The Future – real time auditing