During January’s Board Meeting, members also expressed concerns about the CPA exam-taking process’s integrity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The details of agreed consent orders approved during the Board Meeting will not be available until the publication of the next Board Report. However, the enforcement committee noted that at least one of the 24 agreed consent orders approved in January 2021 arose from members of accounting firms sharing, in one form or another, CPA exam questions or answers to assist other firm members.
The members also noted that the enforcement committee was currently investigating a handful of other firms engaged in or encouraging this practice. Firm management should take immediate action to ensure no such practice has occurred at their firms and provide clear directives to firm members and employees to avoid such practices. Don’t wait to make sure you and your firm are operating above board!