SSARS #21 codified and clarified all previous SSARS standards and was effective for financial statements ending on or after December 15, 2015. It revised existing standards, upgraded service requirements, and introduced a new level of service ? the ?Preparation Engagement.? SSARS #21 requires numerous practice issues for the various service levels, including confirming the services to be provided to the client, attest vs. non-attest services, required procedures to be performed and documentation of them, and reporting requirements for each level of service. SSARS #21 also addresses specific issues overlooked in the original standard. Updates to SAS #21 are also provided and discussed.
            
                            
                    
                        
                        
Learning Objectives
                    
                    
                        •  Recognize relevant features of each level of service under the SSARS standards 
•  Determine which practice issues have the most significant impact on practitioners providing services under the SSARS standards, including maintaining independence when providing various non-attest services 
•  Identify best practices for providing both attest and non-attest services
                    
                 
            
                            
                    
                        
                        
Major Topics
                    
                    
                        •  Review of applicable SSARS standards, including standards updates 
•  Review of AICPA professional ethics requirements 
•  In-depth discussion of non-attest services 
•  Review of independence issues for SSARS services 
•  Overview of SSARS #21
•  performance, documentation and other requirements 
•  Detailed analysis of preparation vs. compilation engagements 
•  Detailed analysis of review engagements