HISTORICAL RETROSPECT

HISTORICAL RETROSPECT

• The Institute, since its inception, has been committed to research in the field of accountancy. As early as in 1955, the Council set up the Research Committee. The Council at that point of time felt the necessity to establish such a Committee to deal with the growing complexities of the problems faced by membership at large and with a view to ensuring the highest of traditions and technical competence in the discharge of the duties by chartered accountants. 
• As back as in 1964, the Council published the “Statement on Auditing Practices” as prepared by the Research Committee not only for the benefit of its members but also for others outside the profession, who might be interested in this subject. It was hoped that this Statement would provide valuable guidance in the performance of audits, particularly of companies. 
• The Council of the Institute fully realised that techniques of accounting and auditing had undergone and were undergoing important changes. Since the members were expected to keep pace with recent developments, this Statement attempted to set out practices which were generally accepted in other countries and which the Council considered desirable in the light of prevailing circumstances in India. The issuance of the Statement on Auditing Practices might be considered as a path break as far as establishing sound auditing practices is concerned.

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AUDITING STANDARDS, STATEMENTS AND GUIDANCE

INTRODUCTION (AUDITING STANDARDS, STATEMENTS AND GUIDANCE)

• The past decade has been one of unprecedented change in the global economy and capital markets. Key aspects of the current business environment include a globalized, highly competitive, expanding economy; explosive growth in the development and use of technology; dramatic increases in new economy service- and technology-based businesses with predominantly intangible assets; unparalleled expansion in the number of public entities; large increases in the number of individuals who directly or indirectly own equity securities; and unprecedented growth in the market value of those securities.
• The expanded use of technology in both the operating and financial systems of companies also has significantly affected the audit environment, forcing audit firms to recruit, train and deploy a large number of information technology specialists to support their audit efforts. It also has caused firms to reconsider their audit methods and techniques in an effort to harness technology to improve audit efficiency and effectiveness.
• In the changing environment, it is obvious that a professional accountant should to adhere to standards and procedures laid down by the professional accountancy bodies of which he is a member while discharging his duties in a responsible manner. In this direction, the role of a professional accounting body is to lay down such standards and procedures with the aim of providing guidance to members.
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been formulating auditing and accounting standards for the guidance of its members on its own volition in the larger interests of the society. In this chapter, we provide an overview of auditing standards and guidance notes issued by the Institute from time to time.
• Though these standards and guidance notes have been dealt at appropriate places, the main purpose is to acquaint and inculcate appreciation on the part of students in a focused manner as to significance of the standards in their day to day auditing activities. Towards the end of the Chapter, the clarification issued by the Council of the Institute is also included, which would go a long way in understanding as well as significance to the mandatory status of “Statements” and “Standards".

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