CPA Exam Lab
All patterns
Acceptance and planning

The Planning Playbook

Strategy before plan, the successor drives predecessor contact, and analytics and brainstorming are required.

How the exam words it

The playbook

  1. 1The successor initiates contact, but only after management authorizes the predecessor to respond, and a refusal is itself a red flag.
  2. 2The overall strategy sets scope, timing, and direction, the audit plan details the procedures.
  3. 3Analytical procedures are required in planning and final review, and the team brainstorms fraud risk.

The trap

Saying the predecessor initiates contact or that analytics are optional in planning. The successor initiates, and planning analytics are required.

How the exam varies it

The same pattern, re-skinned along these axes:

Predecessor communication, strategy versus plan, or planning proceduresWho acts: successor, predecessor, or managementAcceptance decision versus planning execution

Drill this pattern

8 questions of The Planning Playbook from across the AUD topics. Clear it by getting 5 right with a streak of 3.

Shows up in 3 AUD topics