Accounting professionals are subject to an ever-changing landscape of professional and regulatory standards. Often, claims of accountants’ liability can arise due to embezzlement or financial statement fraud schemes which were not detected by the CPA firm. When faced with potential accountants’ liability claims, retaining credible and experienced CPAs that understand the practical interpretation and application of accounting standards can be crucial.

Stout offers a team of professionals that have served as audit, tax, and consulting partners for both national and local CPA firms across the United States. In addition to being former CPA firm partners, many of our team members have additional experience and credentials in fraud examination, business valuation, financial forensics, technical accounting, financial reporting, and GAAP.

Combined with extensive experience in other types of disputes involving accounting and financial expertise, Stout professionals are regularly called upon by lawyers and their clients to advise and opine on the merits of allegations against accounting professionals. Our experience includes early case/claim assessments, detailed reviews of work papers, and expert testimony in issues involving:

General Standards Compliance

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• AICPA Statements on Standards for specific practice areas
• Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• Public Company Accounting Oversight Standards (PCAOB)
• Treasury Department Circular No. 230

Auditing Standards Issues

• Planning and risk assessment
• Audit procedures selected and/or performed
• Execution of audit procedures
• Evidence supporting conclusions
• Follow up for errors and unusual items discovered
• Proximate cause issues of an audit as it relates to damages

Income Tax Services Issues

• Tax planning
• Tax return preparation
• Tax preparer responsibility for client representations

Who We Work With

• Outside counsel
• In-house attorneys
• Insurance carriers
• Regulatory agencies