This advanced level course provides experienced audit professionals with a comprehensive, risk focused understanding of how to design, implement, and monitor an effective audit quality management system. Participants will explore the requirements of AICPA’s Statement on Quality Management Standards (SQMS 1 & 2), PCAOB quality control standards, and global regulatory expectations, with an emphasis on strengthening firm wide governance, risk assessment, ethics, and engagement performance.
Through real world examples, the course examines emerging risks—including technological disruption, talent constraints, increased regulatory scrutiny, and evolving stakeholder expectations—and provides practical strategies for enhancing documentation, monitoring activities, and continuous improvement processes. Attendees will gain the tools needed to elevate audit quality, minimize engagement risk, and support a sustainable culture of excellence across the firm.
Publication Date: May 2026
Designed For
This course is designed for senior‑level audit professionals and firm leaders responsible for audit quality, risk oversight, and compliance
Topics Covered
- Overview of SQMS 1 & 2, PCAOB quality control standards, and international quality management guidance
- Firm governance, leadership responsibilities, and audit quality culture expectations
- Risk assessment processes for identifying quality threats and designing responses
- Engagement performance standards, supervision, and review requirements
- Monitoring activities, root cause analysis, and remediation strategies
- Documentation expectations, quality management evidence, and common regulatory findings
- Emerging risks: technology, cybersecurity, staffing capacity, and regulatory developments
Learning Objectives
- Explain the purpose, components, and governance principles of an effective audit quality management system
- Identify risk factors that can impair audit quality and determine strategies to mitigate those risks
- Apply SQMS and PCAOB quality management requirements to firm operations and engagement performance
- Evaluate monitoring and remediation processes designed to achieve ongoing quality improvement
- Explain how to strengthen audit documentation to demonstrate compliance with professional standards and firm policies
Level
Advanced
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Auditing (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
Intermediate understanding of auditing principles
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Robert K Minniti
DBA, CPA, CFE, Cr.FA, CVA, MAFF, CFF, CGMA, PI
Dr. Minniti is the President and Owner of Minniti CPA, LLC. Dr. Minniti is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Forensic Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Valuation Analyst, Certified in Financial Forensics, Master Analyst in Financial Forensics, Chartered Global Management Accountant, and is a licensed private investigator in the state of Arizona.
Dr. Minniti received his doctoral degree in business administration from Walden University, received his MBA degree and Graduate Certificate in Accounting from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, and received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Minniti taught graduate and undergraduate courses in forensic accounting at DeVry University, Grand Canyon University, Kaplan University, Northwestern University, and the University of Phoenix. He designed graduate and undergraduate courses for Grand Canyon University, Northwestern University, and Anthem College.
He is a writer and public speaker. He has experience in forensic accounting, fraud examinations, financial audits, internal audits, compliance audits, real estate valuations, business valuations, internal control development, business continuation planning, risk management, cyber security, privacy laws, data security, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance work and business consulting. In addition to his practice Dr. Minniti is an instructor teaching continuing professional education classes for a variety of providers and CPA Societies.
Dr. Minniti is currently serving as a board member on the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts' (NACVA) Litigation Forensics Board (LFB) and as a committee member on the Arizona State Board of Accountancy's Law Review Advisory Committee.