07 March 2011
Standard on Quality Control (SQC) Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements.
25 July 2025
Sure! Here’s a clear explanation of **SQC (Standard on Quality Control)** and its use in audit, with an example:
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### What is SQC in Audit?
**SQC** stands for **Standard on Quality Control**. It is a set of standards issued to audit firms that outline the quality control policies and procedures firms should establish to ensure that their audits and other assurance services are performed with **high quality and consistency**.
Specifically, the relevant standard is **SQC 1**, titled:
> *Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements.*
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### Purpose and Use of SQC:
* To ensure the **audit firm** maintains high standards across all audits and assurance engagements. * To provide reasonable assurance that the firm and its personnel comply with professional standards and regulatory/legal requirements. * To protect the firm’s reputation by delivering **consistent, reliable audit results**. * To guide firms on establishing policies for:
* Leadership responsibilities. * Ethical requirements. * Acceptance and continuance of client relationships. * Human resources management. * Engagement performance. * Monitoring of quality control systems.
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### Example of SQC in Practice:
**Example:** An audit firm implements SQC by:
* Creating a policy that only qualified auditors with proper training handle client audits. * Requiring each audit engagement to have a **second partner review** before finalization. * Establishing strict rules on accepting clients only after assessing their integrity and risk. * Monitoring feedback from clients and audit teams to improve quality continuously.
When this system is followed, the audit firm reduces risks of audit failure, detects mistakes early, and ensures audits comply with applicable standards like SA (Standards on Auditing).
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### Summary:
| **SQC Aspect** | **What It Means** | | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | Purpose | Ensure high-quality audit and assurance work | | Who Applies | Audit firms performing audits and reviews | | Main Components | Leadership, ethics, client acceptance, HR, etc. | | Benefit | Consistent, reliable audits; compliance ensured |
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If you want, I can help you with a checklist or template for implementing SQC in your firm. Would you like that?