International Journal of

Business & Management Studies

ISSN 2694-1430 (Print), ISSN 2694-1449 (Online)
DOI: 10.56734/ijbms
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR C.P.A. LICENSE, DON’T DO THIS. . . A CASE STUDY OF RAMANAN v. CALIFORNIA BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY

Abstract


This is a legal case study of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) seeking to overturn the decision of the California Board of Accountancy (Board) to revoke his CPA license; however, the Court of Appeal affirmed the Board’s decision and the revocation became permanent. The Board found that the CPA had not registered his firm’s name with the Board and had violated independence rules. The Board also found that the CPA exhibited gross negligence in his performance of 2 audits by committing 11 extreme violations of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, as follows: issuing an unqualified opinion when the client’s income statement contained inaccurate revenue and earnings figures; dating the audit reports before completion of field work; failure to maintain work papers; failure to obtain evidence; failure to confirm Accounts Receivable; failure to prepare a written audit plan; failure to evaluate the client’s internal controls; failure to obtain legal representation letters; failure to determine audit risk; failure to make fraud inquiries; and failure to perform analytical procedures. However, the CPA’s most egregious behavior was his dishonesty in communications with the Board.