Independence 250~265 Benefit plans 、Insurance 、Loan -AICPA Code of professional conductのPart1
Participation in Employee Benefit Plans
Part1の250。Employee benefit plans（従業員給付制度）、有給、年金、失業手当など。
Covered member が Attest client の Employee benefit plans （EBP)、もしくは Attest client が Sponsor の EBP に Participate していると、Self interest threat であり、Independence を Impair。
過去に Participate していても 現在は Associate してなければ、Independence を Impair しているとはみなされない。
Covered member が EBP の Sponsor である Government organization の Employee でありながら、Laws and regulations により Plan の Audit を Require されているとき、以下の Safeguards をすべてみたせば、Threats を Acceptable level にまで下げることができる。
- The covered member is required to participate in the plan as a condition of employment.
- The plan is offered to all employees in comparable positions.
- The covered member is not a director, officer, employee, promoter, or the like of the plan.
- The covered member has no influence or control over the investment strategy, benefits, or other management activities of the plan.
Depository, Brokerage, and Other Accounts
Part1の255。
Depository Accounts
Part1の255.010。
Financial difficulties が Remote
Covered member が Firm の場合、Bank がこの先 Financial difficulties に直面する Likelihood が Remote であるならば、Independence を Impair することにならない。
Acceptable level
Covered member は以下の条件を満たすことで、Attest client である Bank の Depository account（預金口座） を保有することができる。
- The balance in the depository account is fully insured
- Any uninsured amounts were not material to the covered member’s worth
- If uninsured accounts are considered material, they are reduced to an immaterial amount within 30 days of becoming material.
Brokerage and Other Accounts
Part1の255.020。証券口座。
Attest client である Broker の Brokerage accounts をもつときには、以下の Safeguards を満たさないと Independence の Impair となる。
- The attest client’s services were rendered under the attest client’s normal terms, procedures and requirements
- Any covered member’s assets subject to the risk of loss are immaterial to the covered member’s net worth.
Insurance Products
Part1の257。保険商品
Insurance Policies With No Investment Option
Part1の257.010
Insurance policies に Investment option がなければ、Financial interest とはみなされない。
Insurance policies に Investment option がついていても、Normal term と Condition であり、以下のどちらかを満たしていなければ、Independence は Impair されない。
- The ability to select the policy’s underlying investments
- The authority to supervise or participate in the investment decision and the covered member invested in an attest client.
Loans, Leases, and Guarantees
Part1の260。
Loans
Part1の260.010
Covered member が Attest client に Loan によるお金の貸し借りを行ったら、Independence を Impair。
Attest client に関連する以下の人たちとの Loan もアウト
- Officers
- Directors
- 10% shareholders
Covered member やその Immediate family member が、Lending institution である Attest client からLoan を行った時、以下の Loan ならば Independent を Impair しない。
- Immaterial unsecured loan
- Home mortgage
- Secured loan
ただし、以下の Safeguards を満たす必要がある。
- Normal lending procedures, terms, and requirements were applied.
- The loan occurred before the lending institution become an attest client, or came from a lending institution for which independence was not required and later sold to an attest client.
- Loans are kept current, and terms are not altered by extending maturity date, lowering interest rate, and so on.
- The estimated fair value of the collateral equals or exceeds the outstanding balance; any deficit is not material to the covered member’s net worth.
Leases
Part1の260.040
Capital lease は Independence を Impair。
Operating lease は、以下の Safeguards をすべて満たせば、Independence を Impair しない。
- The lease meets the generally accepted accounting principles criteria for an operating lease
- The terms and conditions are comparable with similar leases
- All amounts are paid in accordance with the terms of the lease
Business Relationships
Part1の265。
Cooperative Arrangements With Attest Clients
Part1の265.010。
Joint Closely Held Investments
Part1の265.020。
The firm と Attest client で Small company の Material な Stakes をもつことは Independence の Impair となる。Covered member と Client の Officer でもダメ。
Google や Microsoft のような上場している大企業の Stakes なら Independence の Impair とならない。
