Auditing standards board issues discussion paper on clarity of standards.

The AICPA's Auditing Standards Board has issued a discussion paper entitled Improving the Clarity of ASB Standards. The discussion paper, for which comments are due June 15, seeks feedback on these issues the ASB is considering:

* Establishing objectives for each of the standards that provide a conceptual framework for the application of professional judgment, and the obligation related to the objective.

* Making structural and drafting improvements to make the standards easier to read and understand.

* Including special considerations in the audits of public sector entities and small entities...