Quality control systems - Non-audit services

Ian Evans
Global leader - tax services
Grant Thornton International

Find out more here about quality control systems for:

Tax services
Specialist advisory services

Tax services
Each member firm providing tax services is subject to a review of the policies and procedures that it applies in the delivery of such services. The executive director – tax training and quality is responsible for the design and maintenance of the periodic review programme, the Grant Thornton Tax Review (GTTR). The executive director – tax operations is responsible for running the programme so that every member firm is reviewed over a four-year cycle. In carrying out a GTTR the extent to which a member firm carries out its own quality assurance review will determine the scope of the review undertaken by the Grant Thornton International team.

The main finding from the GTTR programme undertaken during 2006 and 2007 was that, notwithstanding that every tax jurisdiction is different, there are practices that are common to all jurisdictions and a demand existed in member firms for guidance on areas where standardisation can be adopted. This has led to the production of a global tax manual which contains both mandatory procedures and practical guidance.

The manual will be introduced to member firms in mid-2008. The manual will formalise, as a mandatory requirement, the need for each member firm to comply with legislative, regulatory, ethical and professional requirements applicable to the delivery of tax services in its territory.

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Specialist advisory services
Authorised member firms are encouraged to implement an internal quality assurance review programme to review compliance with risk management procedures. Grant Thornton International has designed a work programme for such internal quality reviews that sets out the minimum requirements and gives guidance, including who should carry out the review (for example, an independent but experienced partner) and how often (for example, the work of each partner should be reviewed at least once every three years).

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