- Assess the achievement of an entity's objectives.
- Develop documentation and sufficient data to support analysis and conclusions.
- Understand transaction streams and information systems.
- Assess risk and design appropriate procedures.
- Make decisions, solve problems, and think critically in the context of analysis.
- Communicate scope of work, findings, and conclusions effectively.
Qualifying Experience
Qualifying experience may be obtained through:
- The practice of public accounting.
- Employment in industry or government.
- In certain situations, employment in academia may also provide experience to obtain some or all the competency requirements.
Experience may be:
- Completed through one or more employers.
- With or without compensation.
- A combination of full-time and part-time employment.
Employment experience must occur in a work environment that provides the opportunity to utilize skills generally used in business, accounting, and auditing including, but not limited to:
- Accounting for transactions.
- Budgeting.
- Data analysis.
- Internal auditing.
- Preparation of reports to taxing authorities.
- Controllership functions.
- Financial analysis.
- Performance auditing.
- And similar skills.
Qualification of a Verifying CPA
To serve as a verifying CPA, the licensee must:
- Hold an active and valid CPA license to practice public accounting at the time the experience affidavit is signed either:
- In the state of Washington; or
- In another U.S. jurisdiction and qualify for practice privileges as defined in RCW 18.04.350(2).
Responsibilities of the Applicant
The applicant is responsible for:
- Providing information and evidence to support the applicant's assertion that their job experience could have reasonably provided the opportunity to obtain the specific competencies, included on the applicant's Experience Affidavit form presented for the verifying CPA's evaluation.
- Producing that documentation and the completed Experience Affidavit form to a qualified verifying CPA of their choice.
- Determining that the verifying CPA meets the requirements of WAC 4-30-070(5).
- Maintaining the documentation for a minimum of three years.
Responsibilities of the Verifying CPA
The verifying CPA is expected to:
- Obtain the applicant's completed Experience Affidavit form and any supporting documentation needed to support that the jobs listed provided the required experience to obtain each specific competency.
- Verify the applicant’s relevant employment history.
- Interview the applicant or otherwise obtain sufficient information to understand the skill sets applied, tasks performed, and time spent in the applicant’s listed work experience.
- Assess whether the skill sets applied, tasks performed, and time spent in the listed work experience would likely provide the applicant with an opportunity to obtain each specific competency.
- Determine, by interview or course completion certificate, etc., that the applicant is knowledgeable of the Public Accountancy Act and related Board Rules applicable to individuals licensed in the state of Washington.
- Document this process and the basis for the conclusions reached by the verifying CPA relative to each specific competency and maintain this documentation for a minimum of three years.
