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Internal control

Create a Master Engagement

note
This topic covers the steps for creating a regular master engagement. To create a SMART Start master engagement, see the Create a SMART Start Master Engagement topic.
Master engagements allow firms to use template engagements that are created and maintained by the firm. Typically, when a firm chooses to create master engagements, staff are instructed to create new client engagements based on the applicable master engagement rather than a PPC Tools title. Information the firm enters in the master engagement is automatically inserted in the new client engagement.
When rolling forward a prior-period engagement, you have the option of merging the prior-period client engagement with a selected master engagement, as described in the Merge a Client Engagement with a Master Engagement topic. This allows you to effectively use master engagements without losing the documentation you created in the prior-period engagement.
note
Refer to the Engagement Setup Questions topics for helpful information about the engagement setup options.
note
SMART Audit Essential does not provide the option to create a master engagement.
To create a new master engagement:
  1. On the
    File
     menu, click
    New
    .
  2. Click
    Master Engagement
    .
    The Create Master Engagement window appears.
  3. Enter the appropriate master engagement information.
    • Select the database. (Use the
      Browse
       button to locate a remote machine/database.)
    • Enter the master group name (or select the name from the drop-down list).
    • Enter a name for the master engagement.
    • Enter the engagement date, or click
      Date
       to select from a calendar.
    • Select an engagement type from the drop down. Depending on your selection of the engagement type, another drop down may appear.
    note
    The Select Review Type drop-down comes with a
    Help me decide
     link to help you decide what review type to choose. Similar to the
    Select Review Type
     drop-down, a
    Select Compilation Type
     drop-down appears if you select the Compilation engagement type.
    • In case of the Review engagement type or Compilation engagement type, select a review type or compilation type as appropriate.
  4. Click
    Next
    .
  5. On the next window, select a practice aid title for this engagement. (Only licensed and installed practice aid titles are listed.)
If you select a practice aids title with SMART Start data, you may see an option ‘Use SMART Start?’ which you can answer with ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. (The default is set to ‘No’.)
note
Click the
Help me decide
 link for a summary of benefits, cautions, and other considerations when using SMART Start.
  1. Select the
    SMART Practice Aids
     modules you want to include in the master engagement.
note
Risk Assessment
 must be selected along with
Internal Control
 or
Field Work
, but
Disclosure
 can be selected on its own if needed.
The modules available to include in the engagement depend on the engagement type you choose (in Step 3), and the system automatically selects modules, disables modules or provides the ability to enable modules based on the practice aid title you choose (in Step 5) for the engagement. For example, in a Review or Compilation engagement type, only
Compilation and Review
 and
Disclosure
 modules are available.
  1. Answer the question for Engagement Management Software. You can click on the 'Help me decide' link for more information. (See Engagement Setup Fieldwork.)
  2. Click
    Next
    .
  3. On the next window, select the areas to include in the master engagement by selecting the appropriate check boxes in the
    Include
     column.
note
You can add a new area by entering the name in the field at the bottom of the window and then clicking the
Add Area
 button. To delete an area, right-click the area name and then click
Delete Area
.
  1. Click
    Next
    .
  2. Answer the setup questions displayed by selecting ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ as appropriate. You may click on the ‘Explain’ link to help you answer the question or click on the icon to add a comment. (See SMART Engagement Setup Questions.)
  1. Click
    Finish
    .
  2. Complete any information you want to include in the master engagement. Information added to this engagement will be imported into any client engagements created using the master.

This article applies to:

  • Product: SMART Practice Aids