TRUST. TRANSPARENCY. ACCOUNTABILITY.

Peer Review

Enhancing the quality of accounting, auditing, and attestation services.

USCPA

About Peer Review

The Partners in Peer Review Program is an educational and remedial peer review program designed to help you improve the quality of your practice. The program is a division of the Alabama Society of CPAs that administers the AICPA Peer Review Program in Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas according to AICPA standards. In this function, we serve as a resource by assisting your firm in scheduling a review, selecting a reviewer, and finalizing your firm's report through the committee acceptance process.

An accounting and auditing practice for the purposes of these standards is defined as all engagements covered by Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs); Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS)2 (see interpretations); Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs); Government Auditing Standards (the Yellow Book) issued by U.S. Government Accountability Office; and audits of non-SEC issuers performed pursuant to the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

Partners in Peer Review Contacts at the ASCPA

Ashley Sellers

Director of Peer Review Operations


asellers@alabama.cpa

(334) 386-5762

Ashley Sellers

Director of Peer Review Operations



Ashley serves as Director of Peer Review Operations for Partners in Peer Review at the Alabama Society of CPAs. Ashley has been employed with the ASCPA for 8 years, and she is passionate about serving others and strengthening the CPA profession. Her responsibilities include overseeing the daily operations of the peer review program and providing administrative and technical support to firms and reviewers throughout the process.  She also serves as a representative on the AICPA’s Administrator Advisory Task Force (AATF), and also serves as an administrator representative on the AICPA’s Peer Review Oversight Task Force (OTF), including the Evolution Focus Group and RAB Observation Focus Group.

Ashley graduated from Troy University with a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  She is originally from Valley, Alabama and currently resides in Daphne, Alabama with her husband Will and 4-year old little girl Ana Claire.

Chuck Jordan

Director of Peer Review Professional Standards


cjordan@alabama.cpa

(334) 386-5765

Chuck Jordan

Director of Peer Review Professional Standards


Raegen Nuffer

Manager, Peer Review Operations


rnuffer@alabama.cpa

(334) 386-5753


Raegen Nuffer

Manager, Peer Review Operations


Raegen serves as Manager of Peer Review Operations and has been employed with the ASCPA for 5 years.  Raegen is responsible for the successful and timely movement of peer reviews through each stage of the peer review process, including providing direct communication and guidance to firms and reviewers during the process.  With over 9 years working in customer support, Raegen’s strength to the team is her communication and organizational skills. 

Raegen is from Eclectic, Alabama and currently lives in Holtville, Alabama, with her husband Nathan and her two pups.  

Bethany Booth

Manager, Membership and Peer Review Billing


bbooth@alabama.cpa

(334) 386-5751

Bethany Booth

Manager, Membership and Peer Review Billing


Bethany has been with the ASCPA for more than 3 years and works with the peer review team. She also handles all peer review & membership dues invoicing and billing. If you have a question about your ASCPA membership, chances are Bethany can answer it!

Bethany is a Michigan native and has her associates degree from Texas State Tech.

Peer Review Contacts at the AICPA

Peer Review Support Hotline
(919) 402-4502

Peer reviewers from Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi comprise the ASCPA's Partners in Peer Review Committee.  Learn more about the committee who works for you.

What is Peer Review?

Peer review is an evaluation of the systems and/or work product of a public accounting practice by a qualified, fellow practitioner.


Which firms must undergo peer review?

Alabama Firms

The Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy laws regarding peer review requirements mirror the AICPA standards in that any firm or sole practitioner licensed in Alabama that performs attest and compilation services, including but not limited to: any level of review, audit, agreed-upon procedures, report on a financial statement, examinations of prospective financial statements, reports on internal control effectiveness, and compilations of a financial statement must undergo a peer review.

Arkansas Firms

The Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy law does not require a peer review for a firm whose highest level of service is a compilation of financial statements. Such a firm will instead undergo a Quality Review by the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy of its compilation engagement(s). An Arkansas firm is required to have a peer review under AICPA's peer review program if the firm performs a review of financial statements, examination engagements (SSAE), and/or any level of audit engagement.

Mississippi Firms

The Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy law regarding peer review requirements state that a firm or sole practitioner licensed in Mississippi that performs audits, reviews, compilations, agreed-upon procedures, forecasts, projections, other special reports or any accounting and auditing services defined for peer review purposes, and preparation of financial statements by a CPA firm on which no report is made, such as engagements defined in the AICPA Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) Number 21, Section 70.

To Enroll in Peer Review

A firm needing a peer review will now have to set up an account in the Peer Review Integrated Management Application (PRIMA), an online, interactive system. All peer review information and documents will be managed within PRIMA. The direct link to this website is https://prima.aicpa.org . 

1. Begin Enrollment Process

Begin Enrollment Process

To begin the enrollment process, please first complete a Public Accounting Firm Creation Form and submit it to our team at peer.review@alabama.cpa for processing. Once processed we will contact you with next steps.

Begin Enrollment Process

To begin the enrollment process, please first complete a Public Accounting Firm Creation Form and submit it to our team at peer.review@alabama.cpa for processing. Once processed we will contact you with next steps.

2. PRIMA Enrollment Form

AICPA Member Account to Access PRIMA Enrollment Form

Next, if you already have an AICPA member account, you may access PRIMA to login and complete the enrollment form for your firm.

To do so, click on "For Firms" located on the top-left of the screen and then the "Enroll/Update PRI. button" 

If you do not have an existing AICPA member account, our team will help navigate you in setting one up.

AICPA Member Account to Access PRIMA Enrollment Form

Next, if you already have an AICPA member account, you may access PRIMA to login and complete the enrollment form for your firm.

To do so, click on "For Firms" located on the top-left of the screen and then the "Enroll/Update PRI. button" 

If you do not have an existing AICPA member account, our team will help navigate you in setting one up.

3. Peer Review Due Date

Peer Review Due Date

The firm's initial Peer Review due date is 18 months from the date of enrollment or from when the firm should have enrolled.

Please contact our peer review team at 334-834-7650 or email peer.review@alabama.cpa for additional questions regarding enrollment.

Peer Review Due Date

The firm's initial Peer Review due date is 18 months from the date of enrollment or from when the firm should have enrolled.

Please contact our peer review team at 334-834-7650 or email peer.review@alabama.cpa for additional questions regarding enrollment.

4. PRIMA Information & Training

PRIMA Information & Training

Please add prima@aicpa.org to your safe senders list.

All PRIMA emails, including status and reminder  emails, are sent directly from PRIMA from this address.

PRIMA Information & Training

Please add prima@aicpa.org to your safe senders list.

All PRIMA emails, including status and reminder  emails, are sent directly from PRIMA from this address.


For Firms Already Enrolled

For firms already enrolled in AICPA's peer review program, PRIMA (AICPA's peer review website) will notify the managing partner and peer review contact by email from  prima@aicpa.org approximately seven months before the firm's due date that it is time to start the peer review process. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk folder. 

1. Completion of Peer Review Information (PRI) & Scheduling (SCH) Case

1. Completion of Peer Review Information (PRI) & Scheduling (SCH) Case

When each peer review begins, the firm will have a case in its Action Items on the homepage of PRIMA that begins with the (PRI-xxxxx). By clicking on this case, the firm can provide its firm information in PRIMA about its practice and either submit and continue to the scheduling form, where information about the team/review captain is requested, or submit and complete the scheduling form later. The peer review information must be provided within 90-days of the original request. Please add prima@aicpa.org to your safe senders. All PRIMA emails, including status and reminder  emails, are sent directly from PRIMA from this address.

If the firm chooses to complete the scheduling form later, a scheduling case (SCH-xxxxxx) is generated and sent to the peer review contact. At this point, the peer review contact may provide information about the team/review captain chosen to perform the peer review. After the firm submits the scheduling case, it is sent to the review/team captain.  If any team members need to be added to perform the peer review, the review/team captain will add these individuals and the firm will be notified and can acknowledge those additions. To access instructions on completing the PRI or SCH cases, please click below:

When planning and scheduling a peer review, firms are advised against scheduling the commencement and exit conference dates in the month the peer review is due. The due date is the date all working papers related to the peer review are to be submitted to the ASCPA administrator. Allowing sufficient time to complete the peer review well in advance of the due date will help ensure the review is completed in a timely manner. If a firm has circumstances that could effect the timely completion of the peer review, an extension may be requested. For more information on extensions, please click below:

1. Completion of Peer Review Information (PRI) & Scheduling (SCH) Case

When each peer review begins, the firm will have a case in its Action Items on the homepage of PRIMA that begins with the (PRI-xxxxx). By clicking on this case, the firm can provide its firm information in PRIMA about its practice and either submit and continue to the scheduling form, where information about the team/review captain is requested, or submit and complete the scheduling form later. The peer review information must be provided within 90-days of the original request. Please add prima@aicpa.org to your safe senders. All PRIMA emails, including status and reminder  emails, are sent directly from PRIMA from this address.

If the firm chooses to complete the scheduling form later, a scheduling case (SCH-xxxxxx) is generated and sent to the peer review contact. At this point, the peer review contact may provide information about the team/review captain chosen to perform the peer review. After the firm submits the scheduling case, it is sent to the review/team captain.  If any team members need to be added to perform the peer review, the review/team captain will add these individuals and the firm will be notified and can acknowledge those additions. To access instructions on completing the PRI or SCH cases, please click below:

When planning and scheduling a peer review, firms are advised against scheduling the commencement and exit conference dates in the month the peer review is due. The due date is the date all working papers related to the peer review are to be submitted to the ASCPA administrator. Allowing sufficient time to complete the peer review well in advance of the due date will help ensure the review is completed in a timely manner. If a firm has circumstances that could effect the timely completion of the peer review, an extension may be requested. For more information on extensions, please click below:

2. Completion the Engagement Summary Form

2. Completion the Engagement Summary Form

This step will only generate for firms having an engagement review.  Firms having a system review will submit an engagement listing in advance of the commencement date. This section allows the firm to list out each engagement level, industry code, and number of each engagement type performed.  Once submitted, the reviewer will pick a sample for the peer review. For instructions on completing the Engagement Summary Form, please click below:

2. Completion the Engagement Summary Form

This step will only generate for firms having an engagement review.  Firms having a system review will submit an engagement listing in advance of the commencement date. This section allows the firm to list out each engagement level, industry code, and number of each engagement type performed.  Once submitted, the reviewer will pick a sample for the peer review. For instructions on completing the Engagement Summary Form, please click below:

3. Completion of Peer Review Work Papers

3. Completion of Peer Review Work Papers

During this step, the reviewer will perform his peer review for your firm.  Firms will have been previously notified of the reviewer's commencement date, closing date, and exit conference date of the peer review. Firms should stay in contact with the reviewer during this period and are ultimately responsible for the timely completion of the peer review.  Once the review has been completed, the reviewer will issue a report to the firm. Please remember that the report will not be final and cannot be used until you are formally notified of acceptance by the ASCPA Partners in Peer Review Committee. If issues were noted during the review, the reviewer may issue an MFC (Matter for Consideration) or an FFC (Finding for Consideration).  Your reviewer will communicate these to you and you will also be notified by email from prima@aicpa.org to respond to these in PRIMA. For instructions on how to respond to MFCs and/or FFCs, please click below:

3. Completion of Peer Review Work Papers

During this step, the reviewer will perform his peer review for your firm.  Firms will have been previously notified of the reviewer's commencement date, closing date, and exit conference date of the peer review. Firms should stay in contact with the reviewer during this period and are ultimately responsible for the timely completion of the peer review.  Once the review has been completed, the reviewer will issue a report to the firm. Please remember that the report will not be final and cannot be used until you are formally notified of acceptance by the ASCPA Partners in Peer Review Committee. If issues were noted during the review, the reviewer may issue an MFC (Matter for Consideration) or an FFC (Finding for Consideration).  Your reviewer will communicate these to you and you will also be notified by email from prima@aicpa.org to respond to these in PRIMA. For instructions on how to respond to MFCs and/or FFCs, please click below:

4. Technical Review and Report Acceptance Body (RAB)

4. Technical Review and Report Acceptance Body (RAB)

Once the reviewer completes the peer review, it is submitted to the ASCPA administrator for assignment to a technical reviewer who determines whether the review has been conducted in accordance with governing standards and whether the firm has responded to any matters or deficiencies in an appropriate manner.  After technical review, the peer review is then assigned to a Report Acceptance Body (RAB) for consideration of acceptance.  After the RAB meets and accepts a review, firms should receive the review acceptance letter from the administrator within 14 days. However, some firms may be required to perform certain follow-up actions before the review can be closed. 

4. Technical Review and Report Acceptance Body (RAB)

Once the reviewer completes the peer review, it is submitted to the ASCPA administrator for assignment to a technical reviewer who determines whether the review has been conducted in accordance with governing standards and whether the firm has responded to any matters or deficiencies in an appropriate manner.  After technical review, the peer review is then assigned to a Report Acceptance Body (RAB) for consideration of acceptance.  After the RAB meets and accepts a review, firms should receive the review acceptance letter from the administrator within 14 days. However, some firms may be required to perform certain follow-up actions before the review can be closed. 

Types of Peer Review

System Review


A System Review is designed to provide a peer reviewer with a reasonable basis for expressing an opinion on whether, during the year under review.

Engagement Review


The objective of an Engagement Review is to evaluate whether engagements submitted for review are performed and reported on in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects.

If you need further guidance in determining what type of peer review your firm needs, please contact the peer review team at 334-834-7650 or email peer.review@alabama.cpa .

Extensions & Change in Year-End

Extensions


Once the initial due date is set or the firm's ongoing due date is established based upon the year-end of their initial review, a firm is expected to maintain the same review due date going forward. Nevertheless, circumstances may arise that require the firm to extend its review due date.

Requests should be submitted at least 60 days prior to a firm's peer review due date and are then reviewed on a case-to-case basis. If approved, the extended review due date only applies to the current review. Firms are responsible for communicating with their respective State Boards of Public Accountancy if due dates are extended.

For detailed information regarding extensions or for instructions for requesting an extension in PRIMA, please click the links below:

Changes in Year-End


Firms may find that a major engagement routinely is not completed, or its review is due during its busy season, which causes the firm to request an extension. The firm should consider requesting a change in year-end.

Please keep in mind a firm’s next peer review cannot cover a twelve month period that extends beyond three years from the last peer review. Firms are encouraged to discuss a possible change in year-end with the peer reviewer and/or an ASCPA Partners in Peer Review team.

For instructions on requesting a year-end change, please click below:

Peer Review Fees

The ASCPA Partners in Peer Review Program issues one Annual Peer Review Program Fee to firms whose peer reviews are administered by Alabama for the fiscal year May to April.

We have included the Peer Review Annual Fee Structure and examples of fee calculations.


Primary Fees

Annual Base Fee

Number of Professionals in a FirmFee
1-5$330
6-10$475
11-24$625
25+$770

Plus $30 per professional in the firm

Note: Professionals are as defined by the AICPA Peer Review Standards (all individuals who perform professional services for which the firm is responsible whether they are CPAs or not).

Additionally, for each year where an enrolled firm performs a "Must Select" (high risk) engagement there will be a fee of $110. 

This fee only applies to firms subject to system reviews. The fee will be due annually based upon the firm's profile in PRIMA. It is due when the firm has one or more "Must Select" engagements as defined by the AICPA standards. Currently, "Must Select" engagements include Employee Benefit Plans, Governmental Audits, Depository Institutions subject to FDICIA, Broker Dealers and Service Organization Control Report Engagements. The AICPA may add additional or remove "Must Select" criteria at any time.


Additional Fees
  • Enrollment fee is $110 for firms initially enrolling in the peer review program.
  • Reinstatement fee is $275 for firms dropped for noncompliance or non-payment of dues.
  • Late Fee is $250 plus an additional $250 for each month of untimely payment of the Peer Review Annual Program Fee.
Diana Keener

Want to Learn More About Peer Review?

For more information on the Partners Peer Review Program, email Ashley or call 334-834-7650, ext. 5762.