1. General introduction
01. Standard 3000 specifies and guides the responsibilities of auditors and audit firms (hereinafter referred to as “auditors”) when Performing assurance services contracts other than auditing and reviewing historical financial information (hereinafter referred to as "Assurance Services Contracts") This has been stipulated and guided in the Vietnamese Auditing Standards (VSA) and the Vietnamese Standards on Review Services Contracts (VSRE).See guidance in paragraphs A21-A22 of Standard 3000.).
02. The service guarantee contract includes the following:Authentication service contract", in which a party other than the auditor and the auditing firm perform the measurement or evaluation of the assurance service subject based on criteria, and the "direct guarantee service contract"In which auditors and audit firms directly measure or evaluate the assurance service subject based on criteria. This standard includes regulations, application guidance, and detailed appendices for the "service contract ensuring reasonable authentication"And"Limited-term authentication service contractThis standard may also be applied to “reasonable direct guarantee service contract"And"Direct guarantee service contract with limitations", which is adjusted and supplemented depending on the specific circumstances of the service contract.
03. This standard is based on the following: premise or:
(a) Members of the service team or the service quality control reviewer (for service contracts with a service quality control reviewer) shall comply with the provisions of Parts A and B of the relevant Accounting and Auditing Professional Ethics Standards relating to assurance service contracts, or other professional requirements, or requirements of relevant laws and regulations that are at least equivalent to the Accounting and Auditing Professional Ethics Standards.See guidance in paragraphs A30–A34 of this Standard.);
(b) The auditor performing the assurance services contract is a member of a business entity that must comply with Quality Control Standard No. 1 – Quality control of the firm performing audits, financial statement reviews, assurance services and other related services (Quality Control Standard No. 1), or other professional requirements, or requirements of law and regulations relating to the responsibility of the audit firm with a quality control system that is at least equivalent to Quality Control Standard No. 1.See guidance in paragraphs A61–A66 of this Standard.).
04. Quality control for businesses performing assurance services and compliance with ethical principles, including the requirement for independence, is widely recognized as being in the public interest and as part of high-quality assurance services. Practicing auditors are generally familiar with these requirements in practice. If a competent but non-practicing professional applies this Standard or other Vietnamese Standards on Assurance Services, they must understand that this Standard includes requirements prescribed to reflect the premises set forth in paragraph 03 Standard No. 3000.
2. Scope of application
05. Standard No. 3000 apply for these Service contract guaranteeing services other than auditing and reviewing past financial information. This has been regulated and guided in the Vietnamese Framework on Assurance Contracts. If another Vietnamese Standard on Assurance Contracts applies to a specific related assurance service subject matter, that Vietnamese Standard on Assurance Contracts must be applied in conjunction with this Standard.See guidance in paragraphs A21–A22 of this Standard.).
06. Not all service contracts performed by auditors and audit firms are assurance contracts. Some service contracts that are commonly performed but do not conform to the definition in paragraph 12(a) of this Standard shall not be assurance contracts (and the Vietnamese Standards on assurance contracts shall not apply to them) include:
(a) Service contracts comply with relevant Vietnamese Service Standards (VSRS) such as: Standard No. 4400 – The contract covers pre-agreed procedures regarding financial information. Standard No. 4410 – Comprehensive financial information services;
(b) Tax return preparation services without providing assurance;
(c) Consulting services, such as management consulting or tax consulting servicesSee guidance in paragraph A1 of this Standard.).
07. An assurance service contract performed in accordance with Vietnamese Standards on Assurance Service Contracts may be a component of a larger service contract. In that case, the Vietnamese Standards on Assurance Service Contracts shall only apply to the assurance service component.
08. The following service contracts may conform to the definition in paragraph 12(a) of this Standard but shall not be considered as assurance contracts under Vietnamese Standards on Assurance Contracts:
(a) Contracts for legal services relating to accounting, auditing, taxation or other matters;
(b) Service contracts that include opinions, views, or the use of specialized terminology from which the user can obtain a certain degree of assurance, provided that all of the following elements are met:
(i) Such opinions, views, or wording are merely incidental within the overall service contract;
(ii) Any written report issued shall be for restricted use only by the specific parties stated in the report;
(iii) A written agreement with a specific service user that clearly states that the service shall not be considered as a guarantee service;
(iv) The service contract is not presented as a service contract under assurance in the auditor's report.
3. Responsibilities of the auditor, the audit firm, and the audited entity
09. Auditors and audit firms must comply with the provisions and guidance of this Standard in the negotiation and execution of assurance services other than audits and reviews of historical financial information.
The entity using the assurance service (client) and the parties using the assurance service report must have the necessary understanding of the regulations and guidance of this Standard to coordinate work and manage relationships related to the negotiation and execution of the assurance service contract beyond auditing and reviewing historical financial information and to properly utilize the results.
4. Objectives
10. When performing assurance services, the objectives of the auditor and the audit firm are:
(a) To obtain reasonable assurance and limited assurance, to the extent appropriate, as to whether the information concerning the subject matter of the assurance service is materially erroneous;
(b) Provide a written conclusion on the results of the measurement or assessment of the assurance service subject, stating the reasonable or limited assurance and the basis for the conclusion (see guidance in paragraph A2 of Standard 3000);
(c) Further discussion as required by this Standard and the requirements of other relevant Vietnamese Standards on assurance contracts.
11. In all cases where reasonable assurance or limited assurance (to the extent appropriate) cannot be obtained and the qualified conclusion on the auditor's assurance report is insufficient for the purpose of providing information to the users of the assurance report, this Standard requires the auditor to decline to give an opinion or withdraw from the service contract in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
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