Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kansas Board of Accountancy approves multiple stipulations, fines and censures for licensees and firms
Summary
At its Oct. 25, 2019 meeting the Board approved a series of stipulations and consent orders that imposed fines, costs and censures and, in several cases, required firms to register before resuming practice. One firm name application was denied.
The Kansas Board of Accountancy spent a large portion of its Oct. 25, 2019 meeting considering disciplinary stipulations and consent orders. The Board accepted multiple orders that imposed fines, costs under K.S.A. 1-206, censures, conditions on practice and, where applicable, approved or conditioned firm registrations.
Key outcomes included: a Stipulation and Consent Order for Ellen Marie Ainsworth and Ainsworth Accounting & Tax Services, P.A., finding noncooperation in an investigation and directing a $500 firm fine, payment of costs, censure and a prohibition on performing attest services until further order; acceptance of a consent order for Austin Lane Wingerson and affiliated firms imposing fines ($1,000 individual; $500 per firm), costs, censure and approval of firm registration; and acceptance of an order for Jeffrey J. McMullen imposing a $1,000 fine, costs and censure after deliberation in closed session based on findings including fraud or dishonesty in obtaining a permit and failure to maintain CE requirements.
Other actions included orders addressing firms that failed to timely comply with peer review, with penalties ranging from $500 fines and costs to requirements to comply with prior Summary Orders of Revocation before registration would be approved. The Board amended paragraph 7(d) of the Armanino, LLP stipulation to add the language 'in process letter or' before accepting that order.
The Board denied the firm-registration application for 'All Figured Out, LLC' after determining the name would likely create an unjustified expectation of favorable results in violation of K.S.A. 1-316(c) and K.A.R. 74-5-406; the denial was entered pursuant to K.S.A. 1-312, K.S.A. 1-316 and K.A.R. 74-5-406. The Board also accepted a stipulated cost amount of $1,498.40 in the Boyce W. Soward matter.
Recusals and nonparticipation on votes were recorded where investigators had conflicts of interest; in several matters the investigator did not participate in the final vote. Most consent orders accepted at the meeting required payment of fines and costs and included censure; several conditioned registration or reinstatement on compliance with peer-review requirements or approval of firm registration applications.
The Board’s decisions were procedural and disciplinary in nature; the orders impose penalties and restrictions on licensees and firms and will be reflected in the Board’s enforcement records.
The meeting record shows each matter was presented with counsel or respondents present in person or by telephone; the Board moved into closed session for deliberation on at least two matters and reconvened to vote on the related consent orders.
