442.10 Disclosure of interest in entity reported on.

(1) Whenever any person, as a certified public accountant, signs or certifies any report, schedule, or statement relative to the affairs of any corporation, association, or partnership in which the person is financially interested or by which the person is regularly engaged as an officer or employee, the signature or certification shall be accompanied by a specific statement setting forth the fact that the person is financially interested in or is an officer or regular employee of the corporation, association, or partnership. If the person is both financially interested and an officer or regular employee, the statement shall cover both financial interest and employment. In the case of a firm signing or certifying as described in this subsection, the interest of any of its members shall be disclosed.

(2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), no person licensed under this chapter, and no firm of which the person is a member, may express an opinion as an independent certified public accountant on financial statements of any enterprise unless the person and the firm are independent of the enterprise. The requirement for independence under this subsection also extends to the spouse of such a person and to other relatives having a financial or business relationship with the enterprise which, in the opinion of the examining board, may impair independence.

(3) The examining board may make and enforce all necessary rules relative to this section and may determine the particular phraseology necessary to carry sub. (1) into effect.

History: 1977 c. 264; 1993 a. 490; 2001 a. 16.