Communications between Predecessor and Successor Auditors. Assume that Smith & Smith. CPAs, audited Apollo Shoes Inc., last year. Now CEO Larry Lancaster wishes to engage Anderson, Olds, and Watershed, CPAs (AOW) to audit its annual financial statements. Lancaster is generally pleased with the services provided by Smith & Smith, but he thinks the audit work was too detailed and interfered excessively with normal office routines. AOW has asked Lancaster to inform Smith & Smith of the decision to change auditors, but he does not wish to do so.

Required: List and discuss the steps AOW should follow with regard to dealing with a predecessor auditor and a new client before accepting the engagement.