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BEC CPA Exam Notes 2025 | Expert-Verified Guide | COSO, SOX, Variances, IT, Economics, Strategic Planning

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This expertly compiled document presents comprehensive CPA exam review notes for the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section of the CPA Exam 2025/2026, covering all core test areas in a highly organized and professionally verified format. Unlike traditional question-only documents, this guide offers in-depth conceptual summaries, keyword definitions, formulas, and real-exam breakdowns that are ideal for rapid revision and last-minute mastery. Structured to align with the AICPA blueprint, topics include: COSO Internal Control and ERM Frameworks: definitions, 5 components, 17 principles, SORC/ORC objectives, and governance risks Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX): Titles I–IV coverage, auditor independence, board responsibilities, and reporting obligations Cost and Managerial Accounting: fixed vs. variable costing, direct/indirect costs, job vs. process costing, contribution margin, absorption costing Variance Analysis: formulas and interpretations for DM, DL, VOH, FOH, sales price and efficiency variances Information Technology and System Controls: roles of IT personnel, encryption, backup systems, disaster recovery, EDI, internal controls, COBIT Micro and Macroeconomics: elasticity, GDP, CPI, monetary policy, market structures, fiscal policy, exchange rate systems, interest rate movements Strategic and Operational Planning: SWOT, Balanced Scorecard, benchmarking, Porter’s Five Forces, and business cycle management Risk Management: financial risk types, risk responses, control activities, insurance strategies, and capital budgeting techniques Best suited for: CPA candidates needing a concept-focused review of BEC content Accounting and finance students consolidating advanced coursework Tutors, instructors, and review centers seeking an expert-level teaching resource Professionals preparing for BEC retakes or transitioning into CPA exam prep from a business background This is a high-utility study companion that transforms dense CPA content into accessible summaries, ideal for mastering complex material efficiently and confidently. Keywords: BEC CPA notes, COSO principles, SOX compliance, variance formulas, job costing, absorption vs variable costing, IT system roles, internal audit, economic cycles, strategic planning, COBIT, CPA study guide, managerial accounting, risk management

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Institution
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
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CPA - Certified Public Accountant











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Institution
CPA - Certified Public Accountant
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CPA - Certified Public Accountant

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Uploaded on
November 28, 2025
Number of pages
53
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Exam (elaborations)
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BEC CPA Exam Notes 2025 Expert
Verified | Ace the Test



SU 1 (18% of test) - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Corporate Governance


Basic Corporate Documents - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Articles of Incorporation:

Corp's name, # Share authorized, Address of Registered Office, Name of

Registered Agent, Name and Address of each incorporator

Filed with secretary of state

Articles of Incorporation are general.

Bylaws: contain information about managing affairs of corporation. Bylaws

are detailed.

,Common and Preferred Shareholders - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Common have

contributed basic capital for the corporation to carry on business. Preferred

have a contractual right to dividends and liquidation rights before common

shareholders.


Board of Directors - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Board acts on behalf of S/H. Major

decisions made by board. Board selects officers. Board declares dividends.

Directors owe a fiduciary duty to corporation.


Business Judgment Rule - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Protects and officer or director

from honest mistakes of judgment.


Corporate Opportunity - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Director must give corporation first

right of refusal.


SOX Reporting - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Targets officers, BOD, and Public Auditors


It is applicable to issuers. Each member of audit committee must be an

independent member of BOD (cannot receive compensation from corp.)

One must be a financial expert.

Audit Committee reports to BOD not management. PCAOB regulates

accounting profession.

,Sec 302 of SOX - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔CEO and CFO certify financial statements

free from material misstatements, responsible for system of internal

controls, and informed audit committee of any deficiencies. Also report any

fraud whether or not material.


Sec 404 of SOX - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Name internal control model must be

named and management has taken responsibility for establishing system of

internal controls.


Sec 802, 906, 1103, 1107 - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔802: Criminal Penalties for

destroying documents

906: Fines and Jail Time for certifying noncomplying filings

1107: Jail time for retaliation against informants


COSO Model of Internal Control - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Widely recognized as

standard for internal control system.


3 Objectives of Control - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Operations, Reporting, Compliance

(ORC)

Operations include the safeguarding of an entity's assets. Reporting relates

to information needed by users to make sounds financial decisions.

Compliance deals with rules and regulations that should be complied with.

3
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

, Internal Control does not provide absolute assurance.

Breakdowns: employee carelessness, management overwrite, collusion


Components of Internal Control - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔CRIME


Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information and

Communication, Monitoring


Control Environment - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔5 Principles: 1.) Integrity and Ethical

Values (Tone at the Top) 2.) Oversight by Board 3.) Reporting lines and

structure 4.) Retain competent individuals 5.) Hold individuals accountable


Risk Assessment - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Specifies objective with clarity to enable

the identification and assessment of risks.

Identifies and analyzes risks.

Considers potential for fraud.

Identifies changes that could affect internal control.

Management's responsibility to assess risk.


Control Activities - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Helps ensure that management

directives are carried out. These are preventive or detective.

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