更多“6 (a) Explain the term ‘money laundering’. (3 marks)”相关问题
  • 第1题:

    (b) Explain the advantages and the disadvantages of:

    (i) the face to face interview between two people; (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) (i) The face to face interview is the most common form. of interview. In this situation the candidate is interviewed by a single representative of the employing organisation.
    The advantages of such interviews are that they establish an understanding between the participants, are cost effective for the organisation (only one member of the organisation’s staff is involved) and, because of the more personal nature, ensure that candidates feel comfortable.
    The disadvantages are that the selection interview relies on the views and impression of a single interviewer that can be both subjective and biased. In addition, the interviewer may be selective in questioning and it is easier for the candidate to hide weaknesses or lack of ability.

  • 第2题:

    (b) Explain and give examples of assertive behaviour. (7 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Assertive behaviour on the other hand is based on equality and co-operation. It involves standing up for one’s own rights and needs but also respects the rights and needs of others. It is not overbearing or aggressive but can be described as clear, honest and direct communication.
    Assertive individuals defend their rights in a way that does not violate another individual’s rights. They express their needs,wants, opinions, feelings and beliefs in direct and appropriate ways.
    Characteristics of assertive behaviour include statements that are short, clear and to the point, distinctions made between fact and opinion, suggestions weighted with advice and evidence. Constructive criticism is the norm and offered without blame or assumptions. Questions to establish the wishes, opinions and thoughts of others are used as ways of getting around problems. There are no ‘ought’ or ‘should’ conditions, the first statement is often held, the individual’s own feelings are expressed and not those of others. Assertive behaviour can be successful if it displays a willingness to deliver a mutual compromise as an aid to achieving a clear objective.

  • 第3题:

    4 (a) Explain the meaning of the term ‘working capital cycle’ for a trading company. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (a) The working capital cycle illustrates the changing make-up of working capital in the course of the trading operations of a
    business:
    1 Purchases are made on credit and the goods go into inventory.
    2 Inventory is sold and converted into receivables
    3 Credit customers pay their accounts
    4 Cash is used to pay suppliers.

  • 第4题:

    (d) Explain the term ‘environmental management accounting’ and the benefits that may accrue to organisations

    which adopt it. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (d) Environmental management accounting (EMA) involves the generation and analysis of both financial and non-financial
    information in order to support internal environmental management processes. It is complementary to the conventional
    management accounting approach, with the aim to develop appropriate mechanisms that assist the management of
    organisations in the identification and allocation of environmentally related costs.
    Organisations that alter their management accounting practices to incorporate environmental concerns will have greater
    awareness of the impact of environment-related activities on their profit and loss accounts and balance sheets. This is because
    conventional management accounting systems tend to attribute many environmental costs to general overhead accounts with
    the result that they are ‘hidden’ from management. It follows that organisations which adopt EMA are more likely to identify
    and take advantage of cost reduction and other improvement opportunities. A concern with environmental costs will also
    reduce the chances of employing incorrect pricing of products and services and taking the wrong options in terms of mix and
    development decisions. This in turn may lead to enhanced customer value whilst reducing the risk profile attaching to
    investments and other decisions which have long term consequences.
    Reputational risk will also be reduced as a consequence of adopting (EMA) since management will be seen to be acting in
    an environmentally responsible manner. Organisations can learn from the Shell Oil Company whose experience in the much
    publicised Brent Spar incident cost the firm millions in terms of lost revenues as a result of a consumer boycott.

  • 第5题:

    (b) Identify and explain THREE approaches that the directors of Moffat Ltd might apply in assessing the

    QUALITATIVE benefits of the proposed investment in a new IT system. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) One approach that the directors of Moffat Ltd could adopt would be to ignore the qualitative benefits that may arise on the
    basis that there is too much subjectivity involved in their assessment. The problem that this causes is that the investment will
    probably look unattractive since all costs will be included in the evaluation whereas significant benefits and savings will have
    been ignored. Hence such an approach is lacking in substance and is not recommended.
    An alternative approach would involve attempting to attribute values to each of the identified benefits that are qualitative in
    nature. Such an approach will necessitate the use of management estimates in order to derive the cash flows to be
    incorporated in a cost benefit analysis. The problems inherent in this approach include gaining consensus among interested
    parties regarding the footing of the assumptions from which estimated cash flows have been derived. Furthermore, if the
    proposed investment does take place then it may well be impossible to prove that the claimed benefits of the new system
    have actually been realised.
    Perhaps the preferred approach is to acknowledge the existence of qualitative benefits and attempt to assess them in a
    reasonable manner acceptable to all parties including the company’s bank. The financial evaluation would then not only
    incorporate ‘hard’ facts relating to costs and benefits that are quantitative in nature, but also would include details of
    qualitative benefits which management consider exist but have not attempted to assess in financial terms. Such benefits might
    include, for example, the average time saved by location managers in analysing information during each operating period.
    Alternatively the management of Moffat Ltd could attempt to express qualitative benefits in specific terms linked to a hierarchy
    of organisational requirements. For example, qualitative benefits could be categorised as being:
    (1) Essential to the business
    (2) Very useful attributes
    (3) Desirable, but not essential
    (4) Possible, if funding is available
    (5) Doubtful and difficult to justify.

  • 第6题:

    (ii) Explain THREE strategies that might be adopted in order to improve the future prospects of Diverse

    Holdings Plc. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) The forecast situation of Diverse Holdings Plc is not without its problems. KAL and OPL require the immediate attention
    of management. The position of KAL is precarious to say the least. There is a choice of strategies for it:
    (i) Outsource the manufacture of appliances
    (ii) Set up a manufacturing operation overseas
    (ii) Withdraw from the market.
    Each alternative must be assessed. Whatever decision is taken it is unlikely to affect the other four subsidiaries.
    PSL is also independent of the other subsidiaries. A strategic decision to widen its range of products and outlets must
    surely help. Hence management should endeavour to find new markets for its products, which are separate and distinct
    from those markets served by its appointed distributors.
    21
    In order to improve the prospects of OPL management need to adopt appropriate strategies since at the present time the
    company appears to be in a high growth market but is unable to capture a reasonable market share. Perhaps the answer
    lies in increased or more effective advertising of the endorsement of the product range by health and safety experts.
    Management should endeavour to develop a strategy to integrate further its subsidiaries so that they can benefit from
    each other and also derive as much synergy as possible from the acquisition of HTL.
    It is of paramount importance that management ensure that sufficient funds are channelled into growing OFL and HTL,
    which are both showing a rising trend in profitability. The group has depleted cash reserves which must to some extent
    be attributable to the purchase of HTL. It is possible that the divestment of KAL would provide some much needed
    funding.

  • 第7题:

    (ii) Explain how the existing product range and the actions per Note (3) would feature in Ansoff’s

    product-market matrix. (7 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) Market Penetration
    With regard to existing products it would appear that a strategy of market penetration is being followed, whereby attempts
    are made to sell existing products into existing markets. This is a low risk strategy which is most unlikely to lead to high
    rates of growth, reflected in the forecast increase of 2% per annum in the years ending 30 November 2008 and 2009.
    Management seeks here to increase its market share with the current product range. In pursuing a penetration strategy
    the management of Vision plc may to some extent be able to exploit opportunities including the following:
    – Encouraging existing customers to buy more of their brand
    – Encouraging customers who are buying a competitor’s brand to switch to their brand
    – Encouraging non-users within the segment to buy their brand
    ‘Strengths’ within the current portfolio will need to be consolidated and any areas of weakness addressed with remedial
    action.
    Market Development
    The purchase of the retail outlets will enable management to sell existing products via new channels of distribution. The
    products of both the Astronomy and Outdoor Pursuits divisions could be sold via the retail outlets. Very often new
    markets can be established in geographical terms. Management could, for example, look to promote the sale of
    microscopes and associated equipment to overseas hospitals.
    Product Development
    The launch of the Birdcam-V is an example of a product development strategy whereby new products are targeted at
    existing markets. Very often, existing products can be improved, or if an organisation possesses adequate resources,
    completely new products can be developed to meet existing market needs. Some of the main risks here lie in the ‘time
    to market’ and product development costs which frequently go well beyond initial estimates.
    Diversification
    The purchase of Racquets Ltd is an example of diversification on the part of Vision plc since the products and markets
    of Racquets Ltd bear no relationship to the existing products and markets of the company. In this regard the
    diversification is said to be unrelated.
    The establishment of the Oceanic division could be regarded as a related diversification since existing technology will be
    used to develop new products for new markets. The success of this strategy will very much depend on the strength of
    the Vision brand.

  • 第8题:

    (b) Explain THREE problems in undertaking a performance comparison of GBC and TTC and also explain THREE

    items of additional information that would be of assistance in assessing the operating and financial

    performance of GBC and TTC. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) The relative performance of GBC and TTC is difficult to assess due to the following:
    (i) They would appear to have differing objectives. GBC provides free transport for senior citizens and charges lower fares
    than TTC. GBC also uses environmentally friendly fuel. Each of these factors inhibits a direct comparison of the two
    organisations.
    (ii) The organisations are funded differently. It is evident that TTC uses loan finance to fund operations which gives rise to
    interest charges which are not incurred by GBC. On the other hand GBC is funded by the government.
    (iii) TTC has higher fixed asset values which precipitate much higher depreciation charges.
    (iv) There is also a lack of non-financial performance indicators such as the number of on-time arrivals, number of accidents,
    complaints re passenger dissatisfaction, staff turnover, adherence to relevant legislation, convenience of pick-up/drop-off
    points etc.
    The following items of additional information would assist in assessing the financial and operating performance of the two
    companies:
    (1) The number of staff employed by each organisation would assist in the assessment of the financial and operating
    performance. Ratios such as revenue generated per employee and operating costs per employee might provide useful
    comparators of financial and operating efficiency.
    (2) Safety and accident records of each organisation would give an indication of the reliability and safety afforded to
    passengers by each organisation. Passenger safety is of paramount importance to all passenger transport businesses.
    (3) Records of late/cancelled buses together with the number of complaints received from the passengers would provide an
    indication of the efficiency of the service provided by each organisation.
    (4) The accessibility of the services, location of pick-up/drop-off points would provide an indication of the flexibility of service
    delivery provided by each organisation.
    (5) The comfort, cleanliness and age of the respective bus fleets would provide a further indication of the level of service
    quality provided by each organisation.
    (6) The fuel emission levels of the buses operated by each organisation would provide an indication of the extent of their
    ‘social responsibility’.
    Notes: (i) Only three items of additional information were required.
    (ii) Alternative relevant discussion and examples would be acceptable.

  • 第9题:

    (b) A summary of the information needed to satisfy our obligations under the money laundering legislation and

    any action that should be taken before agreeing to become tax advisers to the Saturn Ltd group. (5 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Before agreeing to become tax advisers to the Saturn Ltd group
    Information needed:
    – Proof of incorporation and primary business address and registered office.
    – The structure, directors and shareholders of the company.
    – The identities of those persons instructing the firm on behalf of the company and those persons that are authorised to
    do so.
    Action to take:
    – Consider whether becoming tax advisers to the Saturn Ltd group would create any threats to compliance with the
    fundamental principles of professional ethics, for example integrity and professional competence. Where such threats
    exist, we should not accept the appointment unless the threats can be reduced to an acceptable level via the
    implementation of safeguards.
    – Contact the existing tax adviser in order to ensure that there has been no action by the Saturn Ltd group that would, on
    ethical grounds, preclude us from accepting appointment.

  • 第10题:

    (c) The OECD’s Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) recommends preventative measures to be

    taken by independent legal professionals and accountants (including sole practitioners, partners and employed

    professionals within professional firms).

    Required:

    Describe FOUR measures that assist in preventing professional accountants from being used for money

    laundering purposes. (8 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) Measures
    The following measures are designed to assist in preventing professional accountants from being used for money laundering
    purposes:
    ■ developing programmes against money laundering and terrorist financing;
    ■ compliance officer;
    ■ employee training programme;
    ■ customer due diligence (CDD);
    ■ establishing/enhancing record keeping systems for:
    – all transactions; and
    – the verification of clients’ identities;
    ■ reporting of suspicious transactions;
    ■ refusing to have relationships with ‘shell banks’.
    Tutorial note: Only FOUR are required.
    Developing programmes
    ■ Internal policies, procedures and controls should be established and recorded including:
    – compliance management arrangements (including appointment of a compliance officer);
    – an ongoing employee training programme;
    – an audit function to test the system.
    Compliance officer
    ■ Appointing a compliance officer having a suitable level of seniority and experience (e.g. one of the principals of an
    accountancy firm).
    ■ Making alternative arrangements (e.g. appointing a deputy) when the compliance officer is going to be unavailable for
    a period of time (as reports have to be made as soon as is reasonably practicable).
    ■ The compliance officer being made responsible for:
    – receiving and assessing money laundering reports from colleagues;
    – making reports to the FIU; and
    – ensuring that individuals are adequately trained.
    Employee training programme
    ■ Providing an employee training programme on:
    – relevant legislation (e.g. the main money laundering offences);
    – ethical guidance (e.g. ACCA’s ‘Guidance for Accountants’); and
    – the firm’s procedures to forestall and prevent money laundering.
    ■ Establishing a culture of complying with money laundering requirements.
    ■ Documenting the provision of training (to demonstrate compliance).
    ■ Training methods may effectively include:
    – attending conferences, seminars and training courses run by external organizations; and
    – participating in computer based training courses.
    Customer due diligence (CDD)
    ■ Firms should not keep anonymous accounts or accounts in obviously fictitious names.
    ■ Firms should verify the identity of their customers, when:
    – establishing business relations;
    – carrying out occasional transactions (e.g. above a designated threshold);
    – there is a suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing; or
    – there is doubt about the reliability or adequacy of previously obtained customer identification data.
    CDD measures should include:
    ■ Identifying the customer and verifying that customer’s identity using reliable, independent source documents, data or
    information.
    Tutorial note: Similarly identify and verify the beneficial owner.
    ■ Obtaining information on the purpose and intended nature of the business relationship.
    ■ Conducting ongoing due diligence on business relationships by scrutinising transactions to ensure that they are
    consistent with the firm’s knowledge of:
    – the customer;
    – their business and risk profile;
    – the source of funds.
    Tutorial note: These requirements should apply to all new customers and existing customers on the basis of materiality and
    risk.
    Record keeping
    ■ Maintaining all client identification records together with a record of all transactions, in a full audit trail form.
    ■ Maintaining records of transactions (both domestic or international) in a readily retrievable form. for a period of at least
    five years (to facilitate swift compliance with information requests from the competent authorities).
    Tutorial note: Such records must be sufficient to permit reconstruction of individual transactions (including the
    amounts and types of currency involved, if any) so as to provide, if necessary, evidence for prosecution of criminal
    activity.
    ■ Retaining client verification records throughout the period of the relationship and for five years after termination of the
    relationship.
    ■ Making available identification data and transaction records to domestic competent authorities upon appropriate
    authority.
    ■ Applying ACCA’s Rules of Professional Conduct ‘Retention of books, files, working papers and other documents’.
    ■ Paying special attention to all complex, unusual large transactions, and all unusual patterns of transactions, which have
    no apparent economic or visible lawful purpose (in accordance with ISA 240 ‘The Auditor’s Responsibility to Consider
    Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements ’).
    Client identification
    ■ For an individual – inspecting official documents, with a photograph, establishing the client’s full name and permanent
    address, e.g:
    – a driving licence or passport, supported by;
    – a recent utility bill.
    ■ For the entity – obtaining from the Registrar of Companies:
    – certificate of incorporation;
    – company’s registered address; and
    – a list of shareholders and directors.
    ■ Checking the names of new clients against lists of known terrorists and other sanctions information.
    ■ For trusts – ascertaining:
    – the nature and purpose of the trust;
    – the original source of funding; and
    – the identities of the trustees/controllers, principal settlers and beneficiaries.
    Suspicion reporting
    ■ Prompt reporting of suspicions to the (FIU) in a suspicious transaction report (STR).
    ■ There should be no ‘de minimis’ concessions. Reporting should be irrespective of:
    – the amount involved; or
    – whether tax matters are involved.
    Tutorial note: Attempted transactions should also be reported.
    ■ Enhancing confidentiality of the source of reports by:
    – disclosing the compliance officer only once; and
    – not naming the personnel making reports to the compliance officer.
    ■ Disclosing further information only if:
    – legally required to do so; or
    – otherwise justified, in the public interest.
    Shell banks
    Tutorial note: A ‘shell bank’ is a bank incorporated in a jurisdiction in which it has no physical presence and which is
    unaffiliated with a regulated financial group.
    ■ Firms should guard against relationships with parties that permit their accounts to be used by shell banks.

  • 第11题:

    In relation to the law of contract, distinguish between and explain the effect of:

    (a) a term and a mere representation; (3 marks)

    (b) express and implied terms, paying particular regard to the circumstances under which terms may be implied in contracts. (7 marks)


    正确答案:

    This question requires candidates to consider the law relating to terms in contracts. It specifically requires the candidates to distinguish between terms and mere representations and then to establish the difference between express and implied terms in contracts.
    (a) As the parties to a contract will be bound to perform. any promise they have contracted to undertake, it is important to distinguish between such statements that will be considered part of the contract, i.e. terms, and those other pre-contractual statements which are not considered to be part of the contract, i.e. mere representations. The reason for distinguishing between them is that there are different legal remedies available if either statement turns out to be incorrect.
    A representation is a statement that induces a contract but does not become a term of the contract. In practice it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two, but in attempting to do so the courts will focus on when the statement was made in relation to the eventual contract, the importance of the statement in relation to the contract and whether or not the party making the statement had specialist knowledge on which the other party relied (Oscar Chess v Williams (1957) and Dick
    Bentley v Arnold Smith Motors (1965)).
    (b) Express terms are statements actually made by one of the parties with the intention that they become part of the contract and
    thus binding and enforceable through court action if necessary. It is this intention that distinguishes the contractual term from
    the mere representation, which, although it may induce the contractual agreement, does not become a term of the contract.
    Failure to comply with the former gives rise to an action for breach of contract, whilst failure to comply with the latter only gives rise to an action for misrepresentation.

    Such express statements may be made by word of mouth or in writing as long as they are sufficiently clear for them to be enforceable. Thus in Scammel v Ouston (1941) Ouston had ordered a van from the claimant on the understanding that the balance of the purchase price was to be paid ‘on hire purchase terms over two years’. When Scammel failed to deliver the van Ouston sued for breach of contract without success, the court holding that the supposed terms of the contract were too
    uncertain to be enforceable. There was no doubt that Ouston wanted the van on hire purchase but his difficulty was that
    Scammel operated a range of hire purchase terms and the precise conditions of his proposed hire purchase agreement were
    never sufficiently determined.
    Implied terms, however, are not actually stated or expressly included in the contract, but are introduced into the contract by implication. In other words the exact meaning and thus the terms of the contract are inferred from its context. Implied terms can be divided into three types.
    Terms implied by statute
    In this instance a particular piece of legislation states that certain terms have to be taken as constituting part of an agreement, even where the contractual agreement between the parties is itself silent as to that particular provision. For example, under s.5 of the Partnership Act 1890, every member of an ordinary partnership has the implied power to bind the partnership in a contract within its usual sphere of business. That particular implied power can be removed or reduced by the partnership agreement and any such removal or reduction of authority would be effective as long as the other party was aware of it. Some implied terms, however, are completely prescriptive and cannot be removed.
    Terms implied by custom or usage
    An agreement may be subject to terms that are customarily found in such contracts within a particular market, trade or locality. Once again this is the case even where it is not actually specified by the parties. For example, in Hutton v Warren (1836), it was held that customary usage permitted a farm tenant to claim an allowance for seed and labour on quitting his tenancy. It should be noted, however, that custom cannot override the express terms of an agreement (Les Affreteurs Reunnis SA v Walford (1919)).
    Terms implied by the courts Generally, it is a matter for the parties concerned to decide the terms of a contract, but on occasion the court will presume that the parties intended to include a term which is not expressly stated. They will do so where it is necessary to give business efficacy to the contract.

    Whether a term may be implied can be decided on the basis of the officious bystander test. Imagine two parties, A and B, negotiating a contract, when a third party, C, interrupts to suggest a particular provision. A and B reply that that particular term is understood. In just such a way, the court will decide that a term should be implied into a contract.
    In The Moorcock (1889), the appellants, owners of a wharf, contracted with the respondents to permit them to discharge their ship at the wharf. It was apparent to both parties that when the tide was out the ship would rest on the riverbed. When the tide was out, the ship sustained damage by settling on a ridge. It was held that there was an implied warranty in the contract that the place of anchorage should be safe for the ship. As a consequence, the ship owner was entitled to damages for breach of that term.
    Alternatively the courts will imply certain terms into unspecific contracts where the parties have not reduced the general agreement into specific details. Thus in contracts of employment the courts have asserted the existence of implied terms to impose duties on both employers and employees, although such implied terms can be overridden by express contractual provision to the contrary.

  • 第12题:

    (a) List and explain FOUR methods of selecting a sample of items to test from a population in accordance with ISA 530 (Redrafted) Audit Sampling and Other Means of Testing. (4 marks)

    (b) List and explain FOUR assertions from ISA 500 Audit Evidence that relate to the recording of classes of

    transactions. (4 marks)

    (c) In terms of audit reports, explain the term ‘modified’. (2 marks)


    正确答案:
    (a)SamplingmethodsMethodsofsamplinginaccordancewithISA530AuditSamplingandOtherMeansofTesting:Randomselection.Ensureseachiteminapopulationhasanequalchanceofselection,forexamplebyusingrandomnumbertables.Systematicselection.Inwhichanumberofsamplingunitsinthepopulationisdividedbythesamplesizetogiveasamplinginterval.Haphazardselection.Theauditorselectsthesamplewithoutfollowingastructuredtechnique–theauditorwouldavoidanyconsciousbiasorpredictability.Sequenceorblock.Involvesselectingablock(s)ofcontinguousitemsfromwithinapopulation.Tutorialnote:Othermethodsofsamplingareasfollows:MonetaryUnitSampling.Thisselectionmethodensuresthateachindividual$1inthepopulationhasanequalchanceofbeingselected.Judgementalsampling.Selectingitemsbasedontheskillandjudgementoftheauditor.(b)Assertions–classesoftransactionsOccurrence.Thetransactionsandeventsthathavebeenrecordedhaveactuallyoccurredandpertaintotheentity.Completeness.Alltransactionsandeventsthatshouldhavebeenrecordedhavebeenrecorded.Accuracy.Theamountsandotherdatarelatingtorecordedtransactionsandeventshavebeenrecordedappropriately.Cut-off.Transactionsandeventshavebeenrecordedinthecorrectaccountingperiod.Classification.Transactionsandeventshavebeenrecordedintheproperaccounts.(c)AuditreporttermModified.Anauditormodifiesanauditreportinanysituationwhereitisinappropriatetoprovideanunmodifiedreport.Forexample,theauditormayprovideadditionalinformationinanemphasisofmatter(whichdoesnotaffecttheauditor’sopinion)orqualifytheauditreportforlimitationofscopeordisagreement.

  • 第13题:

    6 An important part of managing people in a professional organisation is to be able to distinguish between aggressiveness and assertiveness in an employee.

    Required:

    (a) Explain and give examples of aggressive behaviour. (8 marks)


    正确答案:
    6 To get the best out of people, managers need to have effective communication skills. Professional accountants as managers need to understand the difference between aggressive and assertive behaviour. Often an exchange of communication can be interpreted as a belligerent response from an employee. However, a slight difference in approach can communicate different feelings and achieve a more positive result.
    (a) Aggressive behaviour is competitive and directed at defeating someone else. It is standing up for oneself at the expense of other people. It is defending one’s rights but doing so in such a way that violates the rights of other people. Aggressive behaviour ignores or dismisses the needs, wants, opinions, feelings or beliefs of others.
    Characteristics of aggressive behaviour include excessive ‘I’ statements, boastfulness, and the individual’s opinions expressed as fact, threatening questions or postures from the individual, sarcasm and other throw-away remarks and a constant blaming of others.
    Aggressive behaviour can be self defeating. It may cause such antagonism in the others in the organisation that they will refuse to co-operate or work with the person showing aggressive behaviour.

  • 第14题:

    6 Communication is important for all organisations and requires an understanding of communication flows and channels.

    Required:

    (a) Briefly explain the main purposes of the three main formal communication channels in an organisation:

    (i) Downwards; (3 marks)


    正确答案:
    6 There are many forms of communication within an organisation, both formal and informal. Formally communicated information often flows in one of three main directions: downwards, upwards and lateral. However, all organisations also have informal communication channels and management must understand their importance.
    (a) Formal communicated information flows in three main directions.
    (i) Downwards. This form. of communication is often the one most easily recognised and understood. The purpose of downward communication is to give specific directives, to provide information about procedures and practices and to provide information about work practices. It also serves to tell employees about their performance and provides information on organisational and departmental objectives.

  • 第15题:

    (c) Explain how absolutist (dogmatic) and relativist (pragmatic) ethical assumptions would affect the outcome

    of Anne’s decision. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) Absolutism and relativism
    Absolutism and relativism represent two extreme positions of ethical assumptions.
    Definitions
    An absolutist assumption is one that believes that there are ‘eternal’ rules that should guide all ethical and moral decision
    making in all situations. Accordingly, in any given situation, there is likely to be one right course of action regardless of the
    outcome. An absolutist believes that this should be chosen regardless of the consequences or the cost. A dogmatic approach
    to morality is an example of an absolutist approach to ethics. A dogmatic assumption is one that is accepted without
    discussion or debate.
    Relativist assumptions are ‘situational’ in nature. Rather than arguing that there is a single right choice, a relativist will tend
    to adopt a pragmatic approach and decide, in the light of the situation being considered, which is the best outcome. This will
    involve a decision on what outcome is the most favourable and that is a matter of personal judgment.
    Outcomes
    If Anne were to adopt absolutist/dogmatic assumptions, she would be likely to decide that she would need to pursue what
    she perceives is the right course of action regardless of cost to herself or the relationship with the client or her manager. Given
    that she unearthed a suspect and unaccounted-for payment, and that she received an inadequate explanation from the client,
    she would probably recommend extension to the audit beyond the weekend.
    If Ann were to adopt relativist or pragmatic assumptions, she would have a potentially much more complicated decision to
    make. She would have to decide whether it was more important, ethically, to yield to the pressure from Zachary in the
    interests of her short-term career interests or ‘hold out’ to protect the interests of the shareholders. Anne could recommend
    sign off and trust the FD’s explanation but she is more likely to seek further evidence or assurance from the company before
    she does so.

  • 第16题:

    2 (a) Explain the term ‘backflush accounting’ and the circumstances in which its use would be appropriate.

    (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (a) Backflush accounting focuses upon output of an organisation and then works backwards when allocating costs between cost
    of goods sold and inventories. It can be argued that backflush accounting simplifies costing since it ignores both labour
    variances and work-in-progress. Whilst in a perfect just-in-time environment there would be no work-in-progress at all, there
    will in practice be a small amount of work-in-progress in the system at any point in time. This amount, however, is likely to
    be negligible in quantity and therefore not significant in terms of value. Thus, a backflush accounting system simplifies the
    accounting records by avoiding the need to follow the movement of materials and work-in-progress through the manufacturing
    process within the organisation.
    The backflush accounting system is likely to involve the maintenance of a raw materials and work-in–progress account
    together with a finished goods account. The use of standard costs and variances is likely to be incorporated into the
    accounting entries. Transfers from raw materials and work-in-progress account to finished goods (or cost of sales) will probably
    be made at standard cost. The difference between the actual inputs and the standard charges from the raw materials and
    work-in-progress account will be recorded as a residual variance, which will be recorded in the profit and loss account. Thus,
    it is essential that standard costs are a good surrogate for actual costs if large variances are to be avoided. Backflush
    accounting is ideally suited to a just-in-time philosophy and is employed where the overall cycle time is relatively short and
    inventory levels are low. Naturally, management will still be eager to ascertain the cause of any variances that arise from the
    inefficient usage of materials, labour and overhead. However investigations are far more likely to be undertaken using nonfinancial
    performance indicators as opposed to detailed cost variances.

  • 第17题:

    (b) Explain how the use of SWOT analysis may be of assistance to the management of Diverse Holdings Plc.

    (3 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) The use of SWOT analysis will focus management attention on current strengths and weaknesses of each subsidiary company
    which will be of assistance in the formulating of the business strategy of Diverse Holdings Plc. It will also enable management
    to monitor trends and developments in the constantly changing environments of their subsidiaries. Each trend or development
    may be classified as an opportunity or a threat that will provide a stimulus for an appropriate management response.
    Management can make an assessment of the feasibility of required actions in order that the company may capitalise upon
    opportunities whilst considering how best to negate or minimise the effect of any threats.
    A SWOT analysis should assist the management of Diverse Holdings Plc as they must identify their strengths, weaknesses,
    opportunities and threats. These may be classified as follows:
    Strengths which appear to include both OFL and HTL.
    Weaknesses which must include PSL and its limited outlets, which generate little growth and could collapse overnight. KAL
    is also a weakness due to its declining profitability.
    Opportunities where OFT, HTL and OPL are operating in growth markets.
    Threats from which KAL is suffering.
    If these four categories are identified and analysed then the group should be strengthened.

  • 第18题:

    (b) Briefly explain THREE limitations of negotiated transfer prices. (3 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Negotiated transfer prices suffer from the following limitations:
    – The transfer price which is the final outcome of negotiations may not be close to the transfer price that would be optimal
    for the organisation as a whole since it can be dependent on the negotiating skills and bargaining powers of individual
    managers.
    – They can lead to conflict between divisions which may necessitate the intervention of top management to mediate.
    – The measure of divisional profitability can be dependent on the negotiating skills of managers who may have unequal
    bargaining power.
    – They can be time-consuming for the managers involved, particularly where large numbers of transactions are involved.

  • 第19题:

    (c) Explain the term ‘target costing’ and how it may be applied by GWCC. Briefly discuss any potential

    limitations in its application. (8 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) Target costing should be viewed as an integral part of a strategic profit management system. The initial consideration in target
    costing is the determination of an estimate of the selling price for a new product which will enable a firm to capture its required
    share of the market. In this particular example, Superstores plc, which on the face of it looks a powerful commercial
    organisation, wishes to apply a 35% mark-up on the purchase price of each cake from GWCC. Since Superstores plc has
    already decided on a launch price of £20·25 then it follows that the maximum selling price that can be charged by GWCC
    is (100/135) x £20·25 which is £15·00.
    This is clearly a situation which lends itself to the application of target costing/pricing techniques as in essence GWCC can
    see the extent to which they fall short of the required level of return with regard to a contract with Superstores plc which ends
    after twelve months. Thus it is necessary to reduce the total costs by £556,029 to this figure in order to achieve the desired
    level of profit, having regard to the rate of return required on new capital investment. The deduction of required profit from
    the proposed selling price will produce a target price that must be met in order to ensure that the desired rate of return is
    obtained. Thus the main theme that underpins target costing can be seen to be ‘what should a product cost in order to achieve
    the desired level of return’.
    Target costing will necessitate comparison of current estimated cost levels against the target level which must be achieved if
    the desired levels of profitability, and hence return on investment, are to be achieved. Thus where a gap exists between the
    current estimated cost levels and the target cost, it is essential that this gap be closed.
    The Directors of GWCC plc should be aware of the fact that it is far easier to ‘design out’ cost during the pre-production phase
    than to ‘control out’ cost during the production phase. Thus cost reduction at this stage of a product’s life cycle is of critical
    significance to business success.
    A number of techniques may be employed in order to help in the achievement and maintenance of the desired level of target
    cost. Attention should be focussed upon the identification of value added and non-value added activities with the aim of the
    elimination of the latter. The product should be developed in an atmosphere of ‘continuous improvement’. In this regard, total
    quality techniques such as the use of Quality circles may be used in attempting to find ways of achieving reductions in product
    cost.
    Value engineering techniques can be used to evaluate necessary product features such as the quality of materials used. It is
    essential that a collaborative approach is taken by the management of GWCC and that all interested parties such as suppliers
    and customers are closely involved in order to engineer product enhancements at reduced cost.
    The degree of success that will be achieved by GWCC via the application of target costing principles will be very much
    dependent on the extent of ‘flexibility’ in variable costs. Also the accuracy of information gathered by GWCC will assume
    critical importance because the use of inaccurate information will produce calculated ‘cost gaps’ which are meaningless and
    render the application of target costing principles of little value.

  • 第20题:

    (b) Explain the corporation tax and value added tax (VAT) implications of the following aspects of the proposed

    restructuring of the Rapier Ltd group.

    (i) The immediate tax implications of the restructuring. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) The tax implications of the proposed restructuring of the Rapier Ltd group
    (i) Immediate implications
    Corporation tax
    Rapier Ltd and its subsidiaries are in a capital gains group as Rapier Ltd owns at least 75% of the ordinary share capital
    of each of the subsidiary companies. Any non-exempt items of plant and machinery owned by the subsidiaries will
    therefore be transferred to Rapier Ltd at no gain, no loss.
    No taxable credit or allowable debit will arise on the transfer of the subsidiaries’ goodwill to Rapier Ltd because the
    companies are in a capital gains group.
    The trading losses brought forward in Dirk Ltd will be transferred with the trade to Rapier Ltd as the effective ownership
    of the three trades will not change (Rapier Ltd owns the subsidiaries which own the trades and, following the
    restructuring, will own the three trades directly). The losses will be restricted to being offset against the future trading
    profits of the Dirk trade only.
    There will be no balancing adjustments in respect of the plant and machinery transferred to Rapier Ltd. Writing down
    allowances will be claimed by the subsidiaries in respect of the year ending 30 June 2007 and by Rapier Ltd in respect
    of future periods.
    Value added tax (VAT)
    No VAT should be charged on the sales of the businesses to Rapier Ltd as they are outside the scope of VAT. This is
    because the trades are to be transferred as going concerns to a VAT registered person with no significant break in trading.
    Switch Ltd must notify HM Revenue and Customs by 30 July 2007 that it has ceased to make taxable supplies.

  • 第21题:

    (b) Comment on the need for ethical guidance for accountants on money laundering. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Need for ethical guidance
    ■ Accountants (firms and individuals) working in a country that criminalises money laundering are required to comply with
    anti-money laundering legislation and failure to do so can lead to severe penalties. Guidance is needed because:
    – legal requirements are onerous;
    – money laundering is widely defined; and
    – accountants may otherwise be used, unwittingly, to launder criminal funds.
    ■ Accountants need ethical guidance on matters where there is conflict between legal responsibilities and professional
    responsibilities. In particular, professional accountants are bound by a duty of confidentiality to their clients. Guidance
    is needed to explain:
    – how statutory provisions give protection against criminal action for members in respect of their confidentiality
    requirements;
    – when client confidentiality over-ride provisions are available.
    ■ Further guidance is needed to explain the interaction between accountants’ responsibilities to report money laundering
    offences and other reporting responsibilities, for example:
    – reporting to regulators;
    – auditor’s reports on financial statements (ISA 700);
    – reports to those charged with governance (ISA 260);
    – reporting misconduct by members of the same body.
    ■ Professional accountants are required to communicate with each other when there is a change in professional
    appointment (i.e. ‘professional etiquette’). Additional ethical guidance is needed on how to respond to a ‘clearance’ letter
    where a report of suspicion has been made (or is being contemplated) in respect of the client in question.
    Tutorial note: Although the term ‘professional clearance’ is widely used, remember that there is no ‘clearance’ that the
    incumbent accountant can give or withhold.
    ■ Ethical guidance is needed to make accountants working in countries that do not criminalise money laundering aware
    of how anti-money laundering legislation may nevertheless affect them. Such accountants may commit an offence if,
    for example, they conduct limited assignments or have meetings in a country having anti-money laundering legislation
    (e.g. UK, Ireland, Singapore, Australia and the United States).

  • 第22题:

    (c) Explain the extent to which you should plan to place reliance on analytical procedures as audit evidence.

    (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) Extent of reliance on analytical procedures as audit evidence
    Tutorial note: In the requirement ‘… reliance … as audit evidence’ is a direction to consider only substantive analytical
    procedures. Answer points concerning planning and review stages were not asked for and earn no marks.
    ■ Although there is likely to be less reliance on analytical procedures than if this had been an existing audit client, the fact
    that this is a new assignment does not preclude placing some reliance on such procedures.
    ■ Analytical procedures will not be relied on in respect of material items that require 100% testing. For example, additions
    to property is likely to represent a very small number of transactions.
    ■ Analytical procedures alone may provide sufficient audit evidence on line items that are not individually material. For
    example, inventory (less than 1/2% revenue and less than 1% total assets) may be shown to be materially correctly
    stated through analytical procedures on consumable stores (i.e. fuel, lubricants, materials for servicing vehicles etc).
    ■ Substantive analytical procedures are best suited to large volume transactions (e.g. revenue, materials expense, staff
    costs). If controls over the completeness, accuracy and validity of recording transactions in these areas are effective then
    substantive analytical procedures showing that there are no unexpected fluctuations should reduce the need for
    substantive detailed tests.
    ■ The extent of planned use will be dependent on the relationships expected between variables. (e.g. between items of
    financial information and between items of financial and non-financial information). For example, if material costs rise
    due to an increase in the level of business then a commensurate increase in revenue and staff costs might be expected
    also.
    ■ ‘Proofs in total’ (or reasonableness tests) provide substantive evidence that income statement items are not materially
    misstated. In the case of Yates these might be applied to staff costs (number of employees in each category ×
    wage/salary rates, grossed up for social security, etc) and finance expense (interest rate × average monthly overdraft
    balance).
    ■ However, such tests may have limited application, if any, if the population is not homogenous and cannot be subdivided.
    For example, all the categories of non-current asset have a wide range of useful life. Therefore it would be
    difficult/meaningless to apply an ‘average’ depreciation rate to all assets in the class to substantiate the total depreciation
    expense for the year. (Although it might highlight a risk of potential over or understatement requiring further
    investigation.)
    ■ Substantive analytical procedures are more likely to be used if there is relevant information available that is being used
    by Yates. For example, as fuel costs will be significant, Yates may monitor consumption (e.g. miles per gallon (MPG)).
    ■ Analytical procedures may supplement alternative procedures that provide evidence regarding the same assertion. For
    example, the review of after-date payments to confirm the completeness of trade payables may be supplemented by
    calculations of average payment period on a monthly basis.
    Tutorial note: Credit will be given for other relevant points drawn from the scenario. For example, the restructuring during
    the previous year is likely to have caused fluctuations that may result in less reliance being placed on analytical procedures.

  • 第23题:

    (ii) Identify and explain the principal audit procedures to be performed on the valuation of the investment

    properties. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    (ii) Additional audit procedures
    Audit procedures should focus on the appraisal of the work of the expert valuer. Procedures could include the following:
    – Inspection of the written instructions provided by Poppy Co to the valuer, which should include matters such as
    the objective and scope of the valuer’s work, the extent of the valuer’s access to relevant records and files, and
    clarification of the intended use by the auditor of their work.
    – Evaluation, using the valuation report, that any assumptions used by the valuer are in line with the auditor’s
    knowledge and understanding of Poppy Co. Any documentation supporting assumptions used by the valuer should
    be reviewed for consistency with the auditor’s business understanding, and also for consistency with any other
    audit evidence.
    – Assessment of the methodology used to arrive at the fair value and confirmation that the method is consistent with
    that required by IAS 40.
    – The auditor should confirm, using the valuation report, that a consistent method has been used to value each
    property.
    – It should also be confirmed that the date of the valuation report is reasonably close to the year end of Poppy Co.
    – Physical inspection of the investment properties to determine the physical condition of the properties supports the
    valuation.
    – Inspect the purchase documentation of each investment property to ascertain the cost of each building. As the
    properties were acquired during this accounting period, it would be reasonable to expect that the fair value at the
    year end is not substantially different to the purchase price. Any significant increase or decrease in value should
    alert the auditor to possible misstatement, and lead to further audit procedures.
    – Review of forecasts of rental income from the properties – supporting evidence of the valuation.
    – Subsequent events should be monitored for any additional evidence provided on the valuation of the properties.
    For example, the sale of an investment property shortly after the year end may provide additional evidence relating
    to the fair value measurement.
    – Obtain a management representation regarding the reasonableness of any significant assumptions, where relevant,
    to fair value measurements or disclosures.