(c) You have just been advised of management’s intention to publish its yearly marketing report in the annual reportthat will contain the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2005. Extracts from the marketingreport include the following:‘S

题目

(c) You have just been advised of management’s intention to publish its yearly marketing report in the annual report

that will contain the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2005. Extracts from the marketing

report include the following:

‘Shire Oil Co sponsors national school sports championships and the ‘Shire Ward’ at the national teaching

hospital. The company’s vision is to continue its investment in health and safety and the environment.

‘Our health and safety, security and environmental policies are of the highest standard in the energy sector. We

aim to operate under principles of no-harm to people and the environment.

‘Shire Oil Co’s main contribution to sustainable development comes from providing extra energy in a cleaner and

more socially responsible way. This means improving the environmental and social performance of our

operations. Regrettably, five employees lost their lives at work during the year.’

Required:

Suggest performance indicators that could reflect the extent to which Shire Oil Co’s social and environmental

responsibilities are being met, and the evidence that should be available to provide assurance on their

accuracy. (6 marks)


相似考题

1.John, CPA, is auditing the financial statements of Company A for the year ended December 31, 20×8. The un-audited information of selected financial statements items is as follows:(Expressed in RMB thousands)FINANCLAL STATEMENTS ITEMS20×820×7Sales6400048000Cost of sales5400042000Net profit30-20December 31, 20×8December 31, 20×7Inventory1600012000Current assets6000050000Total assets10000090000Current liabilities2000018000Total liabilities3000025000During the audit, John has the following findings:(1)On December 31, 20×8,Company A discounted an undue commercial acceptance bill (with recourse) amounted to RMB 6000000, and was charged discounting interest of RMB 180000 by the bank. Company A made an accounting entry on December 31, 20×8 as follows:Dr. Cash in Bank RMB 5820000Dr. Financial Expenses RMB 180000Cr. Notes Receivable RMB 6000000(2)In June 20×8, Company A provided guarantee for Company B’s borrowings from Bank C. In December 20×8, since Company B failed to repay the borrowings in time, Company A was sued by Bank C to make relevant repayment amounted to RMB 3000000. As at December 31, 20×8, the lawsuit was still pending, and, based on the reasonable estimate of the guarantee losses made by the management, Company A made an accounting entry as follows:Dr. Non-operating Expenses RMB 3000000Cr. Provisions RMB 3000000On January 10, 20×9,Company A received a judgment on repaying RMB 2500000to Bank C to settle the guarantee obligation. Company A made the payment and an accounting entry at the end of January 2009 as follows:Dr. Provisions RMB 3000000Cr. Cash in Bank RMB 2500000Cr. Non-operating Income RMB 500000Required:(1)For Revenue and Net Profit, explain which one is more appropriate to be used to calculate planning materiality for Company A’s 20×8 financial statements as a whole. Explain the reasons of that conclusion.(2)Based on the un-audited in formation of selected financial statements items, for the purpose of using analytical procedures as risk assessment procedures, calculate the following ratios:(a)Inventory Turnover Rate in 20×8;(b)Gross Profit Ratio in 20×8;(c)After Tax Return on Total Assets in 20×8; and(d)Current Ratio as at December 31, 20×8(3)For each audit finding identified during the audit, list the suggested adjusting entries that John should made for Company A’s 20×8 financial statements. Tax effects, if any, are ignored.

4.4 Ryder, a public limited company, is reviewing certain events which have occurred since its year end of 31 October2005. The financial statements were authorised on 12 December 2005. The following events are relevant to thefinancial statements for the year ended 31 October 2005:(i) Ryder has a good record of ordinary dividend payments and has adopted a recent strategy of increasing itsdividend per share annually. For the last three years the dividend per share has increased by 5% per annum.On 20 November 2005, the board of directors proposed a dividend of 10c per share for the year ended31 October 2005. The shareholders are expected to approve it at a meeting on 10 January 2006, and adividend amount of $20 million will be paid on 20 February 2006 having been provided for in the financialstatements at 31 October 2005. The directors feel that a provision should be made because a ‘valid expectation’has been created through the company’s dividend record. (3 marks)(ii) Ryder disposed of a wholly owned subsidiary, Krup, a public limited company, on 10 December 2005 and madea loss of $9 million on the transaction in the group financial statements. As at 31 October 2005, Ryder had nointention of selling the subsidiary which was material to the group. The directors of Ryder have stated that therewere no significant events which have occurred since 31 October 2005 which could have resulted in a reductionin the value of Krup. The carrying value of the net assets and purchased goodwill of Krup at 31 October 2005were $20 million and $12 million respectively. Krup had made a loss of $2 million in the period 1 November2005 to 10 December 2005. (5 marks)(iii) Ryder acquired a wholly owned subsidiary, Metalic, a public limited company, on 21 January 2004. Theconsideration payable in respect of the acquisition of Metalic was 2 million ordinary shares of $1 of Ryder plusa further 300,000 ordinary shares if the profit of Metalic exceeded $6 million for the year ended 31 October2005. The profit for the year of Metalic was $7 million and the ordinary shares were issued on 12 November2005. The annual profits of Metalic had averaged $7 million over the last few years and, therefore, Ryder hadincluded an estimate of the contingent consideration in the cost of the acquisition at 21 January 2004. The fairvalue used for the ordinary shares of Ryder at this date including the contingent consideration was $10 per share.The fair value of the ordinary shares on 12 November 2005 was $11 per share. Ryder also made a one for fourbonus issue on 13 November 2005 which was applicable to the contingent shares issued. The directors areunsure of the impact of the above on earnings per share and the accounting for the acquisition. (7 marks)(iv) The company acquired a property on 1 November 2004 which it intended to sell. The property was obtainedas a result of a default on a loan agreement by a third party and was valued at $20 million on that date foraccounting purposes which exactly offset the defaulted loan. The property is in a state of disrepair and Ryderintends to complete the repairs before it sells the property. The repairs were completed on 30 November 2005.The property was sold after costs for $27 million on 9 December 2005. The property was classified as ‘held forsale’ at the year end under IFRS5 ‘Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’ but shown atthe net sale proceeds of $27 million. Property is depreciated at 5% per annum on the straight-line basis and nodepreciation has been charged in the year. (5 marks)(v) The company granted share appreciation rights (SARs) to its employees on 1 November 2003 based on tenmillion shares. The SARs provide employees at the date the rights are exercised with the right to receive cashequal to the appreciation in the company’s share price since the grant date. The rights vested on 31 October2005 and payment was made on schedule on 1 December 2005. The fair value of the SARs per share at31 October 2004 was $6, at 31 October 2005 was $8 and at 1 December 2005 was $9. The company hasrecognised a liability for the SARs as at 31 October 2004 based upon IFRS2 ‘Share-based Payment’ but theliability was stated at the same amount at 31 October 2005. (5 marks)Required:Discuss the accounting treatment of the above events in the financial statements of the Ryder Group for the yearended 31 October 2005, taking into account the implications of events occurring after the balance sheet date.(The mark allocations are set out after each paragraph above.)(25 marks)

参考答案和解析
正确答案:
(c) Social and environmental responsibilities
Performance indicators
■ Absolute ($) and relative (%) level of investment in sports sponsorship, and funding to the Shire Ward.
■ Increasing number of championship events and participating schools/students as compared with prior year.
■ Number of medals/trophies sponsored at events and/or number awarded to Shire sponsored schools/students.
■ Number of patients treated (successfully) a week/month. Average bed occupancy (daily/weekly/monthly and cumulative
to date).
■ Staffing levels (e.g. of volunteers for sports events, Shire Ward staff and the company):
? ratio of starters to leavers/staff turnover;
? absenteeism (average number of days per person per annum).
1 Withdrawal of the new licence would not create a going concern issue.
2 May also be described as ‘exploration and evaluation’ costs or ‘discovery and assessment’.
■ Number of:
– breaches of health and safety regulations and environmental regulations;
– oil spills;
– accidents and employee fatalities;
– insurance claims.
Evidence
Tutorial note: As there is a wide range of performance indicators that candidates could suggest, there is always a wide range
of possible sources of audit evidence. As the same evidence may contribute to providing assurance on more than one
measure they are not tabulated here, to avoid duplication. However, candidates may justifiably adopt a tabular layout. Also
note, that where measures may be expressed as evidence (e.g. trophies awarded) marks should be awarded only once.
■ Actual level of investment ($) compared with budget and budget compared with prior period.
Tutorial note: Would expect actual to be at least greater than prior year if performance in these areas (health and
safety) has improved.
■ Physical evidence of favourable increases on prior year, for example:
? medals/cups sponsored;
? number of beds available.
■ Increase in favourable press coverage/reports of sponsored events. (Decrease in adverse press about
accidents/fatalities.)
■ Independent surveys (e.g. by marine conservation organisations, welfare groups, etc) comparing Shire favourably with
other oil producers.
■ A reduction in fines paid compared with budget (and prior year).
■ Reduction in legal fees and claims being settled as evidenced by fee notes and correspondence files.
■ Amounts settled on insurance claims and level of insurance cover as compared with prior period.
更多“(c) You have just been advised of management’s intention to publish its yearly marketing report in the annual reportthat will contain the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2005. Extracts from the marketingreport include the following:‘S”相关问题
  • 第1题:

    2 Your firm was appointed as auditor to Indigo Co, an iron and steel corporation, in September 2005. You are the

    manager in charge of the audit of the financial statements of Indigo, for the year ending 31 December 2005.

    Indigo owns office buildings, a workshop and a substantial stockyard on land that was leased in 1995 for 25 years.

    Day-to-day operations are managed by the chief accountant, purchasing manager and workshop supervisor who

    report to the managing director.

    All iron, steel and other metals are purchased for cash at ‘scrap’ prices determined by the purchasing manager. Scrap

    metal is mostly high volume. A weighbridge at the entrance to the stockyard weighs trucks and vans before and after

    the scrap metals that they carry are unloaded into the stockyard.

    Two furnaces in the workshop melt down the salvageable scrap metal into blocks the size of small bricks that are then

    stored in the workshop. These are sold on both credit and cash terms. The furnaces are now 10 years old and have

    an estimated useful life of a further 15 years. However, the furnace linings are replaced every four years. An annual

    provision is made for 25% of the estimated cost of the next relining. A by-product of the operation of the furnaces is

    the production of ‘clinker’. Most of this is sold, for cash, for road surfacing but some is illegally dumped.

    Indigo’s operations are subsidised by the local authority as their existence encourages recycling and means that there

    is less dumping of metal items. Indigo receives a subsidy calculated at 15% of the market value of metals purchased,

    as declared in a quarterly return. The return for the quarter to 31 December 2005 is due to be submitted on

    21 January 2006.

    Indigo maintains manual inventory records by metal and estimated quality. Indigo counted inventory at 30 November

    2005 with the intention of ‘rolling-forward’ the purchasing manager’s valuation as at that date to the year-end

    quantities per the manual records. However, you were not aware of this until you visited Indigo yesterday to plan

    your year-end procedures.

    During yesterday’s tour of Indigo’s premises you saw that:

    (i) sheets of aluminium were strewn across fields adjacent to the stockyard after a storm blew them away;

    (ii) much of the vast quantity of iron piled up in the stockyard is rusty;

    (iii) piles of copper and brass, that can be distinguished with a simple acid test, have been mixed up.

    The count sheets show that metal quantities have increased, on average, by a third since last year; the quantity of

    aluminium, however, is shown to be three times more. There is no suitably qualified metallurgical expert to value

    inventory in the region in which Indigo operates.

    The chief accountant disappeared on 1 December, taking the cash book and cash from three days’ sales with him.

    The cash book was last posted to the general ledger as at 31 October 2005. The managing director has made an

    allegation of fraud against the chief accountant to the police.

    The auditor’s report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2004 was unmodified.

    Required:

    (a) Describe the principal audit procedures to be carried out on the opening balances of the financial statements

    of Indigo Co for the year ending 31 December 2005. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    2 INDIGO CO
    (a) Opening balances – principal audit procedures
    Tutorial note: ‘Opening balances’ means those account balances which exist at the beginning of the period. The question
    clearly states that the prior year auditor’s report was unmodified therefore any digression into the prior period opinion being
    other than unmodified or the prior period not having been audited will not earn marks.
    ■ Review of the application of appropriate accounting policies in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December
    2004 to ensure consistent with those applied in 2005.
    ■ Where permitted (e.g. if there is a reciprocal arrangement with the predecessor auditor to share audit working papers
    on a change of appointment), a review of the prior period audit working papers.
    Tutorial note: There is no legal, ethical or other professional duty that requires a predecessor auditor to make available
    its working papers.
    ■ Current period audit procedures that provide evidence concerning the existence, measurement and completeness of
    rights and obligations. For example:
    ? after-date receipts (in January 2005 and later) confirming the recoverable amount of trade receivables at
    31 December 2004;
    ? similarly, after-date payments confirming the completeness of trade and other payables (for services);
    ? after-date sales of inventory held at 31 December 2004;
    ? review of January 2005 bank reconciliation (confirming clearance of reconciling items at 31 December 2004).
    ■ Analytical procedures on ratios calculated month-on-month from 31 December 2004 to date and further investigation
    of any distortions identified at the beginning of the current reporting period. For example:
    ? inventory turnover (by category of metal);
    ? average collection payment;
    ? average payment period;
    ? gross profit percentage (by metal).
    ■ Examination of historic accounting records for non-current assets and liabilities (if necessary). For example:
    ? agreeing balances on asset registers to the client’s trial balance as at 31 December 2004;
    ? agreeing statements of balances on loan accounts to the financial statements as at 31 December 2004.
    ■ If the above procedures do not provide sufficient evidence, additional substantive procedures should be performed. For
    example, if additional evidence is required concerning inventory at 31 December 2004, cut-off tests may be
    reperformed.

  • 第2题:

    5 You are an audit manager in Dedza, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants. Recently, you have been assigned

    specific responsibility for undertaking annual reviews of existing clients. The following situations have arisen in

    connection with three client companies:

    (a) Dedza was appointed auditor and tax advisor to Kora Co, a limited liability company, last year and has recently

    issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2005. To your surprise,

    the tax authority has just launched an investigation into the affairs of Kora on suspicion of underdeclaring income.

    (7 marks)

    Required:

    Identify and comment on the ethical and other professional issues raised by each of these matters and state what

    action, if any, Dedza should now take.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three situations.


    正确答案:
    5 DEDZA CO
    (a) Tax investigation
    ■ Kora is a relatively new client. Before accepting the assignment(s) Dedza should have carried out customer due
    diligence (CDD). Dedza should therefore have a sufficient knowledge and understanding of Kora to be aware of any
    suspicions that the tax authority might have.
    ■ As the investigation has come as a surprise it is possible that, for example:
    – the tax authority’s suspicions are unfounded;
    – Dedza has failed to recognise suspicious circumstances.
    Tutorial note: In either case, Dedza should seek clarification on the period of suspicion and review relevant procedures.
    ■ Dedza should review any communication from the predecessor auditor obtained in response to its ‘professional inquiry’
    (for any professional reasons why the appointment should not have been accepted).
    ■ A quality control for new audits is that the audit opinion should be subject to a second partner review before it is issued.
    It should be considered now whether or not such a review took place. If it did, then it should be sufficiently well
    documented to evidence that the review was thorough and not a mere formality.
    ■ Criminal property includes the proceeds of tax evasion. If Kora is found to be guilty of under-declaring income that is a
    money laundering offence.
    ■ Dedza’s reputational risk will be increased if implicated because it knew (or ought to have known) about Kora’s activities.
    (Dedza may also be liable if found to have been negligent in failing to detect any material misstatement arising in the
    2004/05 financial statements as a result.)
    ■ Kora’s audit working paper files and tax returns should be reviewed for any suspicion of fraud being committed by Kora
    or error overlooked by Dedza. Tax advisory work should have been undertaken and/or reviewed by a manager/partner
    not involved in the audit work.
    ■ As tax advisor, Dedza could soon be making disclosures of misstatements to the tax authority on behalf of Kora. Dedza
    should encourage Kora to make necessary disclosure voluntarily.
    ■ Dedza will not be in breach of its duty of confidentiality to Kora if Kora gives Dedza permission to disclose information
    to the tax authority (or Dedza is legally required to do so).
    ■ If Dedza finds reasonable grounds to know or suspect that potential disclosures to the tax authority relate to criminal
    conduct, then a suspicious transaction report (STR) should be made to the financial intelligence unit (FIU) also.
    Tutorial note: Though not the main issue credit will be awarded for other ethical issues such as the potential selfinterest/
    self-review threat arising from the provision of other services.

  • 第3题:

    3 You are the manager responsible for the audit of Volcan, a long-established limited liability company. Volcan operates

    a national supermarket chain of 23 stores, five of which are in the capital city, Urvina. All the stores are managed in

    the same way with purchases being made through Volcan’s central buying department and product pricing, marketing,

    advertising and human resources policies being decided centrally. The draft financial statements for the year ended

    31 March 2005 show revenue of $303 million (2004 – $282 million), profit before taxation of $9·5 million (2004

    – $7·3 million) and total assets of $178 million (2004 – $173 million).

    The following issues arising during the final audit have been noted on a schedule of points for your attention:

    (a) On 1 May 2005, Volcan announced its intention to downsize one of the stores in Urvina from a supermarket to

    a ‘City Metro’ in response to a significant decline in the demand for supermarket-style. shopping in the capital.

    The store will be closed throughout June, re-opening on 1 July 2005. Goodwill of $5·5 million was recognised

    three years ago when this store, together with two others, was bought from a national competitor. It is Volcan’s

    policy to write off goodwill over five years. (7 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the above issues:

    (i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

    (ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

    in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Volcan for the year ended

    31 March 2005.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.


    正确答案:
    3 VOLCAN
    (a) Store impairment
    (i) Matters
    ■ Materiality
    ? The cost of goodwill represents 3·1% of total assets and is therefore material.
    ? However, after three years the carrying amount of goodwill ($2·2m) represents only 1·2% of total assets –
    and is therefore immaterial in the context of the balance sheet.
    ? The annual amortisation charge ($1·1m) represents 11·6% profit before tax (PBT) and is therefore also
    material (to the income statement).
    ? The impact of writing off the whole of the carrying amount would be material to PBT (23%).
    Tutorial note: The temporary closure of the supermarket does not constitute a discontinued operation under IFRS 5
    ‘Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations’.
    ■ Under IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’ Volcan should no longer be writing goodwill off over five years but
    subjecting it to an annual impairment test.
    ■ The announcement is after the balance sheet date and is therefore a non-adjusting event (IAS 10 ‘Events After the
    Balance Sheet Date’) insofar as no provision for restructuring (for example) can be made.
    ■ However, the event provides evidence of a possible impairment of the cash-generating unit which is this store and,
    in particular, the value of goodwill assigned to it.
    ■ If the carrying amount of goodwill ($2·2m) can be allocated on a reasonable and consistent basis to this and the
    other two stores (purchased at the same time) Volcan’s management should have applied an impairment test to
    the goodwill of the downsized store (this is likely to show impairment).
    ■ If more than 22% of goodwill is attributable to the City Metro store – then its write-off would be material to PBT
    (22% × $2·2m ÷ $9·5m = 5%).
    ■ If the carrying amount of goodwill cannot be so allocated; the impairment test should be applied to the
    cash-generating unit that is the three stores (this may not necessarily show impairment).
    ■ Management should have considered whether the other four stores in Urvina (and elsewhere) are similarly
    impaired.
    ■ Going concern is unlikely to be an issue unless all the supermarkets are located in cities facing a downward trend
    in demand.
    Tutorial note: Marks will be awarded for stating the rules for recognition of an impairment loss for a cash-generating
    unit. However, as it is expected that the majority of candidates will not deal with this matter, the rules of IAS 36 are
    not reproduced here.
    (ii) Audit evidence
    ■ Board minutes approving the store’s ‘facelift’ and documenting the need to address the fall in demand for it as a
    supermarket.
    ■ Recomputation of the carrying amount of goodwill (2/5 × $5·5m = $2·2m).
    ■ A schedule identifying all the assets that relate to the store under review and the carrying amounts thereof agreed
    to the underlying accounting records (e.g. non-current asset register).
    ■ Recalculation of value in use and/or fair value less costs to sell of the cash-generating unit (i.e. the store that is to
    become the City Metro, or the three stores bought together) as at 31 March 2005.
    Tutorial note: If just one of these amounts exceeds carrying amount there will be no impairment loss. Also, as
    there is a plan NOT to sell the store it is most likely that value in use should be used.
    ■ Agreement of cash flow projections (e.g. to approved budgets/forecast revenues and costs for a maximum of five
    years, unless a longer period can be justified).
    ■ Written management representation relating to the assumptions used in the preparation of financial budgets.
    ■ Agreement that the pre-tax discount rate used reflects current market assessments of the time value of money (and
    the risks specific to the store) and is reasonable. For example, by comparison with Volcan’s weighted average cost
    of capital.
    ■ Inspection of the store (if this month it should be closed for refurbishment).
    ■ Revenue budgets and cash flow projections for:
    – the two stores purchased at the same time;
    – the other stores in Urvina; and
    – the stores elsewhere.
    Also actual after-date sales by store compared with budget.

  • 第4题:

    5 You are an audit manager in Bartolome, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants. You have specific responsibility

    for undertaking annual reviews of existing clients and advising whether an engagement can be properly continued.

    The following matters have arisen in connection with recent assignments:

    (a) Leon Dormido is the senior in charge of the audit of the financial statements of Moreno, a limited liability

    company, for the year ending 30 June 2005. Moreno’s Chief Executive Officer, James Bay, has just sent you an

    e-mail to advise you that Leon has been short-listed for the position of Finance Director. You were not previously

    aware that Leon had applied for the position. (5 marks)

    Required:

    Comment on the ethical and other professional issues raised by each of the above matters and their implications,

    if any, for the continuation of each assignment.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.


    正确答案:
    5 BARTOLOME
    (a) Senior audit staff leaving for employment with client
    Ethical and professional issues
    ■ Leon’s independence is in doubt as he is threatened by self-interest. Leon’s objectivity in relation to the audit may be
    influenced by a desire to please and impress Moreno, as a prospective employer.
    ■ There appears to be a lack of integrity on the part of James and/or Leon:
    ? Leon should have confided in an appropriately senior manager/partner of Bartolome. In not doing so he has
    compromised the firm by having applied for a position with a client whilst assigned to the client.
    ? James may lack integrity in having advised Bartolome of the short-listing if he gave an undertaking to Leon not to
    do so. (Conversely, James may be acting with integrity in advising Bartolome and as a matter of professional
    courtesy.)
    ■ Leon should be removed from the audit assignment immediately regardless of whether or not he is finally appointed by
    Moreno.
    ■ Leon should be given an oral warning (assuming this to be a first offence) for failing to adhere to Bartolome’s quality
    control policies and procedures (requiring disclosure to the firm of any threat of involvement with an audit client).
    ■ The working papers for all interim audit work relating to Moreno performed under the supervision of Leon should be
    reviewed as soon as possible, before the balance sheet date (at the end of the month).
    Implications for continuation with assignment
    The assignment can be properly continued with a new senior in charge of the audit of the financial statements for the year
    ending 30 June 2005. Any planning of the year end and final audit work by Leon should be reviewed, amended as necessary
    and approved before any further work is undertaken.

  • 第5题:

    (b) You are the audit manager of Johnston Co, a private company. The draft consolidated financial statements for

    the year ended 31 March 2006 show profit before taxation of $10·5 million (2005 – $9·4 million) and total

    assets of $55·2 million (2005 – $50·7 million).

    Your firm was appointed auditor of Tiltman Co when Johnston Co acquired all the shares of Tiltman Co in March

    2006. Tiltman’s draft financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2006 show profit before taxation of

    $0·7 million (2005 – $1·7 million) and total assets of $16·1 million (2005 – $16·6 million). The auditor’s

    report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2005 was unmodified.

    You are currently reviewing two matters that have been left for your attention on the audit working paper files for

    the year ended 31 March 2006:

    (i) In December 2004 Tiltman installed a new computer system that properly quantified an overvaluation of

    inventory amounting to $2·7 million. This is being written off over three years.

    (ii) In May 2006, Tiltman’s head office was relocated to Johnston’s premises as part of a restructuring.

    Provisions for the resulting redundancies and non-cancellable lease payments amounting to $2·3 million

    have been made in the financial statements of Tiltman for the year ended 31 March 2006.

    Required:

    Identify and comment on the implications of these two matters for your auditor’s reports on the financial

    statements of Johnston Co and Tiltman Co for the year ended 31 March 2006. (10 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Tiltman Co
    Tiltman’s total assets at 31 March 2006 represent 29% (16·1/55·2 × 100) of Johnston’s total assets. The subsidiary is
    therefore material to Johnston’s consolidated financial statements.
    Tutorial note: Tiltman’s profit for the year is not relevant as the acquisition took place just before the year end and will
    therefore have no impact on the consolidated income statement. Calculations of the effect on consolidated profit before
    taxation are therefore inappropriate and will not be awarded marks.
    (i) Inventory overvaluation
    This should have been written off to the income statement in the year to 31 March 2005 and not spread over three
    years (contrary to IAS 2 ‘Inventories’).
    At 31 March 2006 inventory is overvalued by $0·9m. This represents all Tiltmans’s profit for the year and 5·6% of
    total assets and is material. At 31 March 2005 inventory was materially overvalued by $1·8m ($1·7m reported profit
    should have been a $0·1m loss).
    Tutorial note: 1/3 of the overvaluation was written off in the prior period (i.e. year to 31 March 2005) instead of $2·7m.
    That the prior period’s auditor’s report was unmodified means that the previous auditor concurred with an incorrect
    accounting treatment (or otherwise gave an inappropriate audit opinion).
    As the matter is material a prior period adjustment is required (IAS 8 ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting
    Estimates and Errors’). $1·8m should be written off against opening reserves (i.e. restated as at 1 April 2005).
    (ii) Restructuring provision
    $2·3m expense has been charged to Tiltman’s profit and loss in arriving at a draft profit of $0·7m. This is very material.
    (The provision represents 14·3% of Tiltman’s total assets and is material to the balance sheet date also.)
    The provision for redundancies and onerous contracts should not have been made for the year ended 31 March 2006
    unless there was a constructive obligation at the balance sheet date (IAS 37 ‘Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and
    Contingent Assets’). So, unless the main features of the restructuring plan had been announced to those affected (i.e.
    redundancy notifications issued to employees), the provision should be reversed. However, it should then be disclosed
    as a non-adjusting post balance sheet event (IAS 10 ‘Events After the Balance Sheet Date’).
    Given the short time (less than one month) between acquisition and the balance sheet it is very possible that a
    constructive obligation does not arise at the balance sheet date. The relocation in May was only part of a restructuring
    (and could be the first evidence that Johnston’s management has started to implement a restructuring plan).
    There is a risk that goodwill on consolidation of Tiltman may be overstated in Johnston’s consolidated financial
    statements. To avoid the $2·3 expense having a significant effect on post-acquisition profit (which may be negligible
    due to the short time between acquisition and year end), Johnston may have recognised it as a liability in the
    determination of goodwill on acquisition.
    However, the execution of Tiltman’s restructuring plan, though made for the year ended 31 March 2006, was conditional
    upon its acquisition by Johnston. It does not therefore represent, immediately before the business combination, a
    present obligation of Johnston. Nor is it a contingent liability of Johnston immediately before the combination. Therefore
    Johnston cannot recognise a liability for Tiltman’s restructuring plans as part of allocating the cost of the combination
    (IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’).
    Tiltman’s auditor’s report
    The following adjustments are required to the financial statements:
    ■ restructuring provision, $2·3m, eliminated;
    ■ adequate disclosure of relocation as a non-adjusting post balance sheet event;
    ■ current period inventory written down by $0·9m;
    ■ prior period inventory (and reserves) written down by $1·8m.
    Profit for the year to 31 March 2006 should be $3·9m ($0·7 + $0·9 + $2·3).
    If all these adjustments are made the auditor’s report should be unmodified. Otherwise, the auditor’s report should be
    qualified ‘except for’ on grounds of disagreement. If none of the adjustments are made, the qualification should still be
    ‘except for’ as the matters are not pervasive.
    Johnston’s auditor’s report
    If Tiltman’s auditor’s report is unmodified (because the required adjustments are made) the auditor’s report of Johnston
    should be similarly unmodified. As Tiltman is wholly-owned by Johnston there should be no problem getting the
    adjustments made.
    If no adjustments were made in Tiltman’s financial statements, adjustments could be made on consolidation, if
    necessary, to avoid modification of the auditor’s report on Johnston’s financial statements.
    The effect of these adjustments on Tiltman’s net assets is an increase of $1·4m. Goodwill arising on consolidation (if
    any) would be reduced by $1·4m. The reduction in consolidated total assets required ($0·9m + $1·4m) is therefore
    the same as the reduction in consolidated total liabilities (i.e. $2·3m). $2·3m is material (4·2% consolidated total
    assets). If Tiltman’s financial statements are not adjusted and no adjustments are made on consolidation, the
    consolidated financial position (balance sheet) should be qualified ‘except for’. The results of operations (i.e. profit for
    the period) should be unqualified (if permitted in the jurisdiction in which Johnston reports).
    Adjustment in respect of the inventory valuation may not be required as Johnston should have consolidated inventory
    at fair value on acquisition. In this case, consolidated total liabilities should be reduced by $2·3m and goodwill arising
    on consolidation (if any) reduced by $2·3m.
    Tutorial note: The effect of any possible goodwill impairment has been ignored as the subsidiary has only just been
    acquired and the balance sheet date is very close to the date of acquisition.

  • 第6题:

    (b) Seymour offers health-related information services through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Aragon Co. Goodwill of

    $1·8 million recognised on the purchase of Aragon in October 2004 is not amortised but included at cost in the

    consolidated balance sheet. At 30 September 2006 Seymour’s investment in Aragon is shown at cost,

    $4·5 million, in its separate financial statements.

    Aragon’s draft financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2006 show a loss before taxation of

    $0·6 million (2005 – $0·5 million loss) and total assets of $4·9 million (2005 – $5·7 million). The notes to

    Aragon’s financial statements disclose that they have been prepared on a going concern basis that assumes that

    Seymour will continue to provide financial support. (7 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the above issues:

    (i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

    (ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

    in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Seymour Co for the year ended

    30 September 2006.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.


    正确答案:
    (b) Goodwill
    (i) Matters
    ■ Cost of goodwill, $1·8 million, represents 3·4% consolidated total assets and is therefore material.
    Tutorial note: Any assessments of materiality of goodwill against amounts in Aragon’s financial statements are
    meaningless since goodwill only exists in the consolidated financial statements of Seymour.
    ■ It is correct that the goodwill is not being amortised (IFRS 3 Business Combinations). However, it should be tested
    at least annually for impairment, by management.
    ■ Aragon has incurred losses amounting to $1·1 million since it was acquired (two years ago). The write-off of this
    amount against goodwill in the consolidated financial statements would be material (being 61% cost of goodwill,
    8·3% PBT and 2·1% total assets).
    ■ The cost of the investment ($4·5 million) in Seymour’s separate financial statements will also be material and
    should be tested for impairment.
    ■ The fair value of net assets acquired was only $2·7 million ($4·5 million less $1·8 million). Therefore the fair
    value less costs to sell of Aragon on other than a going concern basis will be less than the carrying amount of the
    investment (i.e. the investment is impaired by at least the amount of goodwill recognised on acquisition).
    ■ In assessing recoverable amount, value in use (rather than fair value less costs to sell) is only relevant if the going
    concern assumption is appropriate for Aragon.
    ■ Supporting Aragon financially may result in Seymour being exposed to actual and/or contingent liabilities that
    should be provided for/disclosed in Seymour’s financial statements in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions,
    Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.
    (ii) Audit evidence
    ■ Carrying values of cost of investment and goodwill arising on acquisition to prior year audit working papers and
    financial statements.
    ■ A copy of Aragon’s draft financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2006 showing loss for year.
    ■ Management’s impairment test of Seymour’s investment in Aragon and of the goodwill arising on consolidation at
    30 September 2006. That is a comparison of the present value of the future cash flows expected to be generated
    by Aragon (a cash-generating unit) compared with the cost of the investment (in Seymour’s separate financial
    statements).
    ■ Results of any impairment tests on Aragon’s assets extracted from Aragon’s working paper files.
    ■ Analytical procedures on future cash flows to confirm their reasonableness (e.g. by comparison with cash flows for
    the last two years).
    ■ Bank report for audit purposes for any guarantees supporting Aragon’s loan facilities.
    ■ A copy of Seymour’s ‘comfort letter’ confirming continuing financial support of Aragon for the foreseeable future.

  • 第7题:

    (c) You have been making preliminary inquiries regarding matters arising from the previous year’s audit of Di Rollo.

    It has been revealed that no action has been taken in response to the management letter prepared by the previous

    auditors. Di Rollo’s management has explained that this was because it was ‘poorly prepared’ and ‘unhelpful’.

    Required:

    Briefly describe various criteria against which the effectiveness of a management letter may be assessed.

    (7 marks)


    正确答案:
    (c) Management letter effectiveness criteria
    Tutorial note: Candidates at this level must know that a management letter is a letter of weakness (also called post-audit
    letter). NO marks will be awarded for consideration of any other letters (e.g. management representation letters, engagement
    letters).
    ■ Timeliness – a management letter should be issued as soon as possible after completion of the audit procedures giving
    rise to comment. This is particularly important when audit work is carried out on more than one audit visit and where
    it is a matter of urgency that management make improvements to their procedures (e.g. where there is evidence of
    serious weakness).
    ■ Clarity – wording must be clear so that recipients understand the significance of weaknesses that are being drawn to
    their attention. It is particularly important that implications are explained clearly in terms that will prompt management
    to respond positively (e.g. drawing attention to the risks of financial loss arising).
    ■ Illustrative – specific illustrative examples (e.g. of where controls have not been evidenced) should aid management in
    understanding the nature of the problem(s).
    ■ Constructive comments/advice – recommendations for improvements must be practicable (i.e. appropriate and costeffective
    in the light of the client’s resources) if the client is to take corrective action.
    ■ Conciseness – unnecessary volume will distract management from new/additional matters that require their attention.
    For example, matters adequately dealt with in the internal auditor’s report should not be repeated.
    ■ Factual accuracy is essential. Inaccuracies will not only aggravate the client and appear unprofessional but could, in rare
    circumstances, result in liability. Similarly, the letter should not criticise (or ‘cast aspersions’) on individual staff members
    if it is the system that is inadequate.
    ■ A suitable structure – for example ‘tiered’, where the report contains matters of varying levels of significance. By directing
    different classes of matters to the appropriate level or area of responsibility action by management can be taken more
    speedily and constructively.
    Tutorial note: An alternative structure might be one that sequences those recommendations that improve
    profitability/cash flows before those that deal with information systems.
    ■ Inclusion of staff responses – both to advise senior management of action proposed/being taken by their staff and to give
    credit to recommendations for improvements where it is due (e.g. where client’s staff have proposed recommendations).
    ■ Inclusion of management’s response – an indication of the actions that management intends to take is more likely to
    result in action being taken. Discussing findings with management first should also ensure their factual accuracy.
    ■ Client’s perspective – implications from the client’s viewpoint (e.g. in terms of cost savings) are more likely to be acted
    on than those expressed from an audit perspective (e.g. in terms of lowered audit risk).
    ■ Professional tone – should not be offensive. Comments that fault management’s knowledge, competence, motives or
    integrity are likely to provoke defensive reactions. Comments should be positive/constructive by emphasising
    solutions/benefits.
    Tutorial notes: Other points that candidates may include:
    ■ Inclusion of matters of future relevance
    ■ Cost effectiveness – minutes of discussions with management instead of a formal weakness letter
    ■ Not raising ‘people problems’ in such a formal communication (a confidential discussion is preferable).

  • 第8题:

    (b) While the refrigeration units were undergoing modernisation Lamont outsourced all its cold storage requirements

    to Hogg Warehousing Services. At 31 March 2007 it was not possible to physically inspect Lamont’s inventory

    held by Hogg due to health and safety requirements preventing unauthorised access to cold storage areas.

    Lamont’s management has provided written representation that inventory held at 31 March 2007 was

    $10·1 million (2006 – $6·7 million). This amount has been agreed to a costing of Hogg’s monthly return of

    quantities held at 31 March 2007. (7 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the above issues:

    (i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

    (ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

    in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Lamont Co for the year ended

    31 March 2007.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.


    正确答案:
    (b) Outsourced cold storage
    (i) Matters
    ■ Inventory at 31 March 2007 represents 21% of total assets (10·1/48·0) and is therefore a very material item in the
    balance sheet.
    ■ The value of inventory has increased by 50% though revenue has increased by only 7·5%. Inventory may be
    overvalued if no allowance has been made for slow-moving/perished items in accordance with IAS 2 Inventories.
    ■ Inventory turnover has fallen to 6·6 times per annum (2006 – 9·3 times). This may indicate a build up of
    unsaleable items.
    Tutorial note: In the absence of cost of sales information, this is calculated on revenue. It may also be expressed
    as the number of days sales in inventory, having increased from 39 to 55 days.
    ■ Inability to inspect inventory may amount to a limitation in scope if the auditor cannot obtain sufficient audit
    evidence regarding quantity and its condition. This would result in an ‘except for’ opinion.
    ■ Although Hogg’s monthly return provides third party documentary evidence concerning the quantity of inventory it
    does not provide sufficient evidence with regard to its valuation. Inventory will need to be written down if, for
    example, it was contaminated by the leakage (before being moved to Hogg’s cold storage) or defrosted during
    transfer.
    ■ Lamont’s written representation does not provide sufficient evidence regarding the valuation of inventory as
    presumably Lamont’s management did not have access to physically inspect it either. If this is the case this may
    call into question the value of any other representations made by management.
    ■ Whether, since the balance sheet date, inventory has been moved back from Hogg’s cold storage to Lamont’s
    refrigeration units. If so, a physical inspection and roll-back of the most significant fish lines should have been
    undertaken.
    Tutorial note: Credit will be awarded for other relevant accounting issues. For example a candidate may question
    whether, for example, cold storage costs have been capitalised into the cost of inventory. Or whether inventory moves
    on a FIFO basis in deep storage (rather than LIFO).
    (ii) Audit evidence
    ■ A copy of the health and safety regulation preventing the auditor from gaining access to Hogg’s cold storage to
    inspect Lamont’s inventory.
    ■ Analysis of Hogg’s monthly returns and agreement of significant movements to purchase/sales invoices.
    ■ Analytical procedures such as month-on-month comparison of gross profit percentage and inventory turnover to
    identify any trend that may account for the increase in inventory valuation (e.g. if Lamont has purchased
    replacement inventory but spoiled items have not been written off).
    ■ Physical inspection of any inventory in Lamont’s refrigeration units after the balance sheet date to confirm its
    condition.
    ■ An aged-inventory analysis and recalculation of any allowance for slow-moving items.
    ■ A review of after-date sales invoices for large quantities of fish to confirm that fair value (less costs to sell) exceed
    carrying amount.
    ■ A review of after-date credit notes for any returns of contaminated/perished or otherwise substandard fish.

  • 第9题:

    5 You are the audit manager for three clients of Bertie & Co, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants. The financial

    year end for each client is 30 September 2007.

    You are reviewing the audit senior’s proposed audit reports for two clients, Alpha Co and Deema Co.

    Alpha Co, a listed company, permanently closed several factories in May 2007, with all costs of closure finalised and

    paid in August 2007. The factories all produced the same item, which contributed 10% of Alpha Co’s total revenue

    for the year ended 30 September 2007 (2006 – 23%). The closure has been discussed accurately and fully in the

    chairman’s statement and Directors’ Report. However, the closure is not mentioned in the notes to the financial

    statements, nor separately disclosed on the financial statements.

    The audit senior has proposed an unmodified audit opinion for Alpha Co as the matter has been fully addressed in

    the chairman’s statement and Directors’ Report.

    In October 2007 a legal claim was filed against Deema Co, a retailer of toys. The claim is from a customer who slipped

    on a greasy step outside one of the retail outlets. The matter has been fully disclosed as a material contingent liability

    in the notes to the financial statements, and audit working papers provide sufficient evidence that no provision is

    necessary as Deema Co’s lawyers have stated in writing that the likelihood of the claim succeeding is only possible.

    The amount of the claim is fixed and is adequately covered by cash resources.

    The audit senior proposes that the audit opinion for Deema Co should not be qualified, but that an emphasis of matter

    paragraph should be included after the audit opinion to highlight the situation.

    Hugh Co was incorporated in October 2006, using a bank loan for finance. Revenue for the first year of trading is

    $750,000, and there are hopes of rapid growth in the next few years. The business retails luxury hand made wooden

    toys, currently in a single retail outlet. The two directors (who also own all of the shares in Hugh Co) are aware that

    due to the small size of the company, the financial statements do not have to be subject to annual external audit, but

    they are unsure whether there would be any benefit in a voluntary audit of the first year financial statements. The

    directors are also aware that a review of the financial statements could be performed as an alternative to a full audit.

    Hugh Co currently employs a part-time, part-qualified accountant, Monty Parkes, who has prepared a year end

    balance sheet and income statement, and who produces summary management accounts every three months.

    Required:

    (a) Evaluate whether the audit senior’s proposed audit report is appropriate, and where you disagree with the

    proposed report, recommend the amendment necessary to the audit report of:

    (i) Alpha Co; (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    5 BERTIE & CO
    (a) (i) Alpha Co
    The factory closures constitute a discontinued operation per IFRS 5 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued
    Operations, due to the discontinuance of a separate major component of the business. It is a major component due to
    the 10% contribution to revenue in the year to 30 September 2007 and 23% contribution in 2006. It is a separate
    business component of the company due to the factories having made only one item, indicating a separate income
    generating unit.
    Under IFRS 5 there must be separate disclosure on the face of the income statement of the post tax results of the
    discontinued operation, and of any profit or loss resulting from the closures. The revenue and costs of the discontinued
    operation should be separately disclosed either on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial
    statements. Cash flows relating to the discontinued operation should also be separately disclosed per IAS 7 Cash Flow
    Statements.
    In addition, as Alpha Co is a listed company, IFRS 8 Operating Segments requires separate segmental disclosure of
    discontinued operations.
    Failure to disclose the above information in the financial statements is a material breach of International Accounting
    Standards. The audit opinion should therefore be qualified on the grounds of disagreement on disclosure (IFRS 5,
    IAS 7 and IFRS 8). The matter is material, but not pervasive, and therefore an ‘except for’ opinion should be issued.
    The opinion paragraph should clearly state the reason for the disagreement, and an indication of the financial
    significance of the matter.
    The audit opinion relates only to the financial statements which have been audited, and the contents of the other
    information (chairman’s statement and Directors’ Report) are irrelevant when deciding if the financial statements show
    a true and fair view, or are fairly presented.
    Tutorial note: there is no indication in the question scenario that Alpha Co is in financial or operational difficulty
    therefore no marks are awarded for irrelevant discussion of going concern issues and the resultant impact on the audit
    opinion.

  • 第10题:

    请根据短文内容判断给出的语句是否正确,正确的写“T”,错误的写“F”。

    An annual report of a company provides information about its business performance for certain people. These people include the investors, potential investors and other stakeholders. From the report, people can understand the company's business scope, recent situation and future development. The main parts of an annual report usually include chairman's letter, operation analysis and financial statements.

    ·Chairman's Letter

    Usually, an annual report should contain a letter from the chairman. The letter should provide details about the successes and the challenges of the past year. It should also include the future outlook for the company.

    ·Operation Analysis

    The operation analysis is an overview of the business in the past year. It usually includes new hires and new product introductions. At the same time, it will introduce business acquisitions and other important issues.

    ·Financial Statements

    The financial statements are very important for an annual report. People can know the company's performance in the past from the statements. It usually three aspects. The first one is the profit and loss statement. The second one is the balance sheet. And the third one is the cash flow statement.

    ( ) 26. An annual report of a company provides some information about its business performance for certain people.

    ( ) 27. People can know everything of the company from the annual report.

    ( ) 28. An annual report usually includes chairman's letter, financial statements and operation analysis.

    ( ) 29. A chairman's letter should include the strategic direction moving forward.

    ( ) 30. This passage is mainly about the main parts of an annual report.


    参考答案:26-30:T F T F T


  • 第11题:

    You are an audit manager at Rockwell & Co, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants. You are responsible for the audit of the Hopper Group, a listed audit client which supplies ingredients to the food and beverage industry worldwide.

    The audit work for the year ended 30 June 2015 is nearly complete, and you are reviewing the draft audit report which has been prepared by the audit senior. During the year the Hopper Group purchased a new subsidiary company, Seurat Sweeteners Co, which has expertise in the research and design of sugar alternatives. The draft financial statements of the Hopper Group for the year ended 30 June 2015 recognise profit before tax of $495 million (2014 – $462 million) and total assets of $4,617 million (2014: $4,751 million). An extract from the draft audit report is shown below:

    Basis of modified opinion (extract)

    In their calculation of goodwill on the acquisition of the new subsidiary, the directors have failed to recognise consideration which is contingent upon meeting certain development targets. The directors believe that it is unlikely that these targets will be met by the subsidiary company and, therefore, have not recorded the contingent consideration in the cost of the acquisition. They have disclosed this contingent liability fully in the notes to the financial statements. We do not feel that the directors’ treatment of the contingent consideration is correct and, therefore, do not believe that the criteria of the relevant standard have been met. If this is the case, it would be appropriate to adjust the goodwill balance in the statement of financial position.

    We believe that any required adjustment may materially affect the goodwill balance in the statement of financial position. Therefore, in our opinion, the financial statements do not give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Hopper Group and of the Hopper Group’s financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

    Emphasis of Matter Paragraph

    We draw attention to the note to the financial statements which describes the uncertainty relating to the contingent consideration described above. The note provides further information necessary to understand the potential implications of the contingency.

    Required:

    (a) Critically appraise the draft audit report of the Hopper Group for the year ended 30 June 2015, prepared by the audit senior.

    Note: You are NOT required to re-draft the extracts from the audit report. (10 marks)

    (b) The audit of the new subsidiary, Seurat Sweeteners Co, was performed by a different firm of auditors, Fish Associates. During your review of the communication from Fish Associates, you note that they were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence with regard to the breakdown of research expenses. The total of research costs expensed by Seurat Sweeteners Co during the year was $1·2 million. Fish Associates has issued a qualified audit opinion on the financial statements of Seurat Sweeteners Co due to this inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence.

    Required:

    Comment on the actions which Rockwell & Co should take as the auditor of the Hopper Group, and the implications for the auditor’s report on the Hopper Group financial statements. (6 marks)

    (c) Discuss the quality control procedures which should be carried out by Rockwell & Co prior to the audit report on the Hopper Group being issued. (4 marks)


    正确答案:

    (a) Critical appraisal of the draft audit report

    Type of opinion

    When an auditor issues an opinion expressing that the financial statements ‘do not give a true and fair view’, this represents an adverse opinion. The paragraph explaining the modification should, therefore, be titled ‘Basis of Adverse Opinion’ rather than simply ‘Basis of Modified Opinion’.

    An adverse opinion means that the auditor considers the misstatement to be material and pervasive to the financial statements of the Hopper Group. According to ISA 705 Modifications to Opinions in the Independent Auditor’s Report, pervasive matters are those which affect a substantial proportion of the financial statements or fundamentally affect the users’ understanding of the financial statements. It is unlikely that the failure to recognise contingent consideration is pervasive; the main effect would be to understate goodwill and liabilities. This would not be considered a substantial proportion of the financial statements, neither would it be fundamental to understanding the Hopper Group’s performance and position.

    However, there is also some uncertainty as to whether the matter is even material. If the matter is determined to be material but not pervasive, then a qualified opinion would be appropriate on the basis of a material misstatement. If the matter is not material, then no modification would be necessary to the audit opinion.

    Wording of opinion/report

    The auditor’s reference to ‘the acquisition of the new subsidiary’ is too vague; the Hopper Group may have purchased a number of subsidiaries which this phrase could relate to. It is important that the auditor provides adequate description of the event and in these circumstances it would be appropriate to name the subsidiary referred to.

    The auditor has not quantified the amount of the contingent element of the consideration. For the users to understand the potential implications of any necessary adjustments, they need to know how much the contingent consideration will be if it becomes payable. It is a requirement of ISA 705 that the auditor quantifies the financial effects of any misstatements, unless it is impracticable to do so.

    In addition to the above point, the auditor should provide more description of the financial effects of the misstatement, including full quantification of the effect of the required adjustment to the assets, liabilities, incomes, revenues and equity of the Hopper Group.

    The auditor should identify the note to the financial statements relevant to the contingent liability disclosure rather than just stating ‘in the note’. This will improve the understandability and usefulness of the contents of the audit report.

    The use of the term ‘we do not feel that the treatment is correct’ is too vague and not professional. While there may be some interpretation necessary when trying to apply financial reporting standards to unique circumstances, the expression used is ambiguous and may be interpreted as some form. of disclaimer by the auditor with regard to the correct accounting treatment. The auditor should clearly explain how the treatment applied in the financial statements has departed from the requirements of the relevant standard.

    Tutorial note: As an illustration to the above point, an appropriate wording would be: ‘Management has not recognised the acquisition-date fair value of contingent consideration as part of the consideration transferred in exchange for the acquiree, which constitutes a departure from International Financial Reporting Standards.’

    The ambiguity is compounded by the use of the phrase ‘if this is the case, it would be appropriate to adjust the goodwill’. This once again suggests that the correct treatment is uncertain and perhaps open to interpretation.

    If the auditor wishes to refer to a specific accounting standard they should refer to its full title. Therefore instead of referring to ‘the relevant standard’ they should refer to International Financial Reporting Standard 3 Business Combinations.

    The opinion paragraph requires an appropriate heading. In this case the auditors have issued an adverse opinion and the paragraph should be headed ‘Adverse Opinion’.

    As with the basis paragraph, the opinion paragraph lacks authority; suggesting that the required adjustments ‘may’ materially affect the financial statements implies that there is a degree of uncertainty. This is not the case; the amount of the contingent consideration will be disclosed in the relevant purchase agreement, so the auditor should be able to determine whether the required adjustments are material or not. Regardless, the sentence discussing whether the balance is material or not is not required in the audit report as to warrant inclusion in the report the matter must be considered material. The disclosure of the nature and financial effect of the misstatement in the basis paragraph is sufficient.

    Finally, the emphasis of matter paragraph should not be included in the audit report. An emphasis of matter paragraph is only used to draw attention to an uncertainty/matter of fundamental importance which is correctly accounted for and disclosed in the financial statements. An emphasis of matter is not required in this case for the following reasons:

    – Emphasis of matter is only required to highlight matters which the auditor believes are fundamental to the users’ understanding of the business. An example may be where a contingent liability exists which is so significant it could lead to the closure of the reporting entity. That is not the case with the Hopper Group; the contingent liability does not appear to be fundamental.

    – Emphasis of matter is only used for matters where the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate evidence that the matter is not materially misstated in the financial statements. If the financial statements are materially misstated, in this regard the matter would be fully disclosed by the auditor in the basis of qualified/adverse opinion paragraph and no emphasis of matter is necessary.

    (b) Communication from the component auditor

    The qualified opinion due to insufficient evidence may be a significant matter for the Hopper Group audit. While the possible adjustments relating to the current year may not be material to the Hopper Group, the inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence with regard to a material matter in Seurat Sweeteners Co’s financial statements may indicate a control deficiency which the auditor was not aware of at the planning stage and it could indicate potential problems with regard to the integrity of management, which could also indicate a potential fraud. It could also indicate an unwillingness of management to provide information, which could create problems for future audits, particularly if research and development costs increase in future years. If the group auditor suspects that any of these possibilities are true, they may need to reconsider their risk assessment and whether the audit procedures performed are still appropriate.

    If the detail provided in the communication from the component auditor is insufficient, the group auditor should first discuss the matter with the component auditor to see whether any further information can be provided. The group auditor can request further working papers from the component auditor if this is necessary. However, if Seurat Sweeteners has not been able to provide sufficient appropriate evidence, it is unlikely that this will be effective.

    If the discussions with the component auditor do not provide satisfactory responses to evaluate the potential impact on the Hopper Group, the group auditor may need to communicate with either the management of Seurat Sweeteners or the Hopper Group to obtain necessary clarification with regard to the matter.

    Following these procedures, the group auditor needs to determine whether they have sufficient appropriate evidence to draw reasonable conclusions on the Hopper Group’s financial statements. If they believe the lack of information presents a risk of material misstatement in the group financial statements, they can request that further audit procedures be performed, either by the component auditor or by themselves.

    Ultimately the group engagement partner has to evaluate the effect of the inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence on the audit opinion of the Hopper Group. The matter relates to research expenses totalling $1·2 million, which represents 0·2% of the profit for the year and 0·03% of the total assets of the Hopper Group. It is therefore not material to the Hopper Group’s financial statements. For this reason no modification to the audit report of the Hopper Group would be required as this does not represent a lack of sufficient appropriate evidence with regard to a matter which is material to the Group financial statements.

    Although this may not have an impact on the Hopper Group audit opinion, this may be something the group auditor wishes to bring to the attention of those charged with governance. This would be particularly likely if the group auditor believed that this could indicate some form. of fraud in Seurat Sweeteners Co, a serious deficiency in financial reporting controls or if this could create problems for accepting future audits due to management’s unwillingness to provide access to accounting records.

    (c) Quality control procedures prior to issuing the audit report

    ISA 220 Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements and ISQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform. Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information, and Other Assurance and Related Services Agreements require that an engagement quality control reviewer shall be appointed for audits of financial statements of listed entities. The audit engagement partner then discusses significant matters arising during the audit engagement with the engagement quality control reviewer.

    The engagement quality control reviewer and the engagement partner should discuss the failure to recognise the contingent consideration and its impact on the auditor’s report. The engagement quality control reviewer must review the financial statements and the proposed auditor’s report, in particular focusing on the conclusions reached in formulating the auditor’s report and consideration of whether the proposed auditor’s opinion is appropriate. The audit documentation relating to the acquisition of Seurat Sweeteners Co will be carefully reviewed, and the reviewer is likely to consider whether procedures performed in relation to these balances were appropriate.

    Given the listed status of the Hopper Group, any modification to the auditor’s report will be scrutinised, and the firm must be sure of any decision to modify the report, and the type of modification made. Once the engagement quality control reviewer has considered the necessity of a modification, they should consider whether a qualified or an adverse opinion is appropriate in the circumstances. This is an important issue, given that it requires judgement as to whether the matters would be material or pervasive to the financial statements.

    The engagement quality control reviewer should ensure that there is adequate documentation regarding the judgements used in forming the final audit opinion, and that all necessary matters have been brought to the attention of those charged with governance.

    The auditor’s report must not be signed and dated until the completion of the engagement quality control review.

    Tutorial note: In the case of the Hopper Group’s audit, the lack of evidence in respect of research costs is unlikely to be discussed unless the audit engagement partner believes that the matter could be significant, for example, if they suspected the lack of evidence is being used to cover up a financial statements fraud.

  • 第12题:

    单选题
    A complete copy of this year’s annual company report will be provided ______ the marketing directors.
    A

    of

    B

    on

    C

    by

    D

    along


    正确答案: C
    解析:
    句意:市场营销主管将提供一份今年公司年度报告的完整副本。句中为被动语态,在被动句中,动作发出者通常由介词by引出。annual report年度报告。

  • 第13题:

    (b) Using the information provided, state the financial statement risks arising and justify an appropriate audit

    approach for Indigo Co for the year ending 31 December 2005. (14 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Financial statement risks
    Assets
    ■ There is a very high risk that inventory could be materially overstated in the balance sheet (thereby overstating profit)
    because:
    ? there is a high volume of metals (hence material);
    ? valuable metals are made more portable;
    ? subsidy gives an incentive to overstate purchases (and hence inventory);
    ? inventory may not exist due to lack of physical controls (e.g. aluminium can blow away);
    ? scrap metal in the stockyard may have zero net realisable value (e.g. iron is rusty and slow-moving);
    ? quantities per counts not attended by an auditor have increased by a third.
    ■ Inventory could be otherwise misstated (over or under) due to:
    ? the weighbridge being inaccurate;
    ? metal qualities being estimated;
    ? different metals being mixed up; and
    ? the lack of an independent expert to identify/measure/value metals.
    ■ Tangible non-current assets are understated as the parts of the furnaces that require replacement (the linings) are not
    capitalised (and depreciated) as separate items but treated as repairs/maintenance/renewals and expensed.
    ■ Cash may be understated due to incomplete recording of sales.
    ■ Recorded cash will be overstated if it does not exist (e.g. if it has been stolen).
    ■ Trade receivables may be understated if cash receipts from credit customers have been misappropriated.
    Liabilities
    ■ The provision for the replacement of the furnace linings is overstated by the amount provided in the current and previous
    year (i.e. in its entirety).
    Tutorial note: Last replacement was two years ago.
    Income statement
    ■ Revenue will be understated in respect of unrecorded cash sales of salvaged metals and ‘clinker’.
    ■ Scrap metal purchases (for cash) are at risk of overstatement:
    ? to inflate the 15% subsidy;
    ? to conceal misappropriated cash.
    ■ The income subsidy will be overstated if quantities purchased are overstated and/or overvalued (on the quarterly returns)
    to obtain the amount of the subsidy.
    ■ Cash receipts/payments that were recorded only in the cash book in November are at risk of being unrecorded (in the
    absence of cash book postings for November), especially if they are of a ‘one-off’ nature.
    Tutorial note: Cash purchases of scrap and sales of salvaged metal should be recorded elsewhere (i.e. in the manual
    inventory records). However, a one-off expense (of a capital or revenue nature) could be omitted in the absence of
    another record.
    ■ Expenditure is overstated in respect of the 25% provision for replacing the furnace linings. However, as depreciation
    will be similarly understated (as the furnace linings have not been capitalised) there is no risk of material misstatement
    to the income statement overall.
    Disclosure risk
    ■ A going concern (‘failure’) risk may arise through the loss of:
    ? sales revenue (e.g. through misappropriation of salvaged metals and/or cash);
    ? the subsidy (e.g. if returns are prepared fraudulently);
    ? cash (e.g. if material amounts stolen).
    Any significant doubts about going concern must be suitably disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.
    Disclosure risk arises if the requirements of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’ are not met.
    ■ Disclosure risk arises if contingent liabilities in connection with the dumping of ‘clinker’ (e.g. for fines and penalties) are
    not adequately disclosed in accordance with IAS 37 ‘Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets’.
    Appropriate audit approach
    Tutorial note: In explaining why AN audit approach is appropriate for Indigo it can be relevant to comment on the
    unsuitability of other approaches.
    ■ A risk-based approach is suitable because:
    ? inherent risk is high at the entity and financial assertion levels;
    ? material errors are likely to arise in inventory where a high degree of subjectivity will be involved (regarding quality
    of metals, quantities, net realisable value, etc);
    ? it directs the audit effort to inventory, purchases, income (sales and subsidy) and other risk areas (e.g. contingent
    liabilities).
    ■ A systems-based/compliance approach is not suited to the risk areas identified because controls are lacking/ineffective
    (e.g. over inventory and cash). Also, as the audit appointment was not more than three months ago and no interim
    audit has been conducted (and the balance sheet date is only three weeks away) testing controls is likely to be less
    efficient than a substantive approach.
    ■ A detailed substantive/balance sheet approach would be suitable to direct audit effort to the appropriate valuation of
    assets (and liabilities) existing at balance sheet date. Principal audit work would include:
    ? attendance at a full physical inventory count at 31 December 2005;
    ? verifying cash at bank (through bank confirmation and reconciliation) and in hand (through physical count);
    ? confirming the accuracy of the quarterly returns to the local authority.
    ■ A cyclical approach/directional testing is unlikely to be suitable as cycles are incomplete. For example the purchases
    cycle for metals is ‘purchase/cash’ rather than ‘purchase/payable/cash’ and there is no independent third party evidence
    to compensate for that which would be available if there were trade payables (i.e. suppliers’ statements). Also the cycles
    are inextricably inter-related to cash and inventory – amounts of which are subject to high inherent risk.
    ■ Analytical procedures may be of limited use for substantive purposes. Factors restricting the use of substantive analytical
    procedures include:
    ? fluctuating margins (e.g. as many factors will influence the price at which scrap is purchased and subsequently
    sold, when salvaged, sometime later);
    ? a lack of reliable/historic information on which to make comparisons.

  • 第14题:

    2 Plaza, a limited liability company, is a major food retailer. Further to the success of its national supermarkets in the

    late 1990s it has extended its operations throughout Europe and most recently to Asia, where it is expanding rapidly.

    You are a manager in Andando, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants. You have been approached by Duncan

    Seymour, the chief finance officer of Plaza, to advise on a bid that Plaza is proposing to make for the purchase of

    MCM. You have ascertained the following from a briefing note received from Duncan.

    MCM provides training in management, communications and marketing to a wide range of corporate clients, including

    multi-nationals. The ‘MCM’ name is well regarded in its areas of expertise. MCM is currently wholly-owned by

    Frontiers, an international publisher of textbooks, whose shares are quoted on a recognised stock exchange. MCM

    has a National and an International business.

    The National business comprises 11 training centres. The audited financial statements show revenue of

    $12·5 million and profit before taxation of $1·3 million for this geographic segment for the year to 31 December

    2004. Most of the National business’s premises are owned or held on long leases. Trainers in the National business

    are mainly full-time employees.

    The International business has five training centres in Europe and Asia. For these segments, revenue amounted to

    $6·3 million and profit before tax $2·4 million for the year to 31 December 2004. Most of the International business’s

    premises are held on operating leases. International trade receivables at 31 December 2004 amounted to

    $3·7 million. Although the International centres employ some full-time trainers, the majority of trainers provide their

    services as freelance consultants.

    Required:

    (a) Define ‘due diligence’ and describe the nature and purpose of a due diligence review. (4 marks)


    正确答案:
    2 MCM
    (a) Nature and purpose of a ‘due diligence’ review
    ■ ‘Due diligence’ may be defined as the process of systematically obtaining and assessing information in order to identify
    and contain the risks associated with a transaction (e.g. buying a business) to an acceptable level.
    ■ The nature of such a review is therefore that it involves:
    ? an investigation (e.g. into a company whose equity may be sold); and
    ? disclosure (e.g. to a potential investor) of findings.
    ■ A due diligence assignment consists primarily of inquiry and analytical procedures.
    Tutorial note: It will not, for example, routinely involve tests of control or substantive procedures.
    * As the timescale for a due diligence review is often relatively short, but wider in scope than the financial statements
    (e.g. business prospects, market valuation), there may be no expression of assurance.
    ■ Its purpose is to find all the facts that would be of material interest to an investor or acquirer of a business. It may not
    uncover all such factors but should be designed with a reasonable expectation of so doing.
    ■ Professional accountants will not be held liable for non-disclosure of information that failed to be uncovered if their
    review was conducted with ‘due diligence’.

  • 第15题:

    (b) You are an audit manager with specific responsibility for reviewing other information in documents containing

    audited financial statements before your firm’s auditor’s report is signed. The financial statements of Hegas, a

    privately-owned civil engineering company, show total assets of $120 million, revenue of $261 million, and profit

    before tax of $9·2 million for the year ended 31 March 2005. Your review of the Annual Report has revealed

    the following:

    (i) The statement of changes in equity includes $4·5 million under a separate heading of ‘miscellaneous item’

    which is described as ‘other difference not recognized in income’. There is no further reference to this

    amount or ‘other difference’ elsewhere in the financial statements. However, the Management Report, which

    is required by statute, is not audited. It discloses that ‘changes in shareholders’ equity not recognized in

    income includes $4·5 million arising on the revaluation of investment properties’.

    The notes to the financial statements state that the company has implemented IAS 40 ‘Investment Property’

    for the first time in the year to 31 March 2005 and also that ‘the adoption of this standard did not have a

    significant impact on Hegas’s financial position or its results of operations during 2005’.

    (ii) The chairman’s statement asserts ‘Hegas has now achieved a position as one of the world’s largest

    generators of hydro-electricity, with a dedicated commitment to accountable ethical professionalism’. Audit

    working papers show that 14% of revenue was derived from hydro-electricity (2004: 12%). Publicly

    available information shows that there are seven international suppliers of hydro-electricity in Africa alone,

    which are all at least three times the size of Hegas in terms of both annual turnover and population supplied.

    Required:

    Identify and comment on the implications of the above matters for the auditor’s report on the financial

    statements of Hegas for the year ended 31 March 2005. (10 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) Implications for the auditor’s report
    (i) Management Report
    ■ $4·5 million represents 3·75% of total assets, 1·7% of revenue and 48·9% profit before tax. As this is material
    by any criteria (exceeding all of 2% of total assets, 1/2% revenue and 5% PBT), the specific disclosure requirements
    of IASs need to be met (IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements’).
    ■ The Management Report discloses the amount and the reason for a material change in equity whereas the financial
    statements do not show the reason for the change and suggest that it is immaterial. As the increase in equity
    attributable to this adjustment is nearly half as much as that attributable to PBT there is a material inconsistency
    between the Management Report and the audited financial statements.
    ■ Amendment to the Management Report is not required.
    Tutorial note: Marks will be awarded for arguing, alternatively, that the Management Report disclosure needs to
    be amended to clarify that the revaluation arises from the first time implementation.
    ■ Amendment to the financial statements is required because the disclosure is:
    – incorrect – as, on first adoption of IAS 40, the fair value adjustment should be against the opening balance
    of retained earnings; and
    – inadequate – because it is being ‘supplemented’ by additional disclosure in a document which is not within
    the scope of the audit of financial statements.
    ■ Whilst it is true that the adoption of IAS 40 did not have a significant impact on results of operations, Hegas’s
    financial position has increased by nearly 4% in respect of the revaluation (to fair value) of just one asset category
    (investment properties). As this is significant, the statement in the notes should be redrafted.
    ■ If the financial statements are not amended, the auditor’s report should be qualified ‘except for’ on grounds of
    disagreement (non-compliance with IAS 40) as the matter is material but not pervasive. Additional disclosure
    should also be given (e.g. that the ‘other difference’ is a fair value adjustment).
    ■ However, it is likely that when faced with the prospect of a qualified auditor’s report Hegas’s management will
    rectify the financial statements so that an unmodified auditor’s report can be issued.
    Tutorial note: Marks will be awarded for other relevant points e.g. citing IAS 8 ‘Accounting Policies, Changes in
    Accounting Estimates and Errors’.
    (ii) Chairman’s statement
    Tutorial note: Hegas is privately-owned therefore IAS 14 ‘Segment Reporting’ does not apply and the proportion of
    revenue attributable to hydro-electricity will not be required to be disclosed in the financial statements. However, credit
    will be awarded for discussing the implications for the auditor’s report if it is regarded as a material inconsistency on
    the assumption that segment revenue (or similar) is reported in the financial statements.
    ■ The assertion in the chairman’s statement, which does not fall within the scope of the audit of the financial
    statements, claims two things, namely that the company:
    (1) is ‘one of the world’s largest generators of hydro-electricity’; and
    (2) has ‘a dedicated commitment to accountable ethical professionalism’.
    ■ To the extent that this information does not relate to matters disclosed in the financial statements it may give rise
    to a material misstatement of fact. In particular, the first statement presents a misleading impression of the
    company’s size. In misleading a user of the financial statements with this statement, the second statement is not
    true (as it is not ethical or professional to mislead the reader and potentially undermine the credibility of the
    financial statements).
    ■ The first statement is a material misstatement of fact because, for example:
    – the company is privately-owned, and publicly-owned international/multi-nationals are larger;
    – the company’s main activity is civil engineering not electricity generation (only 14% of revenue is derived from
    HEP);
    – as the company ranks at best eighth against African companies alone it ranks much lower globally.
    ■ Hegas should be asked to reconsider the wording of the chairman’s statement (i.e. removing these assertions) and
    consult, as necessary, the company’s legal advisor.
    ■ If the statement is not changed there will be no grounds for qualification of the opinion on the audited financial
    statements. The audit firm should therefore take legal advice on how the matter should be reported.
    ■ However, an emphasis of matter paragraph may be used to report on matters other than those affecting the audited
    financial statements. For example, to explain the misstatement of fact if management refuses to make the
    amendment.
    Tutorial note: Marks will also be awarded for relevant comments about the chairman’s statement being perceived by
    many readers to be subject to audit and therefore that the unfounded statement might undermine the credibility of the
    financial statements. Shareholders tend to rely on the chairman’s statement, even though it is not regulated or audited,
    because modern financial statements are so complex.

  • 第16题:

    2 Your audit client, Prescott Co, is a national hotel group with substantial cash resources. Its accounting functions are

    well managed and the group accounting policies are rigorously applied. The company’s financial year end is

    31 December.

    Prescott has been seeking to acquire a construction company for some time in order to bring in-house the building

    and refurbishment of hotels and related leisure facilities (e.g. swimming pools, squash courts and restaurants).

    Prescott’s management has recently identified Robson Construction Co as a potential target and has urgently requested

    that you undertake a limited due diligence review lasting two days next week.

    Further to their preliminary talks with Robson’s management, Prescott has provided you with the following brief on

    Robson Construction Co:

    The chief executive, managing director and finance director are all family members and major shareholders. The

    company name has an established reputation for quality constructions.

    Due to a recession in the building trade the company has been operating at its overdraft limit for the last 18

    months and has been close to breaching debt covenants on several occasions.

    Robson’s accounting policies are generally less prudent than those of Prescott (e.g. assets are depreciated over

    longer estimated useful lives).

    Contract revenue is recognised on the percentage of completion method, measured by reference to costs incurred

    to date. Provisions are made for loss-making contracts.

    The company’s management team includes a qualified and experienced quantity surveyor. His main

    responsibilities include:

    (1) supervising quarterly physical counts at major construction sites;

    (2) comparing costs to date against quarterly rolling budgets; and

    (3) determining profits and losses by contract at each financial year end.

    Although much of the labour is provided under subcontracts all construction work is supervised by full-time site

    managers.

    In August 2005, Robson received a claim that a site on which it built a housing development in 2002 was not

    properly drained and is now subsiding. Residents are demanding rectification and claiming damages. Robson

    has referred the matter to its lawyers and denied all liability, as the site preparation was subcontracted to Sarwar

    Services Co. No provisions have been made in respect of the claims, nor has any disclosure been made.

    The auditor’s report on Robson’s financial statements for the year to 30 June 2005 was signed, without

    modification, in March 2006.

    Required:

    (a) Identify and explain the specific matters to be clarified in the terms of engagement for this due diligence

    review of Robson Construction Co. (6 marks)


    正确答案:
    2 PRESCOTT CO
    (a) Terms of engagement – matters to be clarified
    Tutorial note: This one-off assignment requires a separate letter of engagement. Note that, at this level, a standard list of
    contents will earn few, if any, marks. Any ‘ideas list’ must be tailored to generate answer points specific to the due diligence
    review of this target company.
    ■ Objective of the review: for example, to find and report facts relevant to Prescott’s decision whether to acquire Robson.
    The terms should confirm whether Prescott’s interest is in acquiring the company (i.e. the share capital) or its trading
    assets (say), as this will affect the nature and scope of the review.
    Tutorial note: This is implied as Prescott ‘has been seeking to acquire ... to bring building … in-house’.
    ■ Prescott’s management will be solely responsible for any decision made (e.g. any offer price made to purchase Robson).
    ■ The nature and scope of the review and any standards/guidelines in accordance with which it will be conducted. That
    investigation will consist of enquiry (e.g. of the directors and the quantity surveyor) and analytical procedures (e.g. on
    budgeted information and prior period financial statements).
    Tutorial note: This is not going to be a review of financial statements. The prior year financial statements have only
    recently been audited and financial statements for the year end 30 June 2006 will not be available in time for the
    review.
    ■ The level of assurance will be ‘negative’. That is, that the material subject to review is free of material misstatement. It
    should be stated that an audit is not being performed and that an audit opinion will not be expressed.
    ■ The timeframe. for conducting the investigation (two days next week) and the deadline for reporting the findings.
    ■ The records, documentation and other information to which access will be unrestricted. This will be the subject of
    agreement between Prescott and Robson.
    ■ A responsibility/liability disclaimer that the engagement cannot be relied upon to disclose errors, illegal acts or other
    irregularities (e.g. fraudulent financial reporting or misappropriations of Robson’s assets).
    Tutorial note: Third party reliance on the report seems unlikely as Prescott has ‘substantial cash resources’ and may not
    need to obtain loan finance.

  • 第17题:

    5 You are an audit manager in Fox & Steeple, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants, responsible for allocating staff

    to the following three audits of financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2006:

    (a) Blythe Co is a new audit client. This private company is a local manufacturer and distributor of sportswear. The

    company’s finance director, Peter, sees little value in the audit and put it out to tender last year as a cost-cutting

    exercise. In accordance with the requirements of the invitation to tender your firm indicated that there would not

    be an interim audit.

    (b) Huggins Co, a long-standing client, operates a national supermarket chain. Your firm provided Huggins Co with

    corporate financial advice on obtaining a listing on a recognised stock exchange in 2005. Senior management

    expects a thorough examination of the company’s computerised systems, and are also seeking assurance that

    the annual report will not attract adverse criticism.

    (c) Gray Co has been an audit client since 1999 after your firm advised management on a successful buyout. Gray

    provides communication services and software solutions. Your firm provides Gray with technical advice on

    financial reporting and tax services. Most recently you have been asked to conduct due diligence reviews on

    potential acquisitions.

    Required:

    For these assignments, compare and contrast:

    (i) the threats to independence;

    (ii) the other professional and practical matters that arise; and

    (iii) the implications for allocating staff.

    (15 marks)


    正确答案:
    5 FOX & STEEPLE – THREE AUDIT ASSIGNMENTS
    (i) Threats to independence
    Self-interest
    Tutorial note: This threat arises when a firm or a member of the audit team could benefit from a financial interest in, or
    other self-interest conflict with, an assurance client.
    ■ A self-interest threat could potentially arise in respect of any (or all) of these assignments as, regardless of any fee
    restrictions (e.g. per IFAC’s ‘Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants’), the auditor is remunerated by clients for
    services provided.
    ■ This threat is likely to be greater for Huggins Co (larger/listed) and Gray Co (requires other services) than for Blythe Co
    (audit a statutory necessity).
    ■ The self-interest threat may be greatest for Huggins Co. As a company listed on a recognised stock exchange it may
    give prestige and credibility to Fox & Steeple (though this may be reciprocated). Fox & Steeple could be pressurised into
    taking evasive action to avoid the loss of a listed client (e.g. concurring with an inappropriate accounting treatment).
    Self-review
    Tutorial note: This arises when, for example, any product or judgment of a previous engagement needs to be re-evaluated
    in reaching conclusions on the audit engagement.
    ■ This threat is also likely to be greater for Huggins and Gray where Fox & Steeple is providing other (non-audit) services.
    ■ A self-review threat may be created by Fox & Steeple providing Huggins with a ‘thorough examination’ of its computerised
    systems if it involves an extension of the procedures required to conduct an audit in accordance with International
    Standards on Auditing (ISAs).
    ■ Appropriate safeguards must be put in place if Fox & Steeple assists Huggins in the performance of internal audit
    activities. In particular, Fox & Steeple’s personnel must not act (or appear to act) in a capacity equivalent to a member
    of Huggins’ management (e.g. reporting, in a management role, to those charged with governance).
    ■ Fox & Steeple may provide Gray with accounting and bookkeeping services, as Gray is not a listed entity, provided that
    any self-review threat created is reduced to an acceptable level. In particular, in giving technical advice on financial
    reporting, Fox & Steeple must take care not to make managerial decisions such as determining or changing journal
    entries without obtaining Gray’s approval.
    ■ Taxation services comprise a broad range of services, including compliance, planning, provision of formal taxation
    opinions and assistance in the resolution of tax disputes. Such assignments are generally not seen to create threats to
    independence.
    Tutorial note: It is assumed that the provision of tax services is permitted in the jurisdiction (i.e. that Fox and Steeple
    are not providing such services if prohibited).
    ■ The due diligence reviews for Gray may create a self-review threat (e.g. on the fair valuation of net assets acquired).
    However, safeguards may be available to reduce these threats to an acceptable level.
    ■ If staff involved in providing other services are also assigned to the audit, their work should be reviewed by more senior
    staff not involved in the provision of the other services (to the extent that the other service is relevant to the audit).
    ■ The reporting lines of any staff involved in the audit of Huggins and the provision of other services for Huggins should
    be different. (Similarly for Gray.)
    Familiarity
    Tutorial note: This arises when, by virtue of a close relationship with an audit client (or its management or employees) an
    audit firm (or a member of the audit team) becomes too sympathetic to the client’s interests.
    ■ Long association of a senior member of an audit team with an audit client may create a familiarity threat. This threat
    is likely to be greatest for Huggins, a long-standing client. It may also be significant for Gray as Fox & Steeple have had
    dealings with this client for seven years now.
    ■ As Blythe is a new audit client this particular threat does not appear to be relevant.
    ■ Senior personnel should be rotated off the Huggins and Gray audit teams. If this is not possible (for either client), an
    additional professional accountant who was not a member of the audit team should be required to independently review
    the work done by the senior personnel.
    ■ The familiarity threat of using the same lead engagement partner on an audit over a prolonged period is particularly
    relevant to Huggins, which is now a listed entity. IFAC’s ‘Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants’ requires that the
    lead engagement partner should be rotated after a pre-defined period, normally no more than seven years. Although it
    might be time for the lead engagement partner of Huggins to be changed, the current lead engagement partner may
    continue to serve for the 2006 audit.
    Tutorial note: Two additional years are permitted when an existing client becomes listed, since it may not be in the
    client’s best interests to have an immediate rotation of engagement partner.
    Intimidation
    Tutorial note: This arises when a member of the audit team may be deterred from acting objectively and exercising
    professional skepticism by threat (actual or perceived), from the audit client.
    ■ This threat is most likely to come from Blythe as auditors are threatened with a tendering process to keep fees down.
    ■ Peter may have already applied pressure to reduce inappropriately the extent of audit work performed in order to reduce
    fees, by stipulating that there should not be an interim audit.
    ■ The audit senior allocated to Blythe will need to be experienced in standing up to client management personnel such as
    Peter.
    Tutorial note: ‘Correct’ classification under ‘ethical’, ‘other professional’, ‘practical’ or ‘staff implications’ is not as important
    as identifying the matters.
    (ii) Other professional and practical matters
    Tutorial note: ‘Other professional’ includes quality control.
    ■ The experience of staff allocated to each assignment should be commensurate with the assessment of associated risk.
    For example, there may be a risk that insufficient audit evidence is obtained within the budget for the audit of Blythe.
    Huggins, as a listed client, carries a high reputational risk.
    ■ Sufficient appropriate staff should be allocated to each audit to ensure adequate quality control (in particular in the
    direction, supervision, review of each assignment). It may be appropriate for a second partner to be assigned to carry
    out a ‘hot review’ (before the auditor’s report is signed) of:
    – Blythe, because it is the first audit of a new client; and
    – Huggins, as it is listed.
    ■ Existing clients (Huggins and Gray) may already have some expectation regarding who should be assigned to their
    audits. There is no reason why there should not be some continuity of staff providing appropriate safeguards are put in
    place (e.g. to overcome any familiarity threat).
    ■ Senior staff assigned to Blythe should be alerted to the need to exercise a high degree of professional skepticism (in the
    light of Peter’s attitude towards the audit).
    ■ New staff assigned to Huggins and Gray would perhaps be less likely to assume unquestioned honesty than staff
    previously involved with these audits.
    Logistics (practical)
    ■ All three assignments have the same financial year end, therefore there will be an element of ‘competition’ for the staff
    to be assigned to the year-end visits and final audit assignments. As a listed company, Huggins is likely to have the
    tightest reporting deadline and so have a ‘priority’ for staff.
    ■ Blythe is a local and private company. Staff involved in the year-end visit (e.g. to attend the physical inventory count)
    should also be involved in the final audit. As this is a new client, staff assigned to this audit should get involved at every
    stage to increase their knowledge and understanding of the business.
    ■ Huggins is a national operation and may require numerous staff to attend year-end procedures. It would not be expected
    that all staff assigned to year-end visits should all be involved in the final audit.
    Time/fee/staff budgets
    ■ Time budgets will need to be prepared for each assignment to determine manpower requirements (and to schedule audit
    work).
    (iii) Implications for allocating staff
    ■ Fox & Steeple should allocate staff so that those providing other services to Huggins and Gray (that may create a selfreview
    threat) do not participate in the audit engagement.
    Competence and due care (Qualifications/Specialisation)
    ■ All audit assignments will require competent staff.
    ■ Huggins will require staff with an in-depth knowledge of their computerised system.
    ■ Gray will require senior audit staff to be experienced in financial reporting matters specific to communications and
    software solutions (e.g. in revenue recognition issues and accounting for internally-generated intangible assets).
    ■ Specialists providing tax services and undertaking the due diligence reviews for Gray may not be required to have any
    involvement in the audit assignment.

  • 第18题:

    (b) You are an audit manager in a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants currently assigned to the audit of Cleeves

    Co for the year ended 30 September 2006. During the year Cleeves acquired a 100% interest in Howard Co.

    Howard is material to Cleeves and audited by another firm, Parr & Co. You have just received Parr’s draft

    auditor’s report for the year ended 30 September 2006. The wording is that of an unmodified report except for

    the opinion paragraph which is as follows:

    Audit opinion

    As more fully explained in notes 11 and 15 impairment losses on non-current assets have not been

    recognised in profit or loss as the directors are unable to quantify the amounts.

    In our opinion, provision should be made for these as required by International Accounting Standard 36

    (Impairment). If the provision had been so recognised the effect would have been to increase the loss before

    and after tax for the year and to reduce the value of tangible and intangible non-current assets. However,

    as the directors are unable to quantify the amounts we are unable to indicate the financial effect of such

    omissions.

    In view of the failure to provide for the impairments referred to above, in our opinion the financial statements

    do not present fairly in all material respects the financial position of Howard Co as of 30 September 2006

    and of its loss and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting

    Standards.

    Your review of the prior year auditor’s report shows that the 2005 audit opinion was worded identically.

    Required:

    (i) Critically appraise the appropriateness of the audit opinion given by Parr & Co on the financial

    statements of Howard Co, for the years ended 30 September 2006 and 2005. (7 marks)


    正确答案:

    (b) (i) Appropriateness of audit opinion given
    Tutorial note: The answer points suggested by the marking scheme are listed in roughly the order in which they might
    be extracted from the information presented in the question. The suggested answer groups together some of these
    points under headings to give the analysis of the situation a possible structure.
    Heading
    ■ The opinion paragraph is not properly headed. It does not state the form. of the opinion that has been given nor
    the grounds for qualification.
    ■ The opinion ‘the financial statements do not give a true and fair view’ is an ‘adverse’ opinion.
    ■ That ‘provision should be made’, but has not, is a matter of disagreement that should be clearly stated as noncompliance
    with IAS 36. The title of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets should be given in full.
    ■ The opinion should be headed ‘Disagreement on Accounting Policies – Inappropriate Accounting Method – Adverse
    Opinion’.
    1 ISA 250 does not specify with whom agreement should be reached but presumably with those charged with corporate governance (e.g audit committee or
    2 other supervisory board).
    20
    6D–INTBA
    Paper 3.1INT
    Content
    ■ It is appropriate that the opinion paragraph should refer to the note(s) in the financial statements where the matter
    giving rise to the modification is more fully explained. However, this is not an excuse for the audit opinion being
    ‘light’ on detail. For example, the reason for impairment could be summarised in the auditor’s report.
    ■ The effects have not been quantified, but they should be quantifiable. The maximum possible loss would be the
    carrying amount of the non-current assets identified as impaired.
    ■ It is not clear why the directors have been ‘unable to quantify the amounts’. Since impairments should be
    quantifiable any ‘inability’ suggest a limitation in scope of the audit, in which case the opinion should be disclaimed
    (or ‘except for’) on grounds of lack of evidence rather than disagreement.
    ■ The wording is confusing. ‘Failure to provide’ suggests disagreement. However, there must be sufficient evidence
    to support any disagreement. Although the directors cannot quantify the amounts it seems the auditors must have
    been able to (estimate at least) in order to form. an opinion that the amounts involved are sufficiently material to
    warrant a qualification.
    ■ The first paragraph refers to ‘non-current assets’. The second paragraph specifies ‘tangible and intangible assets’.
    There is no explanation why or how both tangible and intangible assets are impaired.
    ■ The first paragraph refers to ‘profit or loss’ and the second and third paragraphs to ‘loss’. It may be clearer if the
    first paragraph were to refer to recognition in the income statement.
    ■ It is not clear why the failure to recognise impairment warrants an adverse opinion rather than ‘except for’. The
    effects of non-compliance with IAS 36 are to overstate the carrying amount(s) of non-current assets (that can be
    specified) and to understate the loss. The matter does not appear to be pervasive and so an adverse opinion looks
    unsuitable as the financial statements as a whole are not incomplete or misleading. A loss is already being reported
    so it is not that a reported profit would be turned into a loss (which is sometimes judged to be ‘pervasive’).
    Prior year
    ■ As the 2005 auditor’s report, as previously issued, included an adverse opinion and the matter that gave rise to
    the modification:
    – is unresolved; and
    – results in a modification of the 2006 auditor’s report,
    the 2006 auditor’s report should also be modified regarding the corresponding figures (ISA 710 Comparatives).
    ■ The 2006 auditor’s report does not refer to the prior period modification nor highlight that the matter resulting in
    the current period modification is not new. For example, the report could say ‘As previously reported and as more
    fully explained in notes ….’ and state ‘increase the loss by $x (2005 – $y)’.

  • 第19题:

    3 You are the manager responsible for the audit of Lamont Co. The company’s principal activity is wholesaling frozen

    fish. The draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2007 show revenue of $67·0 million

    (2006 – $62·3 million), profit before taxation of $11·9 million (2006 – $14·2 million) and total assets of

    $48·0 million (2006 – $36·4 million).

    The following issues arising during the final audit have been noted on a schedule of points for your attention:

    (a) In early 2007 a chemical leakage from refrigeration units owned by Lamont caused contamination of some of its

    property. Lamont has incurred $0·3 million in clean up costs, $0·6 million in modernisation of the units to

    prevent future leakage and a $30,000 fine to a regulatory agency. Apart from the fine, which has been expensed,

    these costs have been capitalised as improvements. (7 marks)

    Required:

    For each of the above issues:

    (i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

    (ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

    in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Lamont Co for the year ended

    31 March 2007.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.


    正确答案:
    3 LAMONT CO
    (a) Chemical leakage
    (i) Matters
    ■ $30,000 fine is very immaterial (just 1/4% profit before tax). This is revenue expenditure and it is correct that it
    has been expensed to the income statement.
    ■ $0·3 million represents 0·6% total assets and 2·5% profit before tax and is not material on its own. $0·6 million
    represents 1·2% total assets and 5% profit before tax and is therefore material to the financial statements.
    ■ The $0·3 million clean-up costs should not have been capitalised as the condition of the property is not improved
    as compared with its condition before the leakage occurred. Although not material in isolation this amount should
    be adjusted for and expensed, thereby reducing the aggregate of uncorrected misstatements.
    ■ It may be correct that $0·6 million incurred in modernising the refrigeration units should be capitalised as a major
    overhaul (IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment). However, any parts scrapped as a result of the modernisation
    should be treated as disposals (i.e. written off to the income statement).
    ■ The carrying amount of the refrigeration units at 31 March 2007, including the $0·6 million for modernisation,
    should not exceed recoverable amount (i.e. the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell). If it does,
    an allowance for the impairment loss arising must be recognised in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of Assets.
    (ii) Audit evidence
    ■ A breakdown/analysis of costs incurred on the clean-up and modernisation amounting to $0·3 million and
    $0·6 million respectively.
    ■ Agreement of largest amounts to invoices from suppliers/consultants/sub-contractors, etc and settlement thereof
    traced from the cash book to the bank statement.
    ■ Physical inspection of the refrigeration units to confirm their modernisation and that they are in working order. (Do
    they contain frozen fish?)
    ■ Sample of components selected from the non-current asset register traced to the refrigeration units and inspected
    to ensure continuing existence.
    ■ $30,000 penalty notice from the regulatory agency and corresponding cash book payment/payment per the bank
    statement.
    ■ Written management representation that there are no further penalties that should be provided for or disclosed other
    than the $30,000 that has been accounted for.

  • 第20题:

    (ii) On 1 July 2006 Petrie introduced a 10-year warranty on all sales of its entire range of stainless steel

    cookware. Sales of stainless steel cookware for the year ended 31 March 2007 totalled $18·2 million. The

    notes to the financial statements disclose the following:

    ‘Since 1 July 2006, the company’s stainless steel cookware is guaranteed to be free from defects in

    materials and workmanship under normal household use within a 10-year guarantee period. No provision

    has been recognised as the amount of the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability.’

    (4 marks)

    Your auditor’s report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2006 was unmodified.

    Required:

    Identify and comment on the implications of these two matters for your auditor’s report on the financial

    statements of Petrie Co for the year ended 31 March 2007.

    NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the matters above.


    正确答案:
    (ii) 10-year guarantee
    $18·2 million stainless steel cookware sales amount to 43·1% of revenue and are therefore material. However, the
    guarantee was only introduced three months into the year, say in respect of $13·6 million (3/4 × 18·2 million) i.e.
    approximately 32% of revenue.
    The draft note disclosure could indicate that Petrie’s management believes that Petrie has a legal obligation in respect
    of the guarantee, that is not remote and likely to be material (otherwise no disclosure would have been required).
    A best estimate of the obligation amounting to 5% profit before tax (or more) is likely to be considered material, i.e.
    $90,000 (or more). Therefore, if it is probable that 0·66% of sales made under guarantee will be returned for refund,
    this would require a warranty provision that would be material.
    Tutorial note: The return of 2/3% of sales over a 10-year period may well be probable.
    Clearly there is a present obligation as a result of a past obligating event for sales made during the nine months to
    31 March 2007. Although the likelihood of outflow under the guarantee is likely to be insignificant (even remote) it is
    probable that some outflow will be needed to settle the class of such obligations.
    The note in the financial statements is disclosing this matter as a contingent liability. This term encompasses liabilities
    that do not meet the recognition criteria (e.g. of reliable measurement in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent
    Liabilities and Contingent Assets).
    However, it is extremely rare that no reliable estimate can be made (IAS 37) – the use of estimates being essential to
    the preparation of financial statements. Petrie’s management must make a best estimate of the cost of refunds/repairs
    under guarantee taking into account, for example:
    ■ the proportion of sales during the nine months to 31 March 2007 that have been returned under guarantee at the
    balance sheet date (and in the post balance sheet event period);
    ■ the average age of cookware showing a defect;
    ■ the expected cost of a replacement item (as a refund of replacement is more likely than a repair, say).
    If management do not make a provision for the best estimate of the obligation the audit opinion should be qualified
    ‘except for’ non-compliance with IAS 37 (no provision made). The disclosure made in the note to the financial
    statements, however detailed, is not a substitute for making the provision.
    Tutorial note: No marks will be awarded for suggesting that an emphasis of matter of paragraph would be appropriate
    (drawing attention to the matter more fully explained in the note).
    Management’s claim that the obligation cannot be measured with sufficient reliability does not give rise to a limitation
    on scope on the audit. The auditor has sufficient evidence of the non-compliance with IAS 37 and disagrees with it.

  • 第21题:

    You are an audit manager responsible for providing hot reviews on selected audit clients within your firm of Chartered

    Certified Accountants. You are currently reviewing the audit working papers for Pulp Co, a long standing audit client,

    for the year ended 31 January 2008. The draft statement of financial position (balance sheet) of Pulp Co shows total

    assets of $12 million (2007 – $11·5 million).The audit senior has made the following comment in a summary of

    issues for your review:

    ‘Pulp Co’s statement of financial position (balance sheet) shows a receivable classified as a current asset with a value

    of $25,000. The only audit evidence we have requested and obtained is a management representation stating the

    following:

    (1) that the amount is owed to Pulp Co from Jarvis Co,

    (2) that Jarvis Co is controlled by Pulp Co’s chairman, Peter Sheffield, and

    (3) that the balance is likely to be received six months after Pulp Co’s year end.

    The receivable was also outstanding at the last year end when an identical management representation was provided,

    and our working papers noted that because the balance was immaterial no further work was considered necessary.

    No disclosure has been made in the financial statements regarding the balance. Jarvis Co is not audited by our firm

    and we have verified that Pulp Co does not own any shares in Jarvis Co.’

    Required:

    (b) In relation to the receivable recognised on the statement of financial position (balance sheet) of Pulp Co as

    at 31 January 2008:

    (i) Comment on the matters you should consider. (5 marks)


    正确答案:
    (b) (i) Matters to consider
    Materiality
    The receivable represents only 0·2% (25,000/12 million x 100) of total assets so is immaterial in monetary terms.
    However, the details of the transaction could make it material by nature.
    The amount is outstanding from a company under the control of Pulp Co’s chairman. Readers of the financial statements
    would be interested to know the details of this transaction, which currently is not disclosed. Elements of the transaction
    could be subject to bias, specifically the repayment terms, which appear to be beyond normal commercial credit terms.
    Paul Sheffield may have used his influence over the two companies to ‘engineer’ the transaction. Disclosure is necessary
    due to the nature of the transaction, the monetary value is irrelevant.
    A further matter to consider is whether this is a one-off transaction, or indicative of further transactions between the two
    companies.
    Relevant accounting standard
    The definitions in IAS 24 must be carefully considered to establish whether this actually constitutes a related party
    transaction. The standard specifically states that two entities are not necessarily related parties just because they have
    a director or other member of key management in common. The audit senior states that Jarvis Co is controlled by Peter
    Sheffield, who is also the chairman of Pulp Co. It seems that Peter Sheffield is in a position of control/significant influence
    over the two companies (though this would have to be clarified through further audit procedures), and thus the two
    companies are likely to be perceived as related.
    IAS 24 requires full disclosure of the following in respect of related party transactions:
    – the nature of the related party relationship,
    – the amount of the transaction,
    – the amount of any balances outstanding including terms and conditions, details of security offered, and the nature
    of consideration to be provided in settlement,
    – any allowances for receivables and associated expense.
    There is currently a breach of IAS 24 as no disclosure has been made in the notes to the financial statements. If not
    amended, the audit opinion on the financial statements should be qualified with an ‘except for’ disagreement. In
    addition, if practicable, the auditor’s report should include the information that would have been included in the financial
    statements had the requirements of IAS 24 been adhered to.
    Valuation and classification of the receivable
    A receivable should only be recognised if it will give rise to future economic benefit, i.e. a future cash inflow. It appears
    that the receivable is long outstanding – if the amount is unlikely to be recovered then it should be written off as a bad
    debt and the associated expense recognised. It is possible that assets and profits are overstated.
    Although a representation has been received indicating that the amount will be paid to Pulp Co, the auditor should be
    sceptical of this claim given that the same representation was given last year, and the amount was not subsequently
    recovered. The $25,000 could be recoverable in the long term, in which case the receivable should be reclassified as
    a non-current asset. The amount advanced to Jarvis Co could effectively be an investment rather than a short term
    receivable. Correct classification on the statement of financial position (balance sheet) is crucial for the financial
    statements to properly show the liquidity position of the company at the year end.
    Tutorial note: Digressions into management imposing a limitation in scope by withholding evidence are irrelevant in this
    case, as the scenario states that the only evidence that the auditors have asked for is a management representation.
    There is no indication in the scenario that the auditors have asked for, and been refused any evidence.

  • 第22题:

    The following statements have been made about life cycle costing:

    (i) It focuses on the short-term by identifying costs at the beginning of a product’s life cycle

    (ii) It identifies all costs which arise in relation to the product each year and then calculates the product’s profitability on an annual basis

    (iii) It accumulates a product’s costs over its whole life time and works out the overall profitability of a product

    (iv) It allocates costs to each stage of a product’s life cycle and writes them off at the end of each stage

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    A.(i) and (iii)

    B.(iii) only

    C.(i) and (iv)

    D.(ii) only


    正确答案:B

    All of the statements are false except statement (iii).

  • 第23题:

    You are the audit manager of Chestnut & Co and are reviewing the key issues identified in the files of two audit clients.

    Palm Industries Co (Palm)

    Palm’s year end was 31 March 2015 and the draft financial statements show revenue of $28·2 million, receivables of $5·6 million and profit before tax of $4·8 million. The fieldwork stage for this audit has been completed.

    A customer of Palm owed an amount of $350,000 at the year end. Testing of receivables in April highlighted that no amounts had been paid to Palm from this customer as they were disputing the quality of certain goods received from Palm. The finance director is confident the issue will be resolved and no allowance for receivables was made with regards to this balance.

    Ash Trading Co (Ash)

    Ash is a new client of Chestnut & Co, its year end was 31 January 2015 and the firm was only appointed auditors in February 2015, as the previous auditors were suddenly unable to undertake the audit. The fieldwork stage for this audit is currently ongoing.

    The inventory count at Ash’s warehouse was undertaken on 31 January 2015 and was overseen by the company’s internal audit department. Neither Chestnut & Co nor the previous auditors attended the count. Detailed inventory records were maintained but it was not possible to undertake another full inventory count subsequent to the year end.

    The draft financial statements show a profit before tax of $2·4 million, revenue of $10·1 million and inventory of $510,000.

    Required:

    For each of the two issues:

    (i) Discuss the issue, including an assessment of whether it is material;

    (ii) Recommend ONE procedure the audit team should undertake to try to resolve the issue; and

    (iii) Describe the impact on the audit report if the issue remains UNRESOLVED.

    Notes:

    1 The total marks will be split equally between each of the two issues.

    2 Audit report extracts are NOT required.


    正确答案:

    Audit reports

    Palm Industries Co (Palm)

    (i) A customer of Palm’s owing $350,000 at the year end has not made any post year-end payments as they are disputing the quality of goods received. No allowance for receivables has been made against this balance. As the balance is being disputed, there is a risk of incorrect valuation as some or all of the receivable balance is overstated, as it may not be paid.

    This $350,000 receivables balance represents 1·2% (0·35/28·2m) of revenue, 6·3% (0·35/5·6m) of receivables and 7·3% (0·35/4·8m) of profit before tax; hence this is a material issue.

    (ii) A procedure to adopt includes:

    – Review whether any payments have subsequently been made by this customer since the audit fieldwork was completed.

    – Discuss with management whether the issue of quality of goods sold to the customer has been resolved, or whether it is still in dispute.

    – Review the latest customer correspondence with regards to an assessment of the likelihood of the customer making payment.

    (iii) If management refuses to provide against this receivable, the audit report will need to be modified. As receivables are overstated and the error is material but not pervasive a qualified opinion would be necessary.

    A basis for qualified opinion paragraph would be needed and would include an explanation of the material misstatement in relation to the valuation of receivables and the effect on the financial statements. The opinion paragraph would be qualified ‘except for’.

    Ash Trading Co (Ash)

    (i) Chestnut & Co was only appointed as auditors subsequent to Ash’s year end and hence did not attend the year-end inventory count. Therefore, they have not been able to gather sufficient and appropriate audit evidence with regards to the completeness and existence of inventory.

    Inventory is a material amount as it represents 21·3% (0·51/2·4m) of profit before tax and 5% (0·51/10·1m) of revenue; hence this is a material issue.

    (ii) A procedure to adopt includes:

    – Review the internal audit reports of the inventory count to identify the level of adjustments to the records to assess the reasonableness of relying on the inventory records.

    – Undertake a sample check of inventory in the warehouse and compare to the inventory records and then from inventory records to the warehouse, to assess the reasonableness of the inventory records maintained by Ash.

    (iii) The auditors will need to modify the audit report as they are unable to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence in relation to inventory which is a material but not pervasive balance. Therefore a qualified opinion will be required.

    A basis for qualified opinion paragraph will be required to explain the limitation in relation to the lack of evidence over inventory. The opinion paragraph will be qualified ‘except for’.