Auditing & Assurance: 4. Specialized Industries 5. SCOPE 6. Bankers – FS influence their decision to lend money to the company. Suppliers – FS influence their decision of whether to sell goods to the company. Customers – FS influence their decision of whether their supply of goods is secure. Employees – FS influence their decision of whether their employment is secure. Investors – FS influence their decision of whether to invest in the company. The following are the scope of the course: 1. Audit and Assurance Basic Concept 2. Risk Assessment 3. Risk Responses 4. Accounting Estimates and Judgements 5. Journal Entry Testing 6. Revenue Recognition What is the objective of an audit? Audit and Assurance Basic Concept The overall objectives of conducting an audit of FS are: What is Auditing? 7. 8. To obtain reasonable assurance about whether the FS as a whole are free from material misstatements, whether due to fraud or error, thereby enabling the auditor to express an opinion on whether the FS are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework. To report on the FS and communicate as required by the AFRF, in accordance with the auditor’s findings. 1. The phrases we use to express our audit opinion are that the FS “give a true and fair view” or “are presented fairly, in all material respects,“ in accordance with the AFRF. 2. It is important to understand that the user cannot assume that the opinion is an assurance as to the future viability of the entity or the efficiency or effectiveness with which management has conducted the affairs of the entity. The act of independently accumulating and evaluating evidence of an economic entity for the purpose of reporting on the degree of compliance of information produced with established criteria (such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). We, as auditors gather evidence about a company’s FS by performing our testing procedures with the goal of communicating our audit findings to the users (usually, delivering an audit report to the company to include in its period-end report to its shareholders or stakeholders). Why are audits performed? Certain entities may be required to have an audit performed by law, such as: Publicly held companies Publicly accountable entities Privately-owned companies Sole proprietorships and partnerships You may be wondering why audits must be performed when law does not require them to be. The auditors’ report provides credibility to the financial statements produced by manage-ment. Therefore, audits often are performed even though, by law, they may not be required to be. You may be able to think of some other examples of why an audit could be required or requested in your country. Some users of the entity‘s FS, including lenders, investors, suppliers and government, may specifically request the FS to be audited by an auditor so they can confidently rely on the information provided in the financial statements to make economic decisions. The purpose of audit is to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users in the FS by issuing an opinion on whether the FS are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework. Users: 1. 2. 3. Shareholders - FS help them monitor the custody and performance of their investments. Analysts – FS provide the basis for them to value a company and advise their clients. Regulatory Authorities – FS provide the basis for them to monitor a company. What are financial statements? Are a structured representation of historical financial information, including related disclosures intended to communicate an entity’s economic resources or obligations at a point in time or the changes therein for a period of time in accordance with a financial reporting framework. The term “FS” ordinarily refers to a complete set of FS that consists of: Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income (US GAAP: Income Statement) Elements: Income, Expenses Statement of Financial Position (US GAAP: Balance Sheet) Elements: Assets, Liabilities and Equity Statement of Cash Flows Statement of Changes in Equity Notes to FS FS portray the financial effects of transactions and other events by grouping them into broad classes according to their economic characteristics. These broad classes are termed the elements of FS. Management-prepared FS must comply with the basic principles of accounting – how assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are to be applied, measured and reported. The basic principles of accounting are listed below. Accrual Basis of Accounting Financial Statement Assertions FS are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Under this basis, the effects of transactions and other events are recognized when those effects occur (and not as cash or its equivalent is received or paid) and they are recorded in the accounting records and reported in the FS of the periods to which they relate. The FS consists of many accounts which may include the following: Cash Trade Receivables Sales Payroll Expense FS prepared on the accrual basis inform users not only of past transactions involving the payment and receipt of cash but also of obligations to pay cash in the future and of resources that represent cash to be received in the future. Hence, they provide the type of information about past transactions and other events that is most useful to users in making economic decisions. Each FS account has FS assertions implicit in the financial statements. Financial statement assertions are representations of management, explicit or otherwise, embodied in the financial statements as used by the auditor to consider the different types of potential misstatements that may occur. Historical Cost Principle Assets are recorded at the amount of cash or cash equivalents paid, or the fair value of the consideration given to acquire them, at the time of their acquisition. Financial Statement Assertions are categorized as: Liabilities are recorded at the amount of proceeds received in exchange for the obligation, or at the amounts of cash or cash equivalents expected to be paid to satisfy the liability in the normal course of business. Realization Principle Income, or revenue, should be recognized only when its conversion into cash has occurred or is reasonably certain. Consistency Principle The consistency principle of accounting requires that entities give accountable events the same presentation and accounting treatment from period to period to ensure comparability of FS with those of previous periods. Balance Sheet Income Statement Existence Occurrence Completeness Completeness Rights and Obligations Measurement Valuation Presentation and Disclosure Presentation and Disclosure *based on ISA. During an audit, we determine which FS assertions are relevant to the significant accounts and disclosures. The consistency principle means that an entity applies the same methods from period to period in accordance with the AFRF, but it does not mean that the entity cannot switch from one method of accounting to another in certain circumstances. We design and perform substantive procedures at the assertion level to identify material misstatements and, if found, to quantify their effect in the FS. Full Disclosure Principle *Based on PSA Accountants have adopted a principle of full disclosure that generally calls for revealing in the FS any facts of sufficient importance to influence the judgment of an informed reader. Classes of transactions and events for the period under audit: Thus, the full disclosure principle requires the presentation of sufficient information to permit the knowledgeable reader to reach an informed decision instead of indulging in a guessing game. The common methods of disclosure are presenting an account with a balance, parenthetical disclosure and footnote disclosure. Objectivity (Verifiability) Principle The objectivity principle states that accounting information and financial reporting should be independent and supported with unbiased evidence. This means that accounting information must be based on research and facts, not merely a preparer’s opinion. The objectivity principle is aimed at making FS more reliable. Financial Statement Assertions a. b. c. d. e. Occurrence Completeness Accuracy Cut-off Classification Account balances at the period ended: a. Existence b. Rights and Obligations c. Completeness d. Valuation and Allocation Presentation and Disclosure: a. Occurrence and Rights and Obligations b. Completeness c. Classification and Understandability d. Accuracy and Valuation What is an Audit Opinion? The primary output of an audit is an opinion on an entity’s FS. After completion of all audit procedures, we review and assess the conclusions drawn from the audit evidence obtained. These conclusions are the basis for the expression of our opinion on the FS. opinion on the FS due to the potential interaction of the uncertainties and their possible cumulative effect on the FS. The general reader of the company’s FS will not know the details of our audit, nor will he or she be able to look at the work papers that you prepared to document your testing of the client’s cash balances. The reader of the FS will be able to read our opinion, and if it is an unqualified opinion, then know that the audit team has obtained reasonable assurance that the FS as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The audit opinion is the final step in the entire audit process. The review and assessment considers whether the FS have been prepared in accordance with an AFRF. These can be either of the following: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Relevant National Accounting Standards or Practices Another authoritative, comprehensive financial reporting framework that has been designed for use in financial reporting and is applicable in the FS. Types of Audit Opinions Unmodified Opinion An unmodified opinion should be expressed when the auditor concludes that the FS are prepared, in all material respects (or give a true and fair view) in accordance with the AFRF. Qualified Opinion A qualified opinion should be expressed when the auditor concludes that misstatements, individually or in the aggregate, are material, but not pervasive, to the FS; or is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base the opinion , but concludes that the possible effects on the FS of undetected misstatements, if any, could be material but not pervasive. What do we mean by “presents fairly, in all material respects”? There is no legal definition of the phrases “presents fairly” or “true and fair” Determining this requires significant judgment because auditing is not an exact science. The view presented in any set of financial statements is only one of several possible true and fair views. Throughout your career, you will develop the judgment needed to determine these concepts related to clients’ FS. What is Materiality? You are auditing the cash account and are currently working on a client-provided cash reconciliation schedule. While you are agreeing the beginning bank balance statement, you notice that the person who prepared the reconciliation accidentally used MU 1.3 million as the beginning balance on the reconciliation. The bank statement says the beginning balance is actually MU 1.8 million, resulting in a MU 500,000 difference. Adverse Opinion An adverse opinion should be expressed when the auditor, having obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence, concludes that misstatements, individually or in the aggregate, are both material and pervasive to the FS. Disclaimer of Opinion A disclaimer of opinion should be expressed when the auditor is unable to express an opinion because: They are unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base the opinion, and the auditor concludes that the possible effects on the FS of undetected misstatements, if any, could be both material and pervasive. In circumstances involving multiple uncertainties, and not withstanding having obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding each of the individual uncertainties, it is not possible to form an Is this a material difference? What if the difference were only MU 1,000? The concept of materiality as it relates to our audit can be tricky. A material difference at one of your clients might not be a material difference at another client. It all depends on the materiality levels established by your team in response to the factors at that particular client. The determination of materiality is not a mathematical exercise but requires professional judgment involving audit executives, including the partner in charge of the audit. Materiality is defined as the magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, individually or in the aggregate, in light of the surrounding circumstances, could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of the users of the FS. (What if the MU 500,000 error were to change an investor’s mind as to whether she wants to invest in the company’s stock? The MU 500,000 then would be material to that company.) PSA and ISA. An auditor should plan and perform an audit with an attitude of professional skepticism. Questioning mind of an auditor. The objective of an audit of FS is to enable the auditor to express an opinion about whether the FS are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an AFRF. Our audits are designed to provide reasonable assurance (not absolute assurance) that the FS are not materially misstated. The basic concepts related to materiality are: Code of Ethics We, as auditors, are not responsible for making sure that the client’s FS are 100% correct or to identify every small difference. for Professional Accountants We are responsible for expressing an opinion about whether the FS are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an AFRF. General Principles and Scope of an Audit Sets standards accountants. of conduct for professional States the fundamental principles that should be observed by professional accountants in order to achieve common objectives. In instances where a national requirement is in conflict with a provision in the code, the national requirement prevails. For example, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) sets out the principles and rules that should be observed by accountants practicing in the US. Introduction to General Principles of an Audit Integrity The three general principles of an audit: The principle of integrity imposes an obligation on all professional accountants to be straightforward and honest in all professional and business relationships. Integrity also implies fair dealing and truthfulness. An auditor should comply with a code of ethics Similar to other professions, like law and medicine, the accounting profession has a code of ethics, which we should comply with at all times, unless certain parts of it being precluded by laws and regulations in specific circumstances. As an auditor, you should comply with the Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). IFAC believes that the identity of the accountancy profession is characterized worldwide by its endeavor to achieve a number of common objectives and by its observance of certain fundamental principles for that purpose. IFAC, recognizing the responsibilities of the accountancy profession and considering its own role to be that of providing guidance, encouraging continuity of efforts and promoting harmonization, has deemed it essential to establish the International Code of ethics for Professional Accountants to be the basis on which the ethical requirements for professional accountants in each country should be founded. An auditor should conduct an audit in accordance with applicable auditing standards. Objectivity The principle of objectivity imposes an obligation on all professional accountants not to compromise their professional or business judgment because of bias, conflict of interest or the undue influence of others. Professional Competence and Due Care The principles of professional competence and due care imposes the following obligations on all professional accountants: 1. To attain and maintain professional knowledge and skill at the level required to ensure that clients or employers receive competent professional service, based on current technical and professional standards and relevant legislations. 2. To act diligently in accordance with applicable technical and professional standards. Confidentiality The principle of confidentiality imposes an obligation on all professional accountants to refrain from: 1. 2. Disclosing outside the firm or employing organization confidential information acquired as a result of professional and business relationships without proper and specific authority or unless there is a legal or professional right or duty to disclose; and Using confidential information acquired as a result of professional and business relationships to their personal advantage or the advantage or the advantage of third parties. Professional Behavior The principle of professional behavior imposes an obligation on professional accountants to comply with relevant laws and regulations and avoid any conduct that the accountant knows or should know might bring discredit to the profession. This includes actions which a reasonable and informed third party would be likely to conclude negatively affects the good reputation of the profession. Responsibility of Professional Accountants A distinguishing mark of a profession is acceptance of its responsibility to the public. Investors Employers Government Creditors Business community Public Sound financial accounting and reporting Effective financial management Competent advice on a variety of business and taxation matters Inherent in this mission statement is the understanding that “services of consistently high quality” implies that professional standards governing those services are also of consistently high quality. The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), which is designated by, and operating independently under the auspices of the IFAC, issue the ISAs. When local standards exist, they govern the practices followed in the auditing of financial statements. Professional Skepticism Plan and perform an audit with an attitude of professional skepticism. Professional skepticism includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions which may indicate possible misstatement due to fraud or error, and a critical assessment of evidence. For example, an attitude of professional skepticism is necessary throughout the audit process for the auditor to reduce the risk of overlooking suspicious circumstances, of overgeneralizing when drawing conclusions from audit observations, and using faulty assumptions in determining the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures and evaluating the results. It is your responsibility to make sure you do not become too comfortable working with your client and that you always question and verify the information that you obtain. Continue to question the reliability of documents and information until you are comfortable that you have obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence. Not be too skeptical and not believe anything that your client tells you. Representations from management alone are not a substitute for obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the audit opinion. Always keep on your “auditor hat” to gather and document sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support your conclusion. Professional accountant executes the services provided at the highest level of performance and in accordance with ethical requirements. Audit Scope International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) The auditor should conduct an audit of FS in accordance with ISAs or local auditing standards, if applicable. IFAC will continue to strengthen the worldwide accountancy profession and contribute to the development of strong international economies by establishing and promoting adherence to high-quality professional standards. Audit scope refers to the scope of services on a specific audit required by statutory and other regulatory requirements, entity expectations and/or professional requirements. Number of locations Number of procedures Kinds of procedures The procedures required to conduct an audit in accordance with ISAs or applicable local auditing standards should be determined by the auditor. Requirements of ISAs Local Auditing Standards Relevant professional bodies Legislation Regulations Audit Engagement and Reposting requirements Laws and Regulations factors from the Process for Acceptance of Clients and Engagements tool (PACE) at the beginning of the audit. We determine the effect on our risk assessments and incorporate the necessary additional actions or procedures into our audit strategy and audit plan to address these risk factors. We obtain an engagement agreement prepared in accordance with APM AGREE TERMS Engagement agreements for assurance engagements, supplemented by local audit requirements, if applicable. Evaluate compliance with ethical requirements, including independence. We determine compliance for both the firm and the members of the audit team. Audit Process and Other Services Phases of an Audit Engagement The initial phase of a FS audit involves the initial plannin g activitie s. In accordance with Independence Policy, we perform procedures to determine compliance with ethical requirements, including independence, prior to performing other significant activities for the current audit period. We determine that we are independent in fact and in appearance with the entity being audited. We ensure we have adequate professional competence to perform the services required and we maintain client confidentiality during the current audit period, including securing the work papers. We ensure that we have fulfilled requirements relevant to our audit. other ethical Establish the team. Our understanding of the entity obtained during the client and engagement acceptance or continuance process, including our expectations about service requirements of those charged with governance and management, helps us establish our audit team and determine team roles and responsibilities. INITIAL PLANNIN G OF THE AUDIT We determine the nature, timing and extent of resources and establish the audit team to achieve the appropriate balance of skills, experience and competence necessary to perform the audit. Understand service requirements and agree the scope of services. We make a preliminary assessment of additional expertise that is needed beyond that possessed by the members of the audit team and develop a plan to obtain the resources. We determine whether to use the expertise of an internal specialist or an auditor’s external specialist. ENGAGEMENT We understand the expectations of those charged with governance and management to help us determine the service requirements. We meet with those charged with governance and management early in the audit to agree the scope of services, the timing of our work, the expected outputs and delivery dates, and any expectations we have of management. The result of this meeting provides us with information for planning the audit (e.g., the availability of data and use of automated techniques) and gives us an initial insight into potential areas of audit focus. We assess the results of our client and engagement acceptance and continuance process (including the risk Determine the roles and responsibilities of team members. We establish the roles and responsibilities of team members for preparing and reviewing audit documentation. Appropriate levels of supervision should be in place so members of the audit team understand the purpose of the assigned work and less experienced audit team members receive appropriate support and on-the-job training from more experienced team members. We conduct timely reviews to determine that the work performed supports the conclusions reached and is documented appropriately. More experienced team members, including the partner in charge (PIC), review work performed by less experienced team members. The second phase of an audit relates to identification and assessment of risks and determination of our audit strategy. These are crucial to a successful audit engagement. IDENTIFY AND ASSESS RISKS The amount of effort to identify and assess risks and determine the audit strategy will vary with the size and complexity of the client and the auditor’s knowledge of and experience with the client. In general terms, the identify and assess risks element involves: In the execution phase, we perform tests of controls when we adopt a controls reliance strategy. We perform tests of controls when we plan to rely on controls over a significant class of transactions or significant disclosure process (SCOT) or in other special circumstances. We then identify the controls, understand their design and determine which are relevant to the audit. Test of controls may be performed either before, or at, the balance sheet date. We exercise professional judgment in deciding when to perform them. Testing controls early may help us identify important matters at an early stage of the audit and resolve them, with the assistance of management, or address their effects on the audit by identifying effective mitigating controls to rely on or revising our audit strategy. Based on the result of our tests of controls, we evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of relevant controls and assess the control risks as either ‘rely on controls’ or ‘not rely on controls’, for each relevant assertion for each significant account and disclosure. This assessment, combined with our inherent risk assessment, is the basis for our combined risk assessment (CRA) for each relevant assertion. Obtain an understanding of the client’s business and industry Understand management’s assessment process Understand components of internal control at the entity level Identify and assess fraud risks Make preliminary judgments about materiality levels Identify significant accounts and disclosures and relevant assertions Identify and understand transactions (SCOTs) Identify risks of material misstatement and make inherent risk assessments Our substantive procedures may be different if we adopt a core GAM audit approach or a digital audit approach. We customize our substantive procedures to respond to our CRA. Design an audit strategy to address identified risks of material misstatement, including fraud risks In addition to the CRA, other factors that may influence the timing of our procedures include: Execute the Executive discussion and approval points (EDAPs) significant classes of The third phase of the audit relates to the design and execution of audit procedures to address the identified risks. We design the nature, timing, and extent of our substantive procedures to respond to our Combined Risk Assessment (CRA). Substantive procedures may be categorized as Primary Substantive Procedures (PSPs) or Other Substantive Procedures (OSPs), which may include substantive analytical procedures, tests of details and /or tests of items to obtain information. The entity’s reporting deadlines, readiness and the availability of information to be audited. Audit team’s reporting deadlines, availability and efficiency factors. The time needed for the entity or other parties to respond to audit requests. DESIGN AND EXECUTE RESPONSES TO RISKS The primary objective of this audit phase is to design and perform audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base our auditor’s opinion. Sufficiency is the measure of the quantity of audit evidence obtained. Appropriateness is the measure of the quality of audit evidence; that is, its relevance and its reliability in providing support for the conclusions on which to base our auditor’s report. We consider all relevant information from reliable sources, regardless of whether it corroborates or contradicts management’s assertions, bearing in mind potential risks of bias. We obtain audit evidence from substantive procedures or combined with tests of controls, as appropriate. CONCLUDE AND COMMUNICATE We aggregate the individual pieces of audit evidence obtained from our audit procedures for each relevant assertion to enable us to conclude whether we have obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to address the identified risks. In addition, we evaluate the effect of accumulated misstatements, perform an overall analytical review, reassess our risk assessment based on the results from our procedures and revisit our audit strategy, prepare the Summary Review Memorandum (SRM), perform subsequent events procedures, and obtain management’s representation letter. We execute the Executive Discussion and Approval Points (EDAPs) to discuss and conclude on the overall financial statements, as well as agree the final versions of our communications to management and those charged with governance. We prepare the audit report where we express our audit opinion on the client’s financial statements. The audit report generally is issued when we have obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to form our opinion on the entity’s FS. Finally, we wrap up the audit by completing the documentation of our audit procedures, including their review and sign-off, and archiving our documentation within the required timeline. Although the simplified descriptions of the phases of an audit give you only a general understanding of what an audit is all about, this understanding, along with the other information you have learned so far in this course, allows you to understand the big picture of what an audit really is. Review Engagement In a review engagement, the auditor expresses a review report that is designed to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users regarding the preparation of an entity’s FS in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework. The auditor’s report is based on the auditor obtaining limited assurance. The auditor performs primarily inquiry and analytical procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence. In a review engagement, the auditor expresses a conclusion on whether anything has come to the auditor’s attention that causes the auditor to believe the FS are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework. For example, EY may be asked to issue a review report on a company’s quarterly FS. Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Engagement Levels of Assurance Provided from Different Type of Services For agreed-upon procedures, the auditor is engaged to carry out those procedures of an audit nature to which the auditor, the entity and any appropriate third parties have agreed and to report on factual findings. When performing agreed-upon procedures, no opinion is expressed. Assurance refers to the auditor’s satisfaction as to the reliability of an assertion (i.e., the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of FS) being made by one party (i.e., entity’s management) for use by another party (i.e., the intended users of FS). Reasonable assurance is a high, but not absolute, level of assurance. For example, the firm may be asked to complete agreedupon procedures related to a company’s profit-sharing calculation for the company’s employees. The degree of satisfaction achieved and, therefore, the level of assurance that may be provided is determined by the procedures performed and their results. The level of assurance provided by the auditor is predetermined and agreed with those charged with governance of the client prior to the acceptance or continuance of engagement. TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT Audit Engagement In an audit engagement, the auditor provides a reasonable, but not absolute, level of assurance that the FS as a whole are free from material misstatements whether due to fraud or error. Reasonable assurance is a level of assurance. An example of an audit engagement is the period-end audit of a company’s FS. Compilation Engagement Management may request a professional accountant in public practice to assist with the preparation and presentation of financial information of an entity. In a compilation engagement, although the users of the compiled information derive some benefit from the professional accountant’s involvement, it is not an assurance engagement. It does not require the professional accountant to verify the completeness of the information provided by management for the compilation or otherwise to gather evidence to express an audit opinion or a review conclusion on the preparation of the financial information. Due to the requirements for independence, an auditor is not allowed to prepare the FS that they will later audit. Course Summary In this course, you have learned about the basic information surrounding what an audit is and the basic concepts of auditing. The ultimate goal in performing an audit is to provide reasonable assurance to the users of the financial information that the balances are materially correct through our audit opinion. Remember the basic phases of an audit are: Initial Planning of the Audit Identify and Assess Risk Design and Execute Responses to Risks Conclude and Communicate We follow the auditing standards and requirements of our local countries and perform our audits in accordance with fundamental ethical principles and with an attitude of professional skepticism.