Chapter 11 Completing the Integrated Audit and Reporting Prepared by Richard J. Campbell Copyright 2011, Wiley and Sons Learning Objectives 1. Learn the various topics and steps addressed in the final phase of an integrated audit, including the integrated nature of the various procedures and their impacts on both the ICFR and financial statement audits. 2. Identify the circumstances in which unqualified and other audit reports are appropriate for ICFR and financial statement audits. 3. Recognize the content and language of audit reports, including the different forms used for different situations. Chapter 11-1 FINAL AUDIT PROCEDURES Wrap-up audit procedures include the following: Audit of unusual year-end transactions Audit of contingent liabilities and commitments Inquiry of a client’s lawyer Obtaining management’s written representations Subsequent events review Going concern evaluation Consideration of other published information Auditing other financial statements and financial statement disclosures (continued) Chapter 11 -2 Learning Objective #1 FINAL AUDIT PROCEDURES Wrap-up audit procedures include the following (continued): Communications Final review Review of audit documentation Engagement quality review Chapter 11 -3 Learning Objective #1 Overview of an Integrated Audit EXHIBIT 11-1 Chapter 11 -4 Learning Objective #1 Unusual Year-End Transactions Unusual year-end transactions receive particular attention during final audit steps Unusual year-end transactions receive significant auditor scrutiny because of the risk that they have no real business purpose. One possibility is that unusual year-end transactions are recorded only because management wants to alter the financial results presented in the financial statements Chapter 11 -5 Learning Objective #1 Contingent Liabilities and Commitments A contingent liability is a payment or future use of assets for which a company may become obligated as a result of conditions existing at the current time The audit procedures are intended to determine whether the auditor is aware of all contingent liabilities. Commitments are agreements a company has for future actions, such as to purchase inventory or execute leases. Chapter 11 -6 Learning Objective #1 Inquiry of a Client’s Lawyer Auditing standards provide guidance for inquiry of an audit client’s outside legal counsel regarding “litigation, claims, and assessments” (AU 337). The auditor is responsible for obtaining audit evidence about • The existence of litigation, claims, and assessments • The period in which the causal event occurred • The probability of an outcome resulting in a liability • An estimate of the possible loss Chapter 11-7 Learning Objective #1 Audit Procedures Addressing Litigation, Claims and Assessments EXHIBIT 11-2 Chapter 11 -8 Learning Objective #1 Content of a Letter of Inquiry to a Client’s Lawyer EXHIBIT 11-3 Chapter 11 -9 Learning Objective #1 Sample Attorney’s Letter Chapter 11 -10 Learning Objective #1 Sample of Financial Statement Audit Written Representations (Part 1) Chapter 11 - 11 Learning Objective #1 Sample of Financial Statement Audit Written Representations (Part 2) Chapter 11 - 12 Learning Objective #1 Financial Statement Audit Written Representations (Part 2) A scope limitation exists if the auditor is unable to obtain a written management representations letter for any reason, including a refusal on the part of management. If the auditor is not able to obtain written management representations for an integrated audit, the only options are to: 1. issue a report indicating that an opinion cannot be provided, or 2. withdraw from the engagement. Chapter 11 - 13 Learning Objective #1 Management’s Representations for an ICFR Audit EXHIBIT 11-4 Chapter 11-14 Learning Objective #1 Management’s Representations in a Financial Statement Audit EXHIBIT 11-5 Chapter 11-15 Learning Objective #1 Management’s Representations in a Financial Statement Audit EXHIBIT 11-5 Chapter 11-16 Learning Objective #1 Subsequent Events Review Discovering information after year end that is relevant to the prior year’s financial statements or changes in ICFR is learning of a subsequent event. The first type of subsequent event refers to more information surfacing about an event that occurred during the fiscal year being audited on a condition that existed as of the balance sheet date. This is called a recognized or Type I subsequent event. Chapter 11-17 Learning Objective #1 Subsequent Events Review The second type of subsequent event is one that occurs after the financial statement date but before the date of the audit report. This is called a nonrecognized or Type II subsequent event. Examples of these types of subsequent events are: 1. Sale of a bond or capital stock issue 2. Purchase of a business 3. Settlement of litigation when the event giving rise to the claim took place subsequent to the balance sheet date 4. Loss of plant or inventories as a result of fire or flood Chapter 11-18 Learning Objective #1 Financial Statement Subsequent Events EXHIBIT 11-6 Chapter 11-19 Learning Objective #1 Subsequent Events EXHIBIT 11-7 Chapter 11-20 Learning Objective #1 Financial Statement Audit Subsequent Events Procedures EXHIBIT 11-8 Chapter 11-21 Learning Objective #1 Going Concern The auditor must evaluate whether an audit client will continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. The audit standards define the time period as not longer than one year after the financial statement date. Chapter 11-22 Learning Objective #1 Other Published Information Various audit steps may be appropriate if a company produces financial information other than or in addition to the basic financial statements. If the material inconsistency reflects a problem with the other information, the auditor asks the client to revise the other information. The auditor often uses a checklist to verify that all the disclosure requirements are met. Chapter 11-23 Learning Objective #1 Auditing Financial Statement Disclosures Chapter 11-24 Learning Objective #1 Auditing the Statement of Cash Flows Chapter 11-25 Learning Objective #1 Communications Chapter 11-26 Learning Objective #1 ICFR Communications EXHIBIT 11-9 Chapter 11-27 Learning Objective #1 Matters to Be Communicated to the Audit Committee EXHIBIT 11-10 Chapter 11-28 Learning Objective #1 Examples of Wrap-Up Phase Analytical Procedures Chapter 11-29 Learning Objective #1 Review of Audit Documentation AS 3 requires that the auditor prepare an engagement completion document. This document includes all the information needed for a reviewer to understand the significant findings or issues of the audit AS 3 also provides guidance regarding the completion date for audit documentation. All audit procedures must be complete, and necessary evidence must be obtained before the audit report date. the auditor has a limited additional period of time, 45 days, to finalize the audit documentation for retention. The end of the 45-day time period is called the documentation completion date. Chapter 11-30 Learning Objective #1 Significant Findings or Issues EXHIBIT 11-11 Chapter 11-31 Learning Objective #1 Engagement Quality Review SOX Section 103 and AS 7 require that audits of public companies include a review by a concurring or second partner who is not in charge of the audit engagement. This independent review is referred to as an engagement quality review. Chapter 11-32 Learning Objective #1 REPORTING Whenever an auditor is associated with financial statements, a report needs to be issued. The audit report date is “no earlier than the date on which the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate evidence to support the auditor’s opinion” (AS 5.89). When new information is learned after the financial statements are released, the auditor first considers whether the new information is important to anyone still using the financial statements and audit report. Chapter 11-33 Learning Objective #2 Information Discovered between the Audit Completion and Financial Statement Release Dates EXHIBIT 11-12 Chapter 11-34 Learning Objective #2 Events and Information after the Fiscal Year End EXHIBIT 11-13 Chapter 11-35 Learning Objective #2 Reissuing an Audit Report A special reporting situation relates to an auditor reissuing an audit report on a prior year’s financial statements. If the predecessor auditor does not reissue the audit report for the prior year’s financial statements, a public company has no choice other than having the current auditor re-audit the prior year. Chapter 11-36 Learning Objective #2 REPORTING ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The elements of a report expressing an opinion on the financial statements of a public company are a. A title that includes the word independent b. A statement that the financial statements identified in the report were audited c. A statement that the financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management and that the auditor’s responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on his or her audit d. A statement that the audit was conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and an identification of the United States of America as the country of origin of those standards (continued) Chapter 11-37 Learning Objective #3 REPORTING ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The elements of a report expressing an opinion on the financial statements of a public company are (continued) e. A statement that those standards require that the auditor plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement f. A statement that an audit includes 1. Examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 2. Assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management 3. Evaluating the overall financial statement presentation Chapter 11-38 Learning Objective #3 REPORTING ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The elements of a report expressing an opinion on the financial statements of a public company are (continued) g. A statement that the auditor believes that his or her audit provides a reasonable basis for his or her opinion h. An opinion as to whether the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the balance sheet date, etc. i. The manual or printed signature of the auditor’s firm j. The date of the audit report An unqualified financial statement audit report is often referred to as a standard report or clean opinion. Chapter 11-39 Learning Objective #3 Unqualified Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements of a Public Company Chapter 11-40 Learning Objective #3 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT REPORTS THAT DIFFER FROM UNQUALIFIED, STANDARD REPORTS 1. The auditor may need to add explanatory language to the report 2. The audit report can also state a qualified opinion. A qualified opinion report is used when the financial statements are fair “except for” some matter that is specified in the report 3. An audit report can express an adverse opinion on the financial statements. An adverse opinion report states that the financial statements “do not present fairly” the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the company. 4. An auditor can issue a report on the financial statements that disclaims an opinion. Chapter 11-41 Learning Objective #3 Opinion Based in Part on the Report of Another Auditor Chapter 11-42 Learning Objective #3 Substantial Doubt about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern Chapter 11-43 Learning Objective #3 Consistency: Change in Accounting Principle Chapter 11-44 Learning Objective #3 Audit Report Chapter 11-45 Learning Objective #3 Audit Report Chapter 11-46 Learning Objective #3 Qualified, Adverse, and Disclaimer Financial Statement Audit Reports When the financial statements do not present the company’s financial situation and events fairly, the audit report expresses either a qualified or an adverse opinion. A qualified opinion states that, except for the effects of the matter to which the qualification relates, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with GAAP. An adverse opinion is appropriate when the problem is so pervasive that it prevents the financial statements, as a whole, from being fairly stated. Chapter 11-47 Learning Objective #3 Qualified Opinion for a Departure from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Chapter 11-48 Learning Objective #3 Qualified Financial Statement Audit Opinion Because of a Scope Limitation Chapter 11-49 Learning Objective #3 Adverse Opinion Chapter 11-50 Learning Objective #3 Disclaimer of Opinion Chapter 11-51 Learning Objective #3 REPORTING ON AN AUDIT OF INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING EXHIBIT 11-15 Chapter 11-52 Learning Objective #3 Audit Reports on ICFR that are not Unqualified An adverse opinion report on ICFR includes the following: • The definition of a material weakness • A statement that a material weakness has been identified • Identification of the material weakness • Either a statement that the material weakness is included in management’s assessment, or that management’s assessment does not include a description of the material weakness • If the material weakness is not included in management’s assessment, a description of the material weakness with specific information about its nature, and its actual and potential effect on the financial statements • If the material weakness is included in management’s assessment but is not fairly presented, a statement that this is the case and a description of the material weakness Chapter 11-53 Learning Objective #3 Review Question PCAOB AS 3, Audit Documentation establishes a cutoff after which nothing can be removed from the audit work papers. The cutoff is the (a) company’s fiscal year end. (b) field work date. (c) document completion date. (d) SEC filing date. Chapter 11-54 Review Question To be effective, analytical procedures in the overall review stage of an audit engagement should be performed by (a) a staff-level member of the audit team. (b) a staff-level member of another audit team. (c) a manager or partner with knowledge and understanding of the client’s business and industry. (d) the individual who has responsibility for the firm’s peer review program Chapter 11-55 Review Question Analytical procedures used during an audit’s final review include: (a) identifying accounts that have not changed from the prior year and collecting evidence on them. (b) retesting control procedures that were concluded to lack operating effectiveness during tests of controls. (c) evaluating account balances that differ from expected amounts. (d) performing additional substantive tests on quantitatively large financial statement amounts. Chapter 11-56 Copyright “Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation of this work beyond that permitted in Section 117 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without the express written permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Request for further information should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The purchaser may make back-up copies for his/her own use only and not for distribution or resale. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or damages, caused by the use of these programs or from the use of the information contained herein.”