A4 Flashcards
What is audit evidence?
Is all the info the auditor uses to arrive at the conclusions on which the audit opinion is based. It includes info in written or electronic form as well as observable assets or activities, and it must be obtained to support auditor conclusions
How is audit evidence gathered?
- Risk assessment procedures
- Test of controls
- Substantive procedures
- Other Audit procedures
How does the auditor test accounting records?
Through analytical procedures and substantive procedures
What does corroborating evidence include?
Minutes of meetings, confirmations, industry analysts’ reports, data about competitors, and info obtained through observation, inquiry and inspection.
What is not a valid basis for omitting a procedure for which there is no appropriate alternative
Note that while the cost-benefit relationship may be valid reason for performing only certain procedures, cost alone or difficulty in obtaining evidence is not valid basis
The auditor’s decision regarding the sufficiency of evidence is influenced by:
- The risk of material misstatement: greater risk implies more evidence will be required
- The quality of audit evidence: less audit evidence may be required when that evidence is of higher quality
What is the hierarchy of audit evidence (from most reliable to least reliable)?
- Auditor’s direct personal knowledge & observation
- External evidence
- Internal evidence
- Oral evidence
What does the test of details consist of?
Audit procedures used to gather evidence to support the account balances as reflected in the FS. Test of details are performed on ending balances, the details of transactions, or a combination of the two
What is the purpose of using analytical procedures during the planning stage and is it required?
To assist the auditor in understanding the entity
Required
What is the purpose of using analytical procedures during the substantive procedures stage and is it required?
Not Required
-Obtain audit evidence about specific management assertions related to account balances and transactions
What is the purpose of using analytical procedures during the final review stage and is it required?
Required
-To assist the auditor in the final review of the overall reasonableness of account balances
What are some Analytical Procedures?
- Comparisons of Fin Data - Current and prior year’s FS and the current year budget
- Ratio Analysis - compare ratios developed from recorded amount to expected ratios developed by the auditor
When designing and performing analytical procedures as substantive procedures, the auditor should do the following?
- Determine the analytical procedures that are suitable for testing the assertions
- Evaluate the reliability of the data from which the auditor’s expectation is to be developed
- Develop an expectation
- Perform the analytical procedures and compare the results
- Investigate any significant differences by:
- inquiring management
- performing other audit procedures
Analytical procedures are most effective and efficient for …
assertions in which potential misstatements are not apparent from an examination of the detailed evidence or when such detail is unavailable
What should analytical procedures be based on in order to provide an appropriate level of assurance?
Predictable relationships
When an analytical procedure is used as the principal substantive test of a significant FS assertion, the auditor is required to document the:
- Auditor’s expectation
- Factors considered in the development of expectation
- Results
- Additional audit procedures performed
- Results of such additional procedures
What is external confirmation?
Is a form of audit evidence obtained as a direct written response to the auditor from a third party
What is positive confirmation?
Is a request that the confirming party respond directly to the auditor by providing the requested information or by stating that the party agrees or disagrees with the info in the request
What is negative confirmation?
Is a request that the confirming party respond directly to the auditor only if the confirming party disagrees with the info in the request
The auditor should maintain control over external confirmation requests, including:
- Determining the info to be confirmed
- Selecting the appropriate confirming party
- Designing the confirmation requests
- Sending requests, including follow-up requests
If management refuses to allow the auditor to perform external confirmation procedures, the auditor should…
Evaluate the validity and reasonableness of management’s refusal, evaluate the effect of the refusal on the risks of material misstatement, including the risk of fraud, and on the nature, extent, and timing of other audit procedures, and perform alternative procedures
What is footing, crossfooting and recalculation?
An auditor may verify the mathematical accuracy of statements and schedules by adding down (footing), adding across (crossfooting), or recomputing amounts.
What does inquiry consist of?
Requesting info from knowledgeable parties both internally and externally.
What is vouching?
Is directional testing in which the auditor examines support for what has been recorded in the records and statements
What does inspection or examination generally provide?
Evidence about the evidence assertion, rather than about ownership, rights, obligations or valuation
What is confirmation?
Is a specific type of inquiry that involves obtaining representations from independent external third parties about account balances and transactions or events
What does analytical procedures consist?
Evaluations of fin info made by a study of meaningful relationships among data, to help highlight unusual fluctuations that could be the result of errors or fraudulent omissions or overstatements
When does reperformance occur?
When an auditor independently performs procedures or controls that were originally performed as part of an entity’s IC
What does reconciliation do?
Substantiates the existences and valuation of accounts
What is observation?
Observation occurs when an auditor looks at a process of procedure performed by others
What is tracing?
Is directional testing. Tracing is looking for coverage in the opposite direction of vouching
Cutoff Review?
The auditor should perform a cutoff review of year-end transactions, especially inventory, cash, purchases, sales and accurals
What is auditing related accounts simultaneously?
Certain accounts can be audited simultaneously, such as:
- Long-term liabilities and interest expense
- Capital additions to plant and equipment and repairs and maintenance expense
What is subsequent events review?
The auditor is required to perform certain procedures for the period after the BS date up to the date of the auditor’s report. Evidence becoming available after the BS date should be used in making judgments about the valuation of assets and liabilities on the BS date
When audit procedures relate to asset, liability and equity account balances, the most relevant assertions are:
CVER Completeness Valuation, Allocation and accuracy Existence and Occurence Rights and obligations
When auditing asset bal -testing on existence (rather than completeness) - more likely to be overstated than understated
when auditing liability bal - testing for completeness - more likely to be understated than overstated
When testing transactions, the most relevant assertions are:
COVEU Completeness CutOFF Valuation, Allocation and Accuracy Existence and Occurrence Understandability and Classification
When testing FS presentation and disclosures, the most relevant assertions are:
CVRU Completeness Valuation Allocation and Accuracy Rights and Obligations and Occurrence Understandability and Classification
What are the methods for selecting items for testing?
Selecting all items - population consists of a small number of high dollar value items
Selecting specific items - have a specific charateristics
Audit sampling - less than 100 percent
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of completeness?
Tracing
Analytical Review
Observation
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of CutOff?
Cutoff procedures
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of valuation, allocation and accuracy?
Inspection
Footing
Independent recalculation
Reconciliation
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of Existence and occurrence?
Confirmation
Observation, inspection and examination
vouching
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of Rights and obligations?
Inspection
What are audit procedures are involved with the assertion of Understandability and classification?
Inspection
Review
Inquiry of management
Revenue Cycle: Under strong IC, segregation of the functions in sales transactions should exist as follows:
- Preparation of the sales order- a serially numbered sales order is prepared and sent to the credit department for approval
- Credit Approval = valuation
- Shipment - a serially numbered bill of lading is prepared
- Billing - prepares a serially numbered sales invoice. Shipping docs, sales orders and invoices are compared to assure that all shipments were based on valid customer orders and were properly billed. Prices and discounts are applied to the invoice and necessary extensions and footings are computed. the invoice is then sent to the customer and the to the AR dept
- Accounting - sale is entered into the sales journal, and a receivable is recorded
Revenue Cycle: IC for Accounts receivable?
- Sales
- Collection of cash receipts
- Uncollectible receivables - aging schedule is prepared and sent to the credit department for use of carrying out its collection program
- Sales Returns - A serially numbered receiving report may be used as a sales return slip. Once the return is approved, the related outstanding receivable is eliminated.
Revenue Cycle: IC for Cash Receipts?
Incoming mail must be opened by a person who does not have access to the AR ledger. The receipts should be listed in detail with one copy and the actual receipts sent to the cashier to prepare bank deposit, another copy sent to the AR department for entry in the AR subsidiary records, and a third copy sent to the accounting department for entry in the general ledger AR control account
Revenue Cycle: Substantive Procedures related to the revenue cycle - auditing AR (Balances)
- Completeness
- Valuation, allocation, and accuracy
- Existence and occurrence
- Rights and Obligations
Revenue Cycle: Substantive Procedures related to the revenue cycle - Auditing sales transactions
- Completeness
- CutOff
- Valuation, Allocation and Accuracy
- Existence and Occurrence
- Understandability and classifcation
Revenue Cycle: Substantive Procedures related to the revenue cycle- auditing presentation and disclosure
- Completeness
- Valuation, allocation and accuracy
- Rights and obligations and occurrence
- Understandibility and classification
Revenue Cycle: What does a blank positive confirmation form mean?
That the recipient is requested to fill in the balance. Blank form provide a greater degree of assurance but may also result in a lower response rates because a great effort is required for response.
Revenue Cycle: Why are negative confirmations less effective than positive confirmations?
Lack of a response does not provide explicit verification of the existence of the receivable
Expenditure Cycle: IC - Purchases: the following functions should be segregated?
- Purchase requisition - starts the purchasing cycle. Dept in need of the asset or services sends a properly approved, serially numbered requisition to the purchasing department
- Purchase Orders - purchasing dept should obtain competitive bids for best price. It is best that prenumbered purchase orders be used
- Receipt of goods or services - Copy not indicate the quantity ordered. Thus, the receiving dept is forced to count the goods upon arrival