AUD Flashcards
List the 3 attestation engagement types, from least to most assurance.
- Compilation
- Review
- Audit
What are 2 things the accountant does during a review engagement? What are 2 things NOT done during a review?
Review includes: Internal inquiry & analytical procedures
Does NOT include: Assess risk of material misstatement due to fraud & assess deficiencies in design/implementation of internal control
What non-audit service can a CPA offer their client contemporaneous with the audit engagement?
Tax services.
NOT allowed: Bookeeping, financial information system design, internal audit outsourcing, actuarial services, management or HR, appraisal or valuation services
Name 3 requirements that the SEC imposes on public companies to strengthen auditor independence.
- Issuers (the company) must report the nature of disagreements with former auditors.
- Issuers must select auditors through audit committees.
- Management (especially CEO & CFO) must acknowledge their responsibility for the fairness of the financial statements, within 90 days prior to auditor’s report.
Name 3 acts that the PCAOB says impairs independence of a CPA firm.
- Providing service to client for contingent fee or commission.
- Providing marketing, planning, or opining in favor of a confidential transaction
- Providing tax service to a person in a financial reporting oversight role at audit client.
Name the 7 types of threats that impair an auditor team member’s independence.
- Adverse interest threat
- Advocacy threat
- Familiarity threat
- Management participation threat
- Self-interest threat
- Self-review threat
- Undue influence threat
Name the 3 types of safeguards.
- Created by the profession or law
- Created by the attest client
- Created by the accounting firm
Name the AICPA’s 6 principles of professional conduct.
- Responsibilities principle
- Public interest principle
- Integrity principle
- Objectivity and independence principle
- Due care principle
- Scope and nature of services principle
What is the auditor’s overall objective when performing an audit?
Obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, and then express an opinion in a report communicating the auditor’s findings.
Name 3 pre-conditions an auditor should consider before accepting an engagement.
- Management uses acceptable financial reporting framework.
- Management accepts responsibility for fair presentation of financial statements, implementation of internal controls, and providing auditor with access to necessary information.
- Management grants permission to speak with predecessor auditor.
What are 3 things an auditor does NOT need to include in their report in the event of change of type of engagement?
If there is a change in type of engagement, the auditor report does NOT need to:
- Refer to scope limitation that caused the change.
- Describe the auditing procedures that have already been applied.
- Reference the original engagement at all.
The only item necessary is a paragraph in auditor’s report is a paragraph disclosing the change in engagement scope.
Name 5 items that must be included in the audit engagement letter.
Engagement letter MUST include:
- Objective and scope of audit of financial statements
- Responsibilities of auditor and management, respectively
- Disclaimer statement about inherent limitations of an audit
- Applicable financial reporting framework used
- Expected form/content of reports issued by auditor
Optional: Request for signature, basis of fees/billing, use of any outside specialists, any arrangements regarding planning/performance of audit, composition of audit team
Name 7 examples of audit documentation (NOT to be confused with audit evidence itself).
- Audit plans
- Analyses
- Issues memorandums
- Summaries of significant findings or issues
- Letters of confirmation and representation
- Checklists
- Correspondences (including email) concerning significant finds or issues
Note: While financial statements are property of client, audit documentation and workpapers are property of auditor. Audit documentation does not ever have to be shown to client, but auditor needs to have assembled their audit file containing all audit documentation within 45 days after report release date, retained for 7 years.
Name 5 items that comprise the overview an auditor should provide to those charged with governance.
- Planned scope and timing of audit
- How auditor proposes to address significant RMM
- Auditor’s approach to assess internal control
- Application of materiality in context of the audit
- How auditor may leverage client’s internal audit function
Should NOT disclose: Details of the procedures that auditor intends to apply
Name 3 items that should be included when an auditor communicates in writing to those charged with governance.
- Definition of the term “material weakness” or “significant deficiency”
- A description of any MW identified and their potential effects
- Any further necessary contextual information or disclaimers
Name 3 other matters that MUST be communicated to those charged with governance.
- The auditor’s responsibilities with regard to the financial statement audit
- Significant findings or issues from the audit
- Uncorrected misstatements
Name 6 elements of a system of quality control.
The purpose of quality control is first and foremost to preserve independence, by ensuring that the auditing firm and its personnel comply with professional standards and act appropriately in the circumstances.
Elements of a system of quality control:
1. Leadership responsibilities for quality within the firm (the tone at the top)
2. Relevant ethical requirements
3. Acceptance and continuance of client relationships and specific engagements
4. Human resources
5. Engagement performance
6. Monitoring
List the 12 parts of the auditor’s report.
- Title
- Address
- Service type
- What auditor worked on
- Date of service
- Responsibilities of parties
- Professional standards followed
- Description of procedures
- Conclusion
- Inherent limitations
- Restrictions on distribution
- Date and signature
List the 5 conditions that must be met in order to issue an unmodified/unqualified audit report.
- Financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects
- All required financial statements were evaluated
- Auditor acquired sufficient evidence to base their opinion
- Statements in conformity with GAAP, and adequate disclosures included
- No explanatory language is required
List the 3 other types of reports aside from unmodified/unqualified opinion.
- Qualified: Except where qualification is indicated, the financial statements are presented fairly.
- Disclaimer: Auditor does not express an opinion on financial statements.
- Advserse: Financial statements do not present fairly the financial position
Describe the 2 conditions that result in a qualified opinion.
Qualified opinion can result from:
- A limitation of scope
- Failure to follow GAAP
An auditor indicates a qualified opinion by using “except for” in the opinion paragraph. It is unacceptable to use “except for” in ANY other type of audit opinion.
Describe the 1 condition that will result in a disclaimer of opinion.
Disclaimer of opinion can only result from:
- A severe limitation on the scope of the audit
A disclaimer of opinion arises only from a lack of knowledge of the auditor. There is not necessarily proven knowledge that financial statements are materially misstated.
Describe the difference between ‘material misstatement’ and ‘pervasive misstatement’.
Material risk of misstatement: Amount of misstatements, that individually or in the aggregate, COULD reasonably be expected to influence economic decision making.
Pervasive risk of misstatement: Risk of material misstatement is so great that NO part of the financial statement should be relied upon for economic decision making.
Misstatement: A difference between: (1) The amounts, classification, presentation, or disclosure of a reported financial statement item and (2) the proper information that is required for the item to be presented fairly in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error.
Describe the difference between a ‘matter-of-emphasis’ paragraph and an ‘explanatory’ paragraph (issuer).
Matter-of-emphasis paragraph: NEVER required, and added based on auditor’s discretion. May discuss: significant transactions, unusually important subsequent events, accounting matters that affect comparability of financial statements
Explanatory paragraph: MAY be required, given the context. May discuss: substantial doubt about entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, change in accounting principles between periods, basing current opinion on report from prior auditor, correction of a prior material misstatement mentioned in prior auditor’s report
Describe the difference between an ‘emphasis-of-matter’ paragraph and ‘other-matter’ paragraph (non-issuer).
Emphasis-of-matter paragraph: MAY be required, for matters presented directly in financial statements. May discuss: subsequent events and subsequently discovered facts, consideration of entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, consistency of financial statements, special considerations in case of a special purpose framework
Other-matter paragraph: MAY be required, for matters NOT disclosed in financial statements. May discuss: subsequent events and subsequently discovered facts, if predecessor auditor’s report was not reissued, identified material inconsistencies, required supplementary information, related aspects of contractual agreements
Describe the parts of an issuer’s standard unqualified report (single year & comparative years).
- Title and addressee
- Opinion paragraph
- Basis for opinion paragraph
- Critical audit matters
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of an issuer’s qualified report (scope restriction, inadequate disclosure, omitted statement, change in accounting principle without reasonable justification).
- Title & addressee
- Qualified opinion paragraph
- Scope restriction (explanatory paragraph)
- Basis for opinion paragraph
- Critical audit matters
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of an issuer’s qualified report (GAAP violation).
- Addressee
- Qualified opinion paragraph
- Scope restriction (explanatory paragraph)
- Qualified opinion restated
- Basis for opinion paragraph
- Critical audit matters
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of an issuer’s adverse report.
- Addressee
- Adverse opinion paragraph
- Scope restriction (explanatory paragraph)
- Adverse opinion restated
- Basis for opinion paragraph
- Critical audit matters
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of an issuer’s disclaimer of opinion.
- Addressee
- Disclaimer opinion paragraph
- Scope restriction (explanatory paragraph)
- Basis for disclaimer of opinion
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a non-issuer’s unmodified opinion report (single year & comparative).
- Addressee
- Report on the financial statements
- Management’s responsibility for the financial statements
- Auditor’s responsibility
- Opinion
- Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a non-issuer’s qualified opinion (scope restriction, GAAP violation, inadequate disclosure)
- Addressee
- Report on the financial statements
- Management’s responsibility for the financial statements
- Auditor’s responsibility
- Basis for Qualified Opinion
- Qualified Opinion
- Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a non-issuer’s adverse opinion.
- Addressee
- Report on the consolidated financial statements
- Management’s responsibility for the financial statements
- Auditor’s responsibility
- Basis for adverse opinion
- Adverse opinion
- Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a non-issuer’s disclaimer of opinion.
- Addressee
- Report on the financial statements
- Management’s responsibility for the financial statements
- Auditor’s responsibility
- Basis for disclaimer of opinion
- Disclaimer of opinion
- Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
- Date and signature
Define a combined report.
An auditor’s report expressing an opinion on financial statements and an opinion on internal control over financial reporting.
Describe the parts of an issuer’s combined report.
- Addressee
- Opinions on the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting
- Basis for opinion
- Definition and limitation of internal control over financial reporting
- Critical audit matters
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a non-issuer’s combined report.
- Addressee
- Report on the financial statements and internal control
- Management’s responsibility for the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting
- Auditor’s responsibility
- Definition and inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting
- Opinion
- Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
- Date and signature
Define critical audit matters.
Matters that: (1) Relate to accounts or disclosures that are material, and (2) involve especially challenging or subjective information requiring auditor judgment.
Explain the difference between an examination attest and a review attest.
Examination attest: Offers high assurance, and conclusion format includes opinion. Scope restriction results in qualified opinion, disclaimer of opinion, or withdrawal. Subject matter restriction results in qualified or adverse opinion.
Review attest: Offers moderate assurance, and conclusion format is negative assurance. Scope restriction results in withdrawal. Subject matter restriction results in modified opinion.
Describe the parts of an examination report (on subject matter & assertion).
- Title that includes the word ‘independent’
- Identification of the subject matter or assertion, and the responsible party
- Statement that subject matter or assertion is responsibility of responsible party
- Statement that practitioner’s responsibility is to express an opinion
- Statement that examination was conducted in accordance with attestation standards est. by AICPA
- Statement that the practitioner believes the examination provides reasonable basis for opinion.
- Opinion on whether subject matter or assertion meets criteria in all material respects
- Statement restricting use of the report to specified parties
- Date and signature
Describe the parts of a review report (on subject matter & assertion).
- Title that includes the word ‘independent’
- Identification of the subject matter or assertion, and the responsible party
- Statement that subject matter or assertion is responsibility of responsible party
- Statement that a review is substantially less in scope than an examination, and that no opinion will be expressed.
- Statement of whether practitioner is aware of any material modifications that should be made to the subject matter or assertion.
- Statement restricting use of the report ot specified parties
- Date and signature
What procedures are performed as part of a review engagement? (And what procedures are NOT performed?)
Review procedures includes:
- Understanding the industry
- Knowledge of the entity
- Designing and performing review procedures
- Analytical procedures
- Investigating results of analytical procedures
- Inquiries of management
- Reading the financial statements
- Using the work of other accountants
- Reconciling the financial statements to the underlying account records
Does NOT include: Assess risk of material misstatement due to fraud & assess deficiencies in design/implementation of internal control
List the parts of a review report.
- Title that includes the word ‘independent’
- Addressee
- Introductory paragraph
- Management’s responsibility for financial statements
- Accountant’s responsibility for financial statements (to conduct review in accordance with SSARS of AICPA)
- Conclusion of whether accountant is aware of any material modifications
- Date and signature
What is the general rule an auditor should follow when addressing a material inconsistency?
If the auditor identifies a material inconsistency, the auditor should determine whether: (1) the audited financial statements or (2) the other information needs to be revised.
List the procedures of review of interim financial information.
- Obtain engagement letter
- Obtain understanding of entity and internal control
- Apply analytical procedures
- Make inquires and other review procedures
- Inquiry concerning litigation, claims assessments
- Inquiry concerning going concern
- Evaluate results
- Obtain written representations from management (withdraw from engagement if not provided)
- Communicate results
What does audit ‘scope’ mean?
Scope refers to the type of engagement, the range of time, the financial statements, and any other relevant documentation covered by an audit.
Describe the transaction cycle of sales, AR, and cash receipts.
- Sales order
- Credit approval
- Shipping bill of lading
- Bill/collect cash
- Records (aging schedule, bad debts, sales returns)
Describe the transaction cycle of purchases, AP, and cash disbursements.
- Requisition
- Purchase order
- Receive goods
- Approve for payment