Ch 11 Flashcards
Auditors tests of controls determine…
1 The operating effectiveness of internal control
2 assess control risk
3 assess risk of material misstatement
Auditors use the audit risk model to…
Limit exposure to audit risk
Auditors use substantive procedures to determine…
Fairness of account balances and classes of transactions
At the end of an audit, chances of audit failure are…
At their highest
5 questions auditor should be asking when audit is concluding
1 have year-end misstatements that significantly affect the financial statements been identified?
2 what events that occur after date of financial statements
Could affect current year statements?
3 pending exposure of client to litigation?
4 has client provided all relevant info to auditors during engagement?
5 what matters need to be discussed with individuals charged
With governance of client (audit committee)?
Audit timeline: throughout the year what interim testing should be performed? 2
1 test of controls
2 substantive procedures
Audit timeline: 7 items that must be addressed at year end
1 completing substantive procedures 2 attorneys' letters 3 written representations 4 going concern assessment 5 adjusting journal entries 6 audit documentation review 7 subsequent events
Audit timeline: what must be looked for before the audit completion date?
Subsequently discovered facts
Audit timeline: what 4 items should be looked over before the audit report release date?
1 subsequently discovered facts
2 omitted audit procedures
3 management letter
4 communications with those charged with governance
4 important periods on audit timeline
1 beginning of the year
2 year end date (date of financial statements)
3 date of auditors report (audit completion date)
4 audit report release date
When does interim testing go through?
From January 1st to December 31st
Date of financial statements
The year-end date of the latest period covered by the client’s
Financial statements
Date of the auditors report
Date where auditors have gathered sufficient appropriate evidence
On which to base their opinions on financial statements and
Internal control over financial reporting
Date that will be used for auditors’ reports on client’s financial
Statements and internal control over financial reporting
Audit report release date
Date on which auditors allow client to use their reports in
Conjunction with the financial statements
Same date on which client’s financial statements are issued
Usual period between date of financial statements and date of auditors report?
December 31st to February 15th
Challenge for auditors with audit release date
Auditors can no longer actively obtain evidence
Dilemma: how to report new development in this short period,
Without increasing responsibility of other (unknown) developments
When issues come to auditors’ attention after audit report release date, what can the auditor due in general?
Auditor can take steps to ensure third parties do bit inappropriately
Rely on auditors reports that are no longer reliable
Auditors often test account balances at interim date for…
Efficiency reasons
Roll-forward procedures, define, give a common example
Procedures performed by auditors to extend that conclusions
From an interim date to the date of financial statements
Ex. Examining material account transactions that occur between
Interim testing date and date of financial statements
What do analytical procedures allow auditors to do?
Evaluate financial info by studying relationships among both
financial and nonfinancial data
When must public companies file annual reports with the SEC?
Within 60 days after date of financial statements
When can analytical procedures be used throughout he audit according to AU 520? 3
1 during planning
2 part of substantive testing
3 near end of audit as overall review
Purpose of Analytical procedures: during planning
Assist auditors in planning nature, timing and extent of other audit procedures
Purpose of Analytical procedures: part of substantive testing
Obtain audit evidence about particular assertions related to
account balances or classes of transactions
Purpose of Analytical procedures: near end of audit
As overall review of financial info
To assess conclusions reached and evaluate the overall financial
Statement presentation
Analytical procedures to review financial statements and footnotes, what do auditors evaluate? 4
1 adequacy of evidence gathered in response to unexpected
Account balances
2 relationships among account balances Identified during audit
3 unusual/unexpected acct. balances
4 relationships w/account balances that were not previously
identified In other parts of audit
Key to detecting fraud toward end of audit?
If industry averages are tanking, yet the client’s profit ratios
Are increasing warrants gathering additional audit evidence
What should auditors be alert for pertaining to revenue and expense accounts?
Alert for “miscellaneous”, “other” or “clearing” classified as
Revenue or expense accounts
Particular when adjustments are made at end of period
How can over reporting of revenue/under reporting of expenses be detected?
By scanning accounts for large unusual entries
Earnings management
Adjustments to meet analyst expectations
If items pertaining to earnings management are identified, what should the auditor do?
Auditors should exam related documents
and inquire with client to verify that classification of revenue
Or expense is appropriate
6 Critical accounting estimates for retailers
1 inventory markdowns 2 asset impairment 3 sales returns 4 A/R allowance for doubtful accounts 5 benefits for customer loyalty programs 6 gift card usage
Because estimates reflect uncertainty and future outcomes, auditors cannot…
2) what should auditors consider about estimates?
Audit, corroborate or verify accounting estimates
2) auditors should consider whether estimates are reasonable
What do auditors do relating to management’s estimates near the end of the audit? 2
1 evaluate management’s process for developing reasonable
Estimates
2 determine reasonableness of estimates using historical and
Industry data
Contingency, define
Examples
Existing condition, situation or circumstances involving uncertainty
Of possible gain or loss to an enterprise
Will be resolved if 1 or more future events occur or fail to occur
Ex. Warranties, tax disputes with IRS, guarantees on debt from
Another party
With respect to contingencies, auditors should ensure… 2 things
1 all contingencies are appropriately identified
2 any client disclosure of contingencies reflects most current info
On recent developments both favorable and unfavorable to client
2 important issues from an auditors standpoint relating to pending litigation, claims, assessments
1 have been disclosed to auditors
2 are properly presented and disclosed in client’s financial
statements
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
obtain from management a description and evaluation of…
Litigation, claims and assessments
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
Examine documents in the client’s possession concerning litigation, claims and assessments including…
Correspondence and invoices from client’s attorneys
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
Obtain assurance from management that it has disclosed all material unasserted claims…
The attorney has advised them are likely to be litigated
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
Read minutes of meetings of…
Stockholder’s, directors and appropriate committees
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
What contracts are read? 3
1 loan agreements
2 lease agreements
3 correspondence from taxing or other government agencies
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
Obtain information concerning guarantees from…
Bank confirmations
Once an inquiry with management has been made to discuss potential litigation, claims and assessments; procedures auditors perform:
3 things that should be reviewed relating to legal services?
1 legal expense account
2 cash disbursements records
3 invoices related to legal services
When auditors assess a risk of material misstatement from pending litigation, claims and assessments, they will request their client send…
An attorney letter to all attorneys who worked for the client
During the period under audit
Attorney letter
Communication prepared by client but sent by auditors to client’s
Attorneys that details all pending litigation, claims and assessments
Against client
Waives attorney-client privilege so attorneys can comment on
These matters directly to client’s auditors
4 pieces of information the attorney letter should contain (prepared from the client’s perspective)
1 list of pending or threatened litigation, claims or assessments
2 description of each item (nature of case, management’s response
Or planned response)
3 evaluation of likelihood of unfavorable outcome
4 estimate of range of potential loss
3 steps of attorney letter correspondence
1 letter prepared by client
2 mailed by auditors
3 attorney’s response directly to auditors
4 responsibilities of auditors in audit of litigation, claims and assessments
1 inquire of client regarding existence of litigation, etc.
2 perform various procedures regarding litigation, etc.
3 initiate request to client for attorney letter
4 mail attorney letter prepared by client
3 responsibilities of client in audit of litigation, claims and assessments
1 respond to auditors’ inquiries regarding litigation, etc.
2 provide auditors list, description and evaluation of litigation, etc.
3 prepare letter to attorney that includes info related to litigation, etc.