Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the most authoritative level of auditing guidance for audits of nonissuers?
General guidance provided by a Statement on Auditing Standards
The GAAS Hierachy includes:
1 being the most authoratative
1 being the most authoritative level and 3 being the least authoritative level
- SAS (Nonissuers) and PCAOB AS (Issuers)
- Interpretative Publications
- Other Auditing Publications
SAS -Statement on Auditing Standards
PCAOB AS - Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standards
Differentiate between Auditing Standards vs. Auditing Procedures
Auditing Standards relate to the quality of the performance opposed to Auditing Procedures that relate to acts performed
Describe Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
Measures of the quality of the auditor’s performance
True or False?
Something issued by the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) are always Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
False
True or False
The Statement of Auditing Statements (SAS) are considered interpretations of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
True
Does an auditor of a nonissuer conduct an audit in accordance with ASB Standards or PCAOB Standards or both?
Both; An auditor of a nonissuer must conduct the audit in accordance with ASB Standards. They may also choose to follow PCAOB standards too.
What does “U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” mean?
Conventions, rules, and procedures necessary to define U.S. accepted accounting practice at a particular time due to GAAP changes over time
What is the relationship between AICPA and SAS?
The AICPA Provides Statements on Auditing Standards which relate to proper performances of a financial statement audit
What term indicates a presumptively mandatory requirement?
Presumptively having a reasonable basis for belief or acceptance; likely to be true
Should
What terms indicate an explanatory material?
May, Might, Could
What term indicates an unconditional requirement?
Must
When is professional judgement exercised?
When the words, “may”, “might”, and “could” are used to describe actions and procedures, auditors have a responsibility to consider for further understanding.
What is professional skepticism?
An attitude that the auditor must apply when making professional judgements that provide a basis for the auditor’s actions for the critical assessment of audit evidence (i.e., a questioning mind that may indicate possible misstatement due to error or fraud for critical assessment of audits)
“I trust you, but let’s verifiy”
Responsibilities of an Auditor:
- Appropritate competence and capabilities to perform audit
- Maintaining professional skepticism and exercising professional judgement throughout audit
- Complying with releveant ethical requirements
What is an auditor’s responsibility regarding financial statements?
Express an opinion on the financial statements based on an audit
Does this show professional skepticism?
Adopt an attitude of acceptance unless evidence indicates otherwise.
No
Does this show professional skepticism?
Assess the entity’s document-retention controls before using documents as audit evidence
No
Does this show professional skepticism?
Consider the reliability of information to be used as audit evidence
Yes
Does this show professional skepticism?
Authenticate documents used as audit evidence
No
True or False
Auditors may conduct the audit in accordance with both GAAS and Government Auditing Standards
True and they should add additional language to the Basis for Opinion paragraph
What is required of an auditor in obtaining a reasonable level of assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud?
Hint: what you do day-to-day
- Plan the work and properly supervise
- Determine and apply appropriate materiality levels
- Identify and assess risks of material misstatements whether due to error or fraud
- Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence
What term identifies a requirement for audit evidence?
Sufficient Appropriate Audit Evidence
True or False?
Auditing Standards can use the words adequate and disconfirming to describe requirements for audit evidence
False
What term describes the type of assurance gained by the auditor as the basis for the opinion?
Reasonable
Opinions for Financial Statment Issues
- Qualified Opinion
- Adverse Opinion
Opinions for Auditing Issues
- Qualified Opinion
- Disclaimer Opinion
Opinion for Financial Statments that are materially correct?
Unmodified (Nonissuer) or unqualified opinion (Issuer)
What is this opinion?
Auditing Issues that are material and pervasive are…
Disclaimer of Opinion
What is this opinion?
Financial Statements that are material and pervasive are…
Adverse
What is this opinion?
Auditing Issues and Financial Statement Issues that are material and not pervasive are…
Qualified
An auditor forms an opinion on the financial statements and considers….
whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework
What is the first step to consider as an auditor asked to express an opinion on all periods presented?
For example, if comparative information is presented in a nonissuer’s financial statements.
Determine prior periods meet the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework
What are modified opinions?
- Qualified Opinions
- Adverse Opinions
- Disclaimer of Opinions
What is the emphasis-of-matter paragraph?
Use when CAP
A paragraph used when referring to a matter that is appropriately presented or disclosed in the financial statements that is fundamental to the users’ understanding of the financial statements
Emphasizing a matter that is already disclosed in FS
Auditor’s phrase for an audit report of a nonissuer when expressing a qualified opinion in the opinion section
(For example, on the financial statements there is an inadequate disclosure that is material but not pervasive)
“Except for”
Auditor’s phrase for an audit report of a nonissuer when expressing an adverse opinion in the opinion section
(For example, on the financial statements there is an inadequate disclosure that is material and pervasive)
“Do not present fairly”
What would the expression of opinion be?
Scenario: Management refuses to allow the auditor to contact legal counsel
Disclaimer or Opinion or withdrawal from the audit
What would the expression of opinion be?
Scenario: A publicly held company issues financial statements that purport to present its financial position and results of operations but omits the statement of cash flows
Qualified Opinion
When an auditor of a nonissuer expresses an adverse opinion, the opinion section should include:
A direct reference to a separate section disclosing the basis for the opinion
Which section includes a list of substantive reasons for the financial statements being incorrect or misleading?
The Basis for Adverse Opinion Section
Based on this sentence phrasing, what would the opinion be?
“In our opinion, because the significance of the matter discussed in the…the accompanying consolidated financial statements do not present fairly”
Adverse Opinion