CPA Excel - Difficult Flashcards
List the three factors, as indicated by the AICPA Tables, that determine attributes sample size.
- Expected error rate (related to the variation in population)
- Tolerable error rate (related to precision)
- Risk of over-reliance (Type II error rate)
What matters must be documented by the auditor in connection with the evaluation of misstatements?
- The threshold for determining what is viewed as clearly trivial
- All misstatements accumulated during the audit (and whether they have been corrected)
- The auditor’s conclusion a to whether any uncorrected misstatements are material (individually or in the aggregate), and the basis for that conclusion
List the general standards regarding audits that are promulgated by the AICPA.
Professional competence
Due Professional care
Planning and supervision
Sufficient relevant data
Describe the auditor’s requirements for communicating deficiencies in an entity’s internal controls.
- The auditor must communicate in writing the significant deficiencies (including material weaknesses) identified in the audit
- The auditor may choose to communicate lesser matters, too
Identify several substantive procedures usually performed in every audit area.
- Agree financial statements, or trial balance from which financial statement elements are derived, to underlying accounting records (general ledger).
- Scan the entity’s journals and ledgers for any “unusual” items.
- Make inquiries of management and other personnel; document inquiries management’s responses in the management representation letter.
- Perform specific analytical procedures – Consider historical trends and events within the industry.
List the factors that directly relate to sample size.
- Expected error rate
2. Population size – Not explicitly considered in attributes sampling
List the factors inversely related to sample size.
- Tolerable error rate
- Risk of over-reliance – Type ll error
- Risk of under-reliance
List the four standard-setting boards of IFAC.
- The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)
- The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA)
- The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB)
- The International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB)
What is the role of IFAC’s International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB)?
- In general, to be the global standard-setting body related to auditing, review, other assurance services, and quality control, and to facilitate convergence of national and international standards
- With respect to auditing specifically, to issue International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) applicable to the audit of historical financial information
List the three specific elements required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) presentation.
- Discussion of financial condition – Regarding liquidity and capital resources
- Discussion of changes in financial condition
- Discussion of results of operations
Of what does the cutoff test of sales consist?
Examine the last few transactions before year-end and the first few after year-end. Agree the entries on the sales journal to the shipping documents (existence); and agree the shipping documents to the sales journal (completeness).
List two types of statistical sampling.
- Attributes sampling (regarding internal controls)
2. Variable sampling (regarding substantive tests)
Define “Type 1 Error”.
- The risk of under-reliance on controls (that is, the risk of assessing control risk too high); or incorrect rejection of the fairness of an account balance
- Relates to efficiency of audit
List some audit procedures that might be used to assess accounting estimates.
- Inquire of management to understand how the estimate was developed.
- Review and test management processes.
- Develop an independent expectation for comparison to entity’s estimate.
- Review subsequent events for additional evidence.
List the features of objectivity.
- Impartiality
- Intellectual Honesty
- Freedom from conflicts of Interest
What are the four objectives of the auditor related to communications with audit committees that are identified in PCAOB Auditing Standards No. 16?
- Communicate responsibilities and establish an understanding of the engagement’d terms.
- Obtain information from the audit committee relevant to the audit.
- Communicate information about the strategy and timing of the audit.
- Provide the audit committee with timely observations about significant audit matters.
What audit procedures might an auditor perform to evaluate an investment in securities that is based on the investee’s financial results?
The auditor would normally read the audited financial statements of the investee.
List the standards that the PCAOB is responsible for establishing.
- Auditing
- Quality control
- Ethics
- Independence
List the two types of engagements related to pro forma information.
- Examination
2. Review
List the “covered members” outlined in the Principles of the Code of Professional Conduct.
- Team members
- Those in a position to influence (PTI) team members
- Other partners in the office (OPIOs)
- Ten-hour people
- The firm
- Any entity controlled by the above
What are the three objectives of internal control as identified in the definition of internal control?
- Reliability of financial reporting
- Effectiveness and efficiency of operations
- Compliance with applicable laws and regulations
Identify two procedures used to assess the relevance of an entity’s internal audit activities.
- Inquire about the internal audit function’s organizational status, any limitations applicable to internal audit activities, and adherence to applicable professional standards.
- Review documentation of internal auditors’ processes and selected work products.
List the differences in the AICPA Statements on Quality Control Standards (SQCS) relative to the PCAOB’s Auditing Standards No. 7.
SQCS do NOT:
- Require an “engagement quality review” for any type of engagement
- Impose a “cooling off” restriction or a requirement that the reviewer must be an “associated person” of a registered public accounting firm
- Require a “concurring approval of Issuance” before issuing a report
- Specifically require that engagement quality review documentation must be retained with other documentation
What is the formula for the observed deviation rate?
(# of Errors in the Sample) / Sample Sizeq
What is the auditor’s responsibility for assessing the risk of material misstatement?
The auditor should identify and asses the risks of material misstatement:
- At the financial statement level
- At the relevant assertion level related to classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosure
What are the auditor’s responsibilities with respect to opening balances, and whether they contain misstatements affecting the current period financial statements?
- Determine whether the prior closing balances have been properly brought forward.
- Determine whether the opening balances reflect the application of appropriate accounting policies.
- Evaluate whether audit procedures provide evidence relevant to the opening balances (for example, by reviewing the predecessor’s audit documentation).
Identify a few audit procedures that might address the valuation assertion for inventory.
- Perform price tests (to evaluate the appropriateness of the inventory’s cost/unit – e.g., agree unit costs to a recent supplier’s invoice).
- Test the extensions (quantity times cost/unit) and foot the total.
- Perform lower of cost or market analysis. Might calculate the inventory turnover ratio to identify slow-moving inventory.
Describe how the auditor might address the completeness assertion for inventory.
- Test sales cut-off (regarding cost of goods sold, decreases to inventory).
- Test purchases cut-off (regarding purchases of inventory).
Identify two audit procedures that address the rights and obligations assertion for fixed assets.
- Inquire about any fixed assets pledged as collateral for debts.
- Read the entity’s debt agreements for any discussion of collateral, such as fixed assets.
Describe how the auditor might address the completeness assertion for fixed assets.
Review repairs and maintenance expense accounts to see if any transactions should have been capitalized instead of expensed.
Identify a few audit procedures to address the existence assertion for accounts payable.
- Compare the general ledger control account to the supporting detailed listing of payables.
- Agree selected items to vendors’ invoices.
- May choose to confirm payables (but usually do not, since completeness is typically a greater concern than existence with respect to liability accounts).
Identify an audit procedure that addresses the rights and obligations assertion for long-term liabilities.
- Review the loan documents for any restrictive debt covenants to be disclosed.
- Review the loan documents (or inquire of management) to identify the current portion of long-term debt to be reclassified as a current liability.
Identify a few audit procedures that address the valuation assertion for long-term liabilities.
- Trace related cash receipts (for increases) and disbursements (for decreases) from the accounting records to the bank statement for any debt activities.
- Examine underlying loan documents for issuance of new debt and scheduled payments.
- Recalculate the amortization of any discount or premium involved.
Identify a few audit procedures that address the rights and obligations assertion for stockholder’s equity.
- Review minutes of meetings of those charged with governance for authorization of stock-related transactions.
- Review the entity’s compliance with contracts for employee stock plans.
- Inquire of management about any restrictions applicable to retained earnings.