Internal Control Flashcards
What is the primary goal of COSO?
Provide guidance and frameworks for enterprise risk management, internal control, and fraud deterrence.
Who are COSO members?
AICPA
American Accounting Association (AAA)
Financial Executives International (FEI)
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
What are the objectives of internal control?
Ensure effective and efficient operations
Accurate and reliable financial reporting
Compliance with laws and regulations
What are the components of internal control?
Control environment
Risk assessment
Information and communication
Monitoring
Control activities
Control Environment
Demonstrate commitment to integrity and ethics
Board of directors exercise oversight responsibility
Establish structure, authority & responsibility
Demonstrates commitment to competence
Enforces accountability
Risk Assessment
Specifies suitable objectives
Identifies and analyzes risk
Assesses fraud risk
Identifies and analyzes significant change
Information and Communication Systems
Uses relevant information
Communicates internally
Communicates externally
Monitoring
Conducts ongoing and/or separate evaluations
Control Activities
Selects and develops control activities
Selected and develops general controls over technology
Deploys control activities through policies and procedures
Segregation of Duties
Custody
Authorization
Recording
Reconciliation
What are the limitations of internal control?
Competence
Collusion
Override by management
Obsolescence
Cost constraints
What is a control deficiency?
Exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis.
What is a significant deficiency?
A deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that is less severe than a material weakness yet important enough to merit attention of those charged with governance and management.
What is a material weakness?
A deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control involving financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement exists.
What are the types of control?
Preventative
Detective
Corrective
Directive
Compensating
When is an auditor required to perform test of controls?
On audits of issuers. Audits of non-issuers does not require a test of controls, it’s optional.
When is an auditor required to opine on a client’s financial statements?
On audits of issuers & non-issuers.
When is an auditor required to perform substantive procedures?
On audits of issuers & non-issuers.
In assessing inherent risk, the auditor obtains an understanding…
of the entity and its environment
In assessing control risk, the auditor obtains an understanding…
of the entity’s internal control
What should the auditor consider when obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment?
Objectives & strategies
Financial performance
External environment
Nature of operations
Ownership and governance
Investments
Financing structure
Accounting policies
How should the auditor obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment?
Analytical procedures
Inquiries
Inspection
What should the auditor consider when obtaining an understanding of the entity’s internal control?
Evaluate design of I/C
Assess implementation of I/C
How should the auditor obtain an understanding of the entity’s internal control?
Inquiries
Walkthroughs
Inspection
Observation
What is the top down approach (obtain an understanding of the entity’s internal control)?
Step 1: assess risk at financial statement level / entity level
Step 2: evaluate risk at account balances, transactions, & disclosures level
Step 3: evaluate risk at assertion level
What are the key elements of internal control to document?
Each of the I/C components
Any significant risks identified and related I/C
What are the types of documentation forms for internal control?
Flowcharts
Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ)
Narratives
Decision tree
What is risk of material misstatement?
RMM = IR x CR
Risk of material misstatement = Inherent risk x Control risk