Internal Controls Section B (Risks and Recommendations) Flashcards
What is the test of control?
To ensure the control is operating effectively
What is meant by a direct control?
Prevent, detect and correct mistakes in the accounts
What is meant by a key control?
Action management have taken to reduce risk of fraud and error
Risk of production of goods not being stopped for an inventory count?
Goods could be included in count when they shouldn’t be, resulting in double counting
Control recommendation of production of goods not being stopped for an inventory count?
Company should minimise planned dispatches for day of count. Goods to be dispatched to customers should be excluded from inventory by being set aside
Risk of production of inventory count being undertaken by 20 teams from the warehouse and is overseen by warehouse supervisor
Represents lack of segragation as they are not independent
Control recommendation of production of inventory count being undertaken by 20 teams from the warehouse and is overseen by warehouse supervisor
Different department should do count to ensure segragation of roles. Make financial controller oversee count, not warehouse supervisor
Risk of inventory sheets detail quantities held at date of the count?
Counters may rely on sheet instead of counting themselves. This could result in overstatement or understatement
Control recommendation of inventory sheets detail quantities held at date of the count?
Count sheets shouldn’t contain quanities just product codes. Ensures counters have to physically count inventory
Risk of 20 teams comprising two individuals with no clear division of responsibility?
Two members could be counted, meaning errors could go unnoticed
Control recommendation of 20 teams comprising two individuals with no clear division of responsibility?
Role of teams should be defined in count instructions (e.g. one individual doing counting and another one recording)
Risk of when an area is counted it is marked off on warehouse map in the office instead of marking it?
If map not updated properly, items of inventory could be incorrectly recorded
Control recommendation of when an area is counted it is marked off on warehouse map in the office instead of marking it?
Warehouse bays should be inspected at end of count to ensure completeness of the count
Risk of when inventory is only counted by one team?
Difficult if any omissions are due to counting errors or genuine adjustments
Control recommendation for when inventory is only counted by one team?
Do a second count not done by a team involved in the first count. Differences are then compared
Risk of when large quantity of spare parts are not being counted as they are unusable?
Items not being counted as all items should be included no matter if they’re old or obsolete
Control recommendation of when large quantity of spare parts are not being counted as they are unusable?
Obsolete items should be flagged on inventoruy count for valuation, not omitted
Risk of when completed inventory sheets are passed to warehouse assistant for an immediate update?
There is no investigation of differences between physically and what’s been recorded. Meaning understatement or overstatement is possible
Control recommendation of when completed inventory sheets are passed to warehouse assistant for an immediate update?
All differences should be investigated to estbalish whether inventory records are incorrect
Risk of when warehouse supervisor is going to undertake valuation of work in progress at year end when previously done by expert?
Warehouse supervisor may not have necessary expertise to determine stage of completion
Control recomenndation of when warehouse supervisor is going to undertake valuation of work in progress at year end when previously done by expert?
A specialist should continue to value work in progress or if that’s not possible, specialsit should check supervisor’s work
Risk of when cred it check performed on all customers after which finance director sets the limit and this remains unchanged
If credit limits aren’t reviewed regularly, they could be too high (customers with bad credit) or too low (lose of revenue)
Control recommendation of when credit check performed on all customers after which finance director sets the limit and this remains unchanged
Credit limits should be reviewed regularly and amended when approprate
Risk of when no copy of sales order is kept by the sales department?
If orders are not fulfilled on a timely basis, this reduces customer goodwill
Control recommendation of when no copy of sales order is kept by the sales department?
Sales order form should become four part instead of three part, so the form is sent to the sales department
Risk of when discounts aren’t reviewed and are being set by sales staff?
No check if the discount is reasonable, loss of revenue doesn’t meet business targets
Control recommendation of when discounts aren’t reviewed and are being set by sales staff?
All sales discounts should be authorised in advance by an appropriate official. Master file data system should be amended to stop a higher discount fromb eing entered
Risk of when master data access for the sales department is available for everyone in purchasing department?
If anyone can add new suppliers to purchase ledger system, fraudulent payments can occur
Control recommendation of when master data access for the sales department is available for everyone in purchasing department?
Amendments to master file data should only be done by authorised members of the department
Risk of when GRNs not received by finance department for purchase invoices?
Could result in invoices being paid when they haven’t been received
Control recommendation of when GRNs not received by finance department for purchase invoices?
GRN should be sent to finance department on a timely basis for matching to purchase invoices
Risk of when payables clerk only ultilises count controls when inputting invoices into payables ledger?
Suppliers may not be paid on time or incorrect amounts. Losing supplier goodwill
Control recomendation of when payables clerk only ultilises count controls when inputting invoices into payables ledger?
Apply information processing controls (e.g. control totals) rather than just completeness checks to ensure purchase invoices are inputted correctly
Risk of when no checks are performed on an automated system?
Errors and overpayments could be made resulting in a loss of employee goodwill
Control recommendation of when no checks are performed on an automated system?
Senior official should check data and this should be evidenced by a signature
Risk of when payroll clerk can edit payroll data without this being reviewed?
Payroll data can be adjusted to inflate pay of family and deductions being made resulting in loss of employee goodwill
Control recommendation of when payroll clerk can edit payroll data without this being reviewed?
Adjustments made to the reports should be reviewed by a senior offical and evidenced by a signature
Risk of when non-current register is not being physically verified on a frequent basis?
Increased risk of assets being misappropriated and obsolete assets may not be identified on a timely basis
Control recommendation of when non-current register is not being physically verified on a frequent basis?
Devote more resources to ensure checking is done accurately. Write off assets that can’t be located and investigate where such assets could be
Risk of when financial policy is adjusted so items only capitalised if they exceed £20000 (a significant change)
A high threshold will mean significant costs are expensed to SPL and understatement of PPE