Introduction To The Attest Function (1) Flashcards
The purpose of the attest function is…
To add credibility to the financial statements
The attest function is an…
Independent audit function
4 reasons financial statements may lack credibility
1 management bias
2 stupidity
3 errors
4 fraud
An attest engagement is defined as one in which…
A practitioner is engaged to issue or does issue a written
Communication that expresses a conclusion about the
reliability of a written assertion that is the responsibility of
Another party
An attest examination is made of…
The company’s financial statements
The auditor carries out the audit examination by…2
1 following the 10 generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS)
And
2 all official pronouncements that explain and interpret GAAS
and Attestation standards whenever they apply
An auditor holds himself or herself as…3
1 independent
2 an expert regarding accounting GAAP
3 an expert auditing (GAAS) + particular business/industry being
Audited
The auditor must report his or her finding based on…
Evidence examined
The primary assertion is…
Whether or not statements are “presented fairly” in accordance
With GAAP
The AICPA defines fairly presented as…
The financial statements reflect underlying transactions of the
Company
SAS 69 states that the opinion regarding fair presentation is based on the auditors judgement as to whether…5
1 accounting principles have general acceptance
2 principles are appropriate in the circumstance
3 statements informative of matters that effect use
4 information is classified and summarized reasonably
5 statements reflect transactions and events within range of
Reasonable limits
The auditor examines the financial statements of the company and renders…
A report attesting to the fair presentation of those statements
Statements are the property and responsibility of…
Management
The auditor has no right to alter financial statements without…
Management approval
Ten generally accepted auditing standards, what is the nature of these standards?
These standards are…
Qualitative in nature and set a minimum requirement of the
Profession
3 subsets of the ten generally accepted auditing standards
1 general standards
2 standards of fieldwork
3 standards of reporting
3 general standards
1 technical training and proficiency
2 independence
3 due professional care
General standard: The audit must be performed by a person or persons having adequate technical training and proficiency as an auditor.
What does this mean? 3
1 Auditor must have education in accounting
2 practical experience in auditing
3 knowledge of particular industry being audited
General standard: The auditor must maintain independence in mental attitude in all matters relating to the assignment. This standard is often called the…
Cornerstone of the profession since it adds credibility to what
Auditors do
Independence must be both in…
Fact and appearance
Independence in fact
In the mind of the CPA
Independence in appearance
To the public
General standard: the auditor must exercise due professional care in the performance of the examination and the preparation of the report.
What is this often called? Why?
Often called the average auditor concept
You should use due diligence in you work and do what every
Other auditor would do and never less
Standards of fieldwork 3
1 plan work and supervise assistants
2 sufficient understanding of entity/environment
3 obtain sufficient appropriate evidence
Standard of fieldwork. Auditor must obtain sufficient understanding of entity and its environment including…3
1 internal control
2 risk of material misstatements on FS due to fraud or error
3 design the nature, timing and extent of further audit procedures
Standard of fieldwork: auditor must obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing audit procedures to afford…
Reasonable basis for opinion regarding the financial statements
Under audit