Standards & Related Topics Flashcards
Who is responsible for carrying out an audit according to GAAS?
Independent auditor
What is the purpose of an audit?
To determine whether the financials “in all material respects” conform to GAAP
The auditor’s responsibility for this is explicitly stated in the introductory paragraph of his report
Who is responsible for ensuring the financials conform to GAAP?
Management
Also responsible for internal control and accounting policies
What is the process of aggregation for financial accounting?
Individual transactions –> Journals –> Ledgers –> Financial Statements
What is vouching?
Tracking items from the financial statements backward, to determine if they occurred
What is tracing?
Tracking original transaction documentation to the financial statements, to ensure everything is recorded
What is an engagement letter?
States the details of the engagement with the client
Given so the client understands what the auditor must do and what the auditor’s and management’s responsibilities are
What is the purpose of an audit team discussion?
To discuss the likelihood of material misstatement in the financials
Determined by risk assessment procedures
What is a relevant assertion?
Assertion meaningful to whether an account is fairly stated or not
Depends on the type of the account
Are tests of control and substantive tests optional or mandatory?
Tests of control are optional
Substantive tests are mandatory
What is included in the audit report?
The scope of the audit and the auditor’s opinion
What must be done before the audit report is issued?
Review by the lead audit partner
What do public companies (i.e. issuers) also need besides an audit report?
Engagement quality review and “concurring approval of issuance”
Reviews the engagement team’s work in preparing the engagement report
What is a financial statement audit?
The ordinary kind of audit, determining financial statements’ conformity with GAAP
What is a compliance audit?
Determine an entity’s conformity with certain rules (e.g. IRS audits for whether a taxpayer has paid his due)
What is an operational audit?
Done by internal auditors to evaluate how effective and efficient some part of the company is
What are six important characteristics for audits?
Independence Materiality Selective Testing Audit Risk Overall Opinion Presentation
What is important about selective testing?
An auditor does not provide exhaustive testing or confirmation – only selective
What is important about audit risk?
Risk is twofold: the risk that financials are materially misstated and the risk that the auditor will not detect any such misstatement
Performance of audit is to reduce risk and provide reasonable (not absolute) assurance
What is important about presentation?
Audits ensure that financials are presented fairly, not whether the company is good
What should internal auditors do to be independent?
- report to a level in the company higher than the audited level
- if reporting to the audit committee of the board of directors, they should be independent from any area of the company
What are two common governmental auditors?
Government Accountability Office (GAO) auditors (audits for Congress)
IRS agents
Who are “those charged with governance” (TCWG)?
The main people in charge of running the company, including the board of directors and the audit committee
What is the audit committee?
Formed by the board of directors to monitor financial reporting and internal controls and to interact with auditors (both internal and external)
What is included in the AICPA’s Codification of Professional Standards?
Various Statements on Auditing Standards (SASs) and other standards
Possible card on CPS abbreviations #1
use only if tested (p. 21-6)
Possible card on CPS abbreviations #2
use only if tested (p. 21-6)