Week 3

Question 1

The main stages of an audit are:

Answer 1

risk assessment phase
risk response phase
reporting phase.

Question 2

Risk assessment phase:

Answer 2

Auditor must plan the audit to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level. A well planned audit ensures that sufficient appropriate evidence is gathered for accounts most at risk of material misstatement.

Question 3

Audit risk

Answer 3

Audit risk is the risk that an auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion when a financial report is materially misstated.

Question 4

Risk response phase:

Answer 4

Risk response involves detailed tests of controls and substantive testing of transactions and accounts.

Question 5

Concluding and reporting on an audit:

Answer 5

Reporting involves evaluating results of detailed testing in light of the auditor’s understanding of their client and forming an opinion on the truth and fairness of the client’s financial report.

Question 6

Gaining an understanding of the client

Answer 6

According to ASA 315; ISA 315, gaining an understanding of the client is necessary to assess the risk that the financial report contains a material misstatement due to:
The nature of the client’s business.
The industry in which the client operates.
The level of competition within that industry.
The client’s customers and suppliers.
The regulatory environment in which the client operates.

Question 7

Stages of gaining an understanding of the client:

Answer 7

entity level
industry level
economy level.

Question 8

Entity level:

Answer 8

major suppliers
major customers
international transactions
capacity to adapt to changes in technology
warranties and discounts
client reputation and operations
client relations with employees

Question 9

Industry level:

Answer 9

level of competition
client reputation
level of government support
level of government regulation
level of demand for client goods/services.

Question 10

Economy level:

Answer 10

How do overall economic conditions affect client?

• interest rate changes
• financial crises
• shareholder expectations of increasing profits in good times.

What are specific pressures on client to understate or overstate profits in these conditions?

Question 11

Fraud risk

Answer 11

Auditor must asses risk of material misstatement due to fraud (ASA 240; ISA 240). Auditor adopts attitude of professional scepticism:

Question 12

Auditor adopts attitude of professional scepticism:

Answer 12

Maintaining an independent questioning mind.
Search thoroughly for corroborating evidence to validate information provided by the client.
Don’t just rely on past experience with client

Question 13

Indicators (red flags) of possible fraud:

Answer 13

high turnover of key employees
key finance personnel refusing to take leave
overly dominant management
poor compensation practices
inadequate training programs
complex business structure

Question 14

Incentives and pressures to commit a fraud:

Answer 14

In assessing the risk of fraud, an auditor will consider incentives and pressures faced by their client to commit a fraud.

Question 15

Examples of incentives and pressures that increase the risk of fraud include:

Answer 15

the client operates in a highly competitive industry
a significant decline in demand for the client’s products or services
falling profits
a threat of takeover

Question 16

Opportunities to perpetrate a fraud:

Answer 16

After identifying one or more incentives or pressures to commit a fraud, an auditor will assess whether a client has an opportunity to perpetrate a fraud.

Question 17

Examples of opportunities that increase the risk that a fraud may have been perpetrated include:

Answer 17

accounts that rely on estimates and judgement
a high volume of transactions close to year-end
significant adjusting entries and reversals after year-end
significant related party transactions
poor corporate governance mechanisms

Question 18

Attitudes and rationalisation to justify a fraud:

Answer 18

An auditor will assess the attitudes and rationalisation of client management and staff to fraud.

Question 19

Examples of attitudes and rationalisations used to justify a fraud include

Answer 19

a poor tone at the top (that is, from senior management).
the implementation of an effective internal control structure is not seen as a priority.
an excessive focus on maximisation of profits and/or share price

Question 20

Going concern

Answer 20

Auditor must consider whether it is appropriate to assume that client will remain a going concern (ASA 570; ISA 570). Going concern justifies valuing assets on basis they will continue to be used in business and liabilities paid when due. Remaining a going concern is the responsibility of client governance.
Auditor must obtain sufficient appropriate evidence to assess validity of going concern assumption.
Auditor makes professional judgement about going concern risk, based on risk indicators.

Question 21

Going concern risk — indicators:

Answer 21

Auditor is required to assess client efforts to identify going concern risk factors.
Auditor should obtain evidence of effect of risk factors on client and its ability to continue as going concern.

ASA 570; ISA 570 has list of going concern risk indicators.

Examples include:
significant debt/equity ratio
long term loans due, no alternative finance
prolonged losses, inability to pay debts when due
loss of significant customer, supplier problems

Question 22

If going concern is in doubt, undertake additional audit procedures

Answer 22

Assess cash flow, revenues, expenses, interim results.
Review debt contracts, board meeting minutes.
Discussions with client management and lawyers.

Question 23

Auditor should also consider factors that mitigate (reduce) going concern risk.

Answer 23

Letter of guarantee from parent company.
Availability of assets or segment of business for sale for cash.
Ability to raise funds through share issue or borrowing

Question 24

Corporate governance

Answer 24

Corporate governance is the rules, systems and processes within companies used to guide and control activities.

Used to monitor actions of staff and assess level of risk faced.

Controls used to reduce identified risks and ensure future viability of the company.

ASX principles and recommendations for listed companies.

Question 25

ASX principles and recommendations for listed companies.

Answer 25

Companies required to disclose their compliance.

Question 26

Information technology

Answer 26

Auditor should consider particular risks faced by client related to IT (ASA 315; ISA 315), for example:
Unauthorised access to computers, software and data:
need security, passwords to prevent distorted data.

For example:
Errors in programs:
Can occur if not thoroughly tested before implementation, or mistakes made when changing programs.

Question 27

Closing procedures

Answer 27

Client closes accounts when preparing financial reports at year-end.
Revenue and expense accounts should include all transactions for the year, and none that relate to other periods.
Accrued assets and liabilities should be complete.
Assets and liabilities should include all relevant items.

Auditor faces risk that client closing procedures are inadequate.

Question 28

Audit procedures to assess adequacy of client closing procedures:

Answer 28

Assess adequacy of client interim reporting procedures.
Check accuracy of accrual calculations.
Analyse results to assess reasonableness.