What you Should Know Flashcards
Why is an audit needed?
Info Hypothesis
Agency Theory
Insurance Hypothesis
Why is the audit needed?
Information Hypothesis
The auditor makes the information more reliable & therefore useful.
So auditors can make sense of what is going on.
Why is audit needed?
Agency Theory
Owners & providers of resources cannot trust management to act in their best interests.
Therefore they need an independent & expert agent (the auditor) to act on their behalf and monitor management and verify their reports.
Agency Theory - Auditors are the agents of the shareholders’
Why is audit needed?
Insurance Hypothesis
Users of audited accounts may be able to sue the auditor if they incur a loss.
(negligence & duty of care must be proven)
Audit Risk
The risk that the auditor expresses an inappropriate opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated.
Audit risk is a function of the risk of materially misstatement and detection risk.
Audit Risk Formula
Audit Risk = Inherent Risk x Control Risk x Detection Risk
What are the ethical principles?
Ethical Principles - Integrity - honest - Objectivity - not bias - Independence - free from conditions and relationships which where your independence could be compromised. Independence of Mind and Appearance
6 threats to ethical principles?
6 threats
- Self-interest threat - you allow your own interests influence your professional judgement
- Self-review threat - Accountants may not appropriately evaluate the results of a previous judgment made or service performed.
- Management Threats
Accountant will not be objective or independent because they have made judgement or taken decisions that are the responsibility of management - Advocacy Threat
Accountant could promote a client’s or employer’s position to the point that their objectivity is compromised - Familiarity Threat
Due to a long or close relationship with client or employer - you become sympathetic and too accepting - Intimidation threat
Management can be intimidating compromising your objectivity
Safeguards to Ethical Principles
Safeguards
- Education, training and experience requirements for entry
- Professional developments
- Corporate Governance Regulations
- Professional Standards
- External Review
What happens at each key stage from Engagement to reporting
Engagement - if you want to accept the client
Planning - Understanding the business - Audit strategy & plans
Interim audit including review of internal controls
Final Audit - When you are able to do your business sheet work
Reporting
Inherent Risk
The susceptibility of an assertion about a class of transactions, account balance, or disclosure to a misstatement that could be material, either individually or aggregated with other misstatements, before consideration of any related controls.
Control Risk
Lack of proper accounting controls
The risk a misstatements could occur in an assertion about a class of transactions, account balance, or disclosure that could be material, either individually or aggregated with other misstatements, will not be prevented, detected and corrected, in a timely basis by the entity’s internal control.
Detection Risk
Failure to detect risk
Business Process
Is a set of activities that helps a company achieve one more more of its objectives.
Business Risk
Is the chance that an event/action/inaction will stop or hinder a company from achieving one or more of its objectives.
Internal Controls
Are systems & procedures put in place by management to minimise risk and to ensure business processes work as intended.
What are the 5 Components of Internal Controls
- The control environment
- Risk Management
- Info Systems
- Control activities
- Monitoring & Responding
Internal Audit
An appraisal or monitoring activity established by management and the directors for the review of accounting and internal control systems as a service to the entity
Control Activities
5 of them
- Authorisation Controls
- Physical Controls
- Info Processing Controls
- Performance Reviews
- Segregation of Duties
Limitations to controls
5 of them
- Human Error
- Management override
- Collusion
- Unusal/infrequent transactions
- Obsolescence
What 5 Key Business Processes?
- Sales
- Purchasing
- Stock
- Payroll
- Fixed Assets