6
Audit 1Chapter Responsibilities and Objectives
Review Questions
6-1 The objective of the audit of financial statements by the independent
auditor is the expression of an opinion on the fairness with which the financial
statements present financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
The auditor meets that objective by accumulating sufficient appropriate
evidence to determine whether the financial statements are fairly stated.
6-2 It is management's responsibility to adopt sound accounting policies,
maintain adequate internal control and make fair representations in the financial
statements. The auditor's responsibility is to conduct an audit of the financial
statements in accordance with auditing standards and report the findings of the
audit in the auditor's report.
6-3 An error is an unintentional misstatement of the financial statements.
Fraud represents intentional misstatements. The auditor is responsible for obtaining
reasonable assurance that material misstatements in the financial statements are
detected, whether those misstatements are due to errors or fraud .
An audit must be designed to provide reasonable assurance of detecting
material misstatements in the financial statements. Further, the audit must be
planned and performed with an attitude of professional skepticism in all aspects
of the engagement. Because there is an attempt at concealment of fraud, material
misstatements due to fraud are usually more difficult to uncover than errors. The
auditors best defense when material misstatements (either errors or fraud) are
not uncovered in the audit is that the audit was conducted in accordance with
auditing standards.
6-4 Misappropriation of assets represents the theft of assets by employees.
Fraudulent financial reporting is the intentional misstatement of financial information
by management or a theft of assets by management, which is covered up by
misstating financial statements.
Misappropriation of assets ordinarily occurs either because of inadequate
internal controls or a violation of existing controls. The best way to prevent theft
of assets is through adequate internal controls that function effectively. Many
times theft of assets is relatively small in dollar amounts and will have no effect
on the fair presentation of financial statements. There are also the cases of large
theft of assets that result in bankruptcy to the company. Fraudulent financial
reporting is inherently difficult to uncover because it is possible for one or more
members of management to override internal controls. In many cases the
amounts are extremely large and may affect the fair presentation of financial
statements.
6-1
6-5
True, the auditor must rely on management for certain information in the
conduct of his or her audit. However, the auditor must not accept management's
representations blindly. The auditor must, whenever possible, obtain appropriate
evidence to support the representations of management. As an example, if
management represents that certain inventory is not obsolete, the auditor should
be able to examine purchase orders from customers that prove part of the
inventory is being sold at a price that is higher than the company's cost plus
selling expenses. If management represents an account receivable as being fully
collectible, the auditor should be able to examine subsequent payments by the
customer or correspondence from the customer that indicates a willingness and
ability to pay.
6-6
CHARACTERISTIC
AUDIT STEPS
1. Managements characteristics and
influence over the control environment.
Investigate the past history of the
firm and its management.
Discuss the possibility of fraudulent
financial reporting with previous
auditor and company legal counsel
after obtaining permission to do so
from management.
2. Industry conditions.
3. Operating characteristics and financial
stability.
Research current status of industry
and compare industry financial
ratios to the companys ratios.
Investigate any unusual differences.
Read AICPAs Industry Audit Risk
Alert for the companys industry, if
available. Consider the impact of
specific risks that are identified on
the conduct of the audit.
Perform analytical procedures to
evaluate the possibility of business
failure.
Investigate whether material
transactions occur close to yearend.
6-7
The cycle approach is a method of dividing the audit such that closely
related types of transactions and account balances are included in the same
cycle. For example, sales, sales returns, and cash receipts transactions and the
accounts receivable balance are all a part of the sales and collection cycle. The
advantages of dividing the audit into different cycles are to divide the audit into
more manageable parts, to assign tasks to different members of the audit team,
and to keep closely related parts of the audit together.
6-2
6-8
GENERAL LEDGER ACCOUNT
CYCLE
Sales
Accounts Payable
Retained Earnings
Accounts Receivable
Inventory
Repairs & Maintenance
Sales & Collection
Acquisition & Payment
Capital Acquisition & Repayment
Sales & Collection
Inventory & Warehousing
Acquisition & Payment
6-9
There is a close relationship between each of these accounts. Sales,
sales returns and allowances, and cash discounts all affect accounts receivable.
Allowance for uncollectible accounts is closely tied to accounts receivable and
should not be separated. Bad debt expense is closely related to the allowance for
uncollectible accounts. To separate these accounts from each other implies that
they are not closely related. Including them in the same cycle helps the auditor
keep their relationships in mind.
6-10 Management assertions are implied or expressed representations by
management about classes of transactions and the related accounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. These assertions are part of the criteria
management uses to record and disclose accounting information in financial
statements. AU 326 classifies assertions into three categories:
1. Assertions about classes of transactions and events for the period
under audit
2. Assertions about account balances at period end
3. Assertions about presentation and disclosure
6-11 General audit objectives follow from and are closely related to management
assertions. General audit objectives, however, are intended to provide a framework
to help the auditor accumulate sufficient appropriate evidence required by the
third standard of field work. Audit objectives are more useful to auditors than
assertions because they are more detailed and more closely related to helping
the auditor accumulate sufficient appropriate evidence.
6-12
TRANSACTION-RELATED AUDIT
OBJECTIVE VIOLATED
RECORDING MISSTATEMENT
Fixed asset repair is recorded on the wrong
date.
Timing
Repair is capitalized as a fixed asset
instead of an expense.
Classification
6-3
6-13 The existence objective deals with whether amounts included in the
financial statements should actually be included. Completeness is the opposite of
existence. The completeness objective deals with whether all amounts that should
be included have actually been included.
In the audit of accounts receivable, a nonexistent account receivable will
lead to overstatement of the accounts receivable balance. Failure to include a
customer's account receivable balance, which is a violation of completeness, will
lead to understatement of the accounts receivable balance.
6-14 Specific audit objectives are the application of the general audit objectives
to a given class of transactions, account balance, or presentation and disclosure.
There must be at least one specific audit objective for each general audit
objective and in many cases there should be more. Specific audit objectives for a
class of transactions, account balance, or presentation and disclosure should be
designed such that, once they have been satisfied, the related general audit
objective should also have been satisfied for that class of transactions, account,
or presentation and disclosure.
6-15 For the specific balance-related audit objective, all recorded fixed assets
exist at the balance sheet date, the management assertion and the general
balance-related audit objective are both "existence."
6-16 Management assertions and general balance-related audit objectives are
consistent for all asset accounts for every audit. They were developed by the
Auditing Standards Board, practitioners, and academics over a period of time.
One or more specific balance-related audit objectives are developed for each
general balance-related audit objective in an audit area such as accounts
receivable. For any given account, a CPA firm may decide on a consistent set of
specific balance-related audit objectives for accounts receivable, or it may decide
to use different objectives for different audits.
6-17 For the specific presentation and disclosure-related audit objective, read
the fixed asset footnote disclosure to determine that the types of fixed assets,
depreciation methods and useful lives are clearly disclosed, the management
assertion and the general presentation and disclosure-related audit objective are
both "classification and understandability."
6-18 The four phases of the audit are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Plan and design an audit approach.
Perform tests of controls and substantive tests of transactions.
Perform analytical procedures and tests of details of balances.
Complete the audit and issue an audit report.
The auditor uses these four phases to meet the overall objective of the audit,
which is to express an opinion on the fairness with which the financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and
cash flows in conformity with GAAP. By accumulating sufficient appropriate
evidence for each audit objective, the overall objective is met. The accumulation
of evidence is accomplished by performing the four phases of the audit.
6-4
Multiple Choice Questions From CPA Examinations
6-19 a.
(2)
b.
(2)
c.
(1)
6-20 a.
(1)
b.
(2)
c.
(1)
Discussion Questions And Problems
6-21 a.
The purpose of the first part of the report of management is for
management to state its responsibilities for internal control over
financial reporting. The second part of the report states managements
responsibility for the fair presentation of the financial statements.
b. The auditors responsibility is to express an opinion on the fairness of
the presentation of the financial statements and an opinion on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
6-22 a.
b.
Professional skepticism. Auditors are required to perform the audit
with an attitude of professional skepticism as the financial
statements (F/S) may contain material misstatements which may or
may not be intentional on the part of management.
The responsibility lies with:
i. Management. Auditors must also develop an estimate for
comparison purposes, but auditors do not record their
estimate on the F/S.
ii. Auditors. Management may also test the A/R Allowance as
an internal audit function, but they are not required to do so.
iii. Management and Auditors. Both must evaluate the
adequacy of the A/R Allowance.
iv. Management. ONLY management is responsible for the
ultimate presentation of A/R Allowance on the F/S.
c. A misstatement would be considered material if it is probable that the
decisions of a reasonable person relying on the information would
have been changed or influenced by the uncorrected errors or
fraud.
d. If the A/R Allowance estimate developed by management and the
auditors is different, the auditor must determine if the amount is
material. If the auditor determines the amount is material, the
auditor must ask the client to make an adjustment. If the client does
not want to make the adjustment, the auditor may consider a
qualified or adverse opinion, or withdrawal from the engagement,
depending on materiality.
6- 5
6-23
CLASS OF
TRANSACTIONS
a.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENT
BALANCE
b.
c.
TITLE OF
JOURNAL
TRANSACTION
CYCLE
PURCHASE
RETURNS
Purchase returns
& allowances
Acquisitions
Journal
Acquisition
& Payment
RENTAL
REVENUE
Rent revenue
Revenue Journal
Sales &
Collection
CHARGE-OFF OF
UNCOLLECTIBLE
ACCOUNTS
Bad debts
Adjustments
Journal
Sales &
Collection
ACQUISITION OF
GOODS AND
SERVICES
Repair and
maintenance
Acquisitions
Journal
Acquisition
& Payment
RENTAL
ALLOWANCES
Rental
allowances
Adjustments
Journal
Sales &
Collection
ADJUSTING
ENTRIES (FOR
PAYROLL)
Rental
allowances
Adjustments
Journal
Sales &
Collection
Accrued
payroll
Adjustments
Journal
Payroll &
Personnel
PAYROLL
SERVICE &
PAYMENTS
Sales salaries
Payroll Journal
Payroll &
Personnel
CASH
DISBURSEMENTS
Accounts
payable
Cash Disbursements Journal
Acquisition
& Payment
CASH RECEIPTS
Accounts
receivable
Cash Receipts
Journal
Sales &
Collection
d. Rental revenue is likely to be recorded in the cash receipts journal at
the time the cash is received from renters. It is therefore likely to be
recorded as a debit to cash receipts and a credit to rental
revenue. The journal will be summarized monthly and posted to the
general ledger. There will be required adjusting entries for unearned
rent and for rent receivable. A record will be kept of each renter and
a determination made whether rent is unpaid or unearned at the end
of each accounting period. The entries that are likely to be made in
the adjustments journal are posted to the general ledger. Then the
financial statements are prepared from the adjusted general ledger.
Reversing entries may be used to eliminate the adjusting entries.
6-6
6-24 a.
CYCLE
BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTS
INCOME STATEMENT
ACCOUNTS
SALES AND
COLLECTION
Accounts receivable
Cash
Notes receivabletrade
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Interest receivable
Sales
Bad debt expense
Interest income
ACQUISITION
AND PAYMENT
Income tax payable
Accounts payable
Unexpired insurance
Furniture and equipment
Cash
Accumulated depreciation of
furniture and equipment
Inventory
Property tax payable
Income tax expense
Advertising expense
Travel expense
Purchases
Property tax expense
Depreciation expense
furniture and equipment
Telephone and fax
expense
Insurance expense
Rent expense
PAYROLL AND
PERSONNEL
Cash
Accrued sales salaries
Sales salaries expense
Salaries, office and
general
INVENTORY AND
WAREHOUSING
Inventory
Purchases
CAPITAL
ACQUISITION
AND
REPAYMENT
Bonds payable
Common stock
Cash
Notes payable
Retained earnings
Prepaid interest expense
Interest expense
b. The general ledger accounts are not likely to differ much between a
retail and a wholesale company unless there are departments for
which there are various categories. There would be large differences
for a hospital or governmental unit. A governmental unit would use
the fund accounting system and would have entirely different
titles. Hospitals are likely to have several different kinds of revenue
accounts, rather than sales. They are also likely to have such
things as drug expense, laboratory supplies, etc. At the same
time, even a governmental unit or a hospital will have certain
accounts such as cash, insurance expense, interest income, rent
expense, and so forth.
6-7
6-25 a.
Management assertions about transactions relate to transactions
and other events that are reflected in the accounting records. In
contrast, assertions about account balances relate to the ending
account balances that are included in the financial statements, and
assertions about presentation and disclosure relate to how those
balances are reflected and disclosed in the financial statements.
MANAGEMENT ASSERTION
b.
CATEGORY OF
MANAGEMENT
ASSERTION
c.
NAME OF
ASSERTION
a. All sales transactions have been
recorded.
Classes of
transactions
Completeness
b. Receivables are appropriately
classified as to trade and other
receivables in the financial
statements and are clearly
described.
Presentation and
disclosure
Classification and
understandability
c. Accounts receivable are recorded
at the correct amounts.
Account balances
Valuation and
allocation
d. Sales transactions have been
recorded in the proper period.
Classes of
transactions
Cutoff
e. Sales transactions have been
recorded in the appropriate
accounts.
Classes of
transactions
Classification
f. All required about
sales disclosures and receivables have been
made.
Presentation and
disclosure
Completeness
g. All accounts receivable have
been recorded.
Account balances
Completeness
h. There are no liens or other
restrictions on accounts
receivable.
Account balances
Rights and obligations
i. Disclosures related to accounts
receivable are at the correct
amounts.
Presentation and
disclosure
Accuracy and
valuation
j. Recorded sales transactions
have occurred.
Classes of
transactions
Occurrence
k. Recorded accounts receivable
exist.
Account balances
Existence
l. Sales transactions have been
recorded at the correct amounts.
Classes of
transactions
Accuracy
f. Disclosures related to sales and
receivables relate to the entity.
Presentation and
disclosure
Occurrence and rights
and obligations
6-8
6-26
SPECIFIC BALANCERELATED AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
MANAGEMENT
ASSERTION
COMMENTS
a.
There are no
unrecorded
receivables.
2. Completeness
Unrecorded transactions or
amounts deal with the
completeness objective.
b.
Receivables have
not been sold or
discounted.
4. Rights and
obligations
Receivables not being sold or
discounted concerns the rights
and obligations objective and
assertion.
c.
Uncollectible
accounts have been
provided for.
3. Valuation or
allocation
Providing for uncollectible
accounts concerns whether the
allowance for uncollectible
accounts is adequate. It is part of
the realizable value objective and
the valuation or allocation
assertion.
d.
Receivables that
have become
uncollectible have
been written off.
3. Valuation or
allocation
This is part of the realizable value
objective and the valuation or
allocation assertion. There may
also be some argument that this is
part of the existence objective and
assertion. Accounts that are
uncollectible are no longer valid
assets.
e.
All accounts on the
list are expected to
be collected within
one year.
3. Valuation or
allocation
Accounts that are not expected to
be collected within a year should
be classified as long-term
receivables. It is therefore being
included as part of the
classification objective and
consequently under the valuation
or allocation assertion.
f.
The total of the
amounts on the
accounts receivable
listing agrees with
the general ledger
balance for accounts
receivable.
3. Valuation or
allocation
This is part of the detail tie-in
objective and is part of the
valuation or allocation assertion.
6-9
6-26 (continued)
SPECIFIC BALANCERELATED AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
MANAGEMENT
ASSERTION
COMMENTS
g.
All accounts on the
list arose from the
normal course of
business and are not
due from related
parties.
3. Valuation or
allocation
Concerns the classification of
accounts receivable and is
therefore a part of the
classification objective and the
valuation or allocation assertion.
Some people believe that like
item e., it is a part of presentation
and disclosure.
h.
Sales cutoff at yearend is proper.
3. Valuation or
allocation
Cutoff is a part of the cutoff
objective and therefore part of the
valuation or allocation assertion.
6-27 a.
Management assertions are implied or expressed representations
by management about the classes of transactions and related
accounts in the financial statements. AU 326 identifies five
assertions about classes of transactions which are stated in the
problem. These assertions are the same for every transaction cycle
and account. General transaction-related audit objectives are
essentially the same as management assertions, but they are
expanded somewhat to help the auditor decide which audit
evidence is necessary to satisfy the management assertions.
Accuracy and posting and summarization are a subset of the
accuracy assertion. Specific transaction-related audit objectives are
determined by the auditor for each general transaction-related
audit objective. These are done for each transaction cycle to help
the auditor determine the specific amount of evidence needed for
that cycle to satisfy the general transaction-related audit objectives.
b.
and
c.
The easiest way to do this problem is to first identify the general
transaction-related audit objectives for each specific transactionrelated audit objective. It is then easy to determine the management
assertion using Table 6-3 (p. 158 in text) as a guide.
6-10
6-27 (continued)
b.
SPECIFIC TRANSACTIONRELATED AUDIT OBJECTIVE
MANAGEMENT
ASSERTION
c.
GENERAL
TRANSACTIONRELATED AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
a. Recorded cash disbursement
transactions are for the amount of
goods or services received and
are correctly recorded.
3. Accuracy
8. Accuracy
b. Cash disbursement transactions
are properly included in the
accounts payable master file and
are correctly summarized.
3. Accuracy
9. Posting and
summarization
c. Recorded cash disbursements
are for goods and services
actually received.
1. Occurrence
6. Occurrence
d. Cash disbursement transactions
are properly classified.
4. Classification
10. Classification
e. Existing cash disbursement
transactions are recorded.
2. Completeness
7. Completeness
f. Cash disbursement transactions
are recorded on the correct dates.
5. Cutoff
11. Timing
6-28
SPECIFIC PRESENTATION AND
DISCLOSURE-RELATED AUDIT OBJECTIVE
MANAGEMENT
ASSERTION
a. All required disclosures about fixed assets have
been made.
2. Completeness
b. Footnote disclosures related to fixed assets are
clear and understandable.
4. Classification and
understandability
c. Methods and useful lives disclosed for each
category of fixed assets are accurate.
3. Accuracy and valuation
d. Disclosed fixed asset dispositions have occurred.
4. Occurrence and rights and
obligations
6-11
6-29 a.
The first objective concerns amounts that should not be included on
the list of accounts payable because there are no amounts due to
such vendors. This objective concerns only the overstatement of
accounts payable. The second objective concerns the possibility
of accounts payable that should be included but that have not been
included. This objective concerns only the possibility of understated
accounts payable.
b. The first objective deals with existence and the second deals with
completeness.
c. For accounts payable, the auditor is usually most concerned about
understatements. An understatement of accounts payable is usually
considered more important than overstatements because of potential
legal liability. The completeness objective is therefore normally more
important in the audit of accounts payable. The auditor is also
concerned about overstatements of accounts payable. The existence
objective is also therefore important in accounts payable, but
usually less so than the completeness objective.
6-12
6-30
AUDIT PROCEDURE
BALANCERELATED
AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
a. Examine a sample of duplicate sales invoices to determine
whether each one has a shipping document attached.
b. Add all customer balances in the accounts receivable trial
balance and agree the amount to the general ledger.
TRANSACTION
RELATED
AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
(9) Occurrence
(6) Detail Tie-In
c. For a sample of sales transactions selected from the sales
journal, verify that the amount of the transaction has been
recorded in the correct customer account in the accounts
receivable subledger.
(14) Posting and
summarization
6-15
d. Inquire of the client whether any accounts receivable
balances have been pledged as collateral on long-term
debt and determine whether all required information is
included in the footnote description for long-term debt.
(15) Occurrence
and rights
e. For a sample of shipping documents selected from shipping
records, trace each shipping document to a transaction
recorded in the sales journal.
f. Discuss with credit department personnel the likelihood of
collection of all accounts as of December 31, 2009 with a
balance greater than $100,000 and greater than 90 days
old as of year-end.
PRESENTATION
AND
DISCLOSURE
AUDIT
OBJECTIVE
(10) Completeness
(7) Realizable
value
g. Examine sales invoices for the last five sales transactions
recorded in the sales journal in 2009 and examine shipping
documents to determine they are recorded in the correct
period.
(5) Cutoff
h. For a sample of customer accounts receivable balances for
December 31, 2009, examine subsequent cash receipts in
January 2010 to determine whether the customer paid the
balance due.
(1) Existence
(7) Realizable
value
Case
6-31
a.
A review provides limited assurance about the fair presentation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles but far less assurance than an audit.
Presumably, the bank decided that the assurances provided by a
review were needed before a loan could be approved, but an audit
was not necessary. A review includes a CPA firm performing
analytical procedures, making inquiries about the fair presentation
of the statements, and examining the information for
reasonableness. Because of a CPA firms expertise in accounting,
the accountant from the CPA firm can often identify incorrect
presentations in the financial statements that have been overlooked
by the accountant of the company. Reviews are common for
smaller privately-held companies with relatively small amounts of
debt.
The bank probably did not require an audit because the additional
cost of an audit was greater than the benefit the bank perceived. In
many cases, the decision as to whether to have a review or an
audit is negotiated between the company seeking a loan and the
bank loan officer. Both the company and the bank have options in
negotiating such things as the amount of the loan, the rate of
interest, and whether to require an audit or a review. The bank can
reject the loan request and the company can go to other banks that
want to make loans.
Frequently, banks have a list of CPA firms in which they have
considerable confidence due to their reputation in the community or
past work they have done for other bank customers.
b. Because the amount of the loans from the bank to Mabarak Baladi
increased, the bank probably wanted additional assurance about
the reliability of the financial statements. It is also likely that
Mabarak Baladi negotiated the one percent reduction of the interest
rate by offering to have an audit instead of a review. A one percent
reduction in the interest rate saves Mabarak Baladi $100,000
annually compared to the $50,000 additional fee for an audit.
c. Hakim referred to the CPA firm as partners in a professional sense, not
a business sense. The CPA firm had provided many consulting and
tax services, as well as providing review and audit services over the
entire business life of the company. Hakim recognized that these
professional services had contributed to the success of the
business and he chose to acknowledge those contributions during
his retirement comment. Assuming that the CPA firm retained an
attitude of independence throughout all audits and reviews, no
violation of professional independence standards occurred. Most
well run CPA firms provide consulting, tax, and assurance service
for their privately held clients without violating independence
requirements.
6-14
6-31 (continued)
d. As the external auditor, the firm of Abdullah & Elhakeen provides the
stockholders, creditors, and management an independent opinion
as to the fair presentation of the financial statements. Given the
potential biases present when management prepares the financial
statements, the stockholders and creditors must consider the
potential for information risk that might be present. The
independent audit conducted by Abdullah & Elhakeem helps
stockholders and creditors reduce their information risk.
Management also benefits by having the external auditors
independently assess the financial statements even though those
statements are prepared by management. Due to the complexities
involved in preparing financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, the potential for
misstatement(s) on the part of management increases the need for
an objective examination of those financial statements by a
qualified independent party.
e. The auditor is responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that
material misstatements are detected, whether those misstatements
are due to errors or fraud. To obtain reasonable assurance, the
auditor is required to gather sufficient, appropriate evidence.
Auditors chief responsibility to stockholders, creditors, and
management is to conduct the audit in accordance with auditing
standards in order to fulfill the responsibilities of the engagement.
6-15
.
Internet Problem Solution: International and PCAOB Audit Objectives
6-1
The objectives of an audit under U.S. GAAS and international auditing
standards are defined by AU 110 and ISA 200, respectively. Similarly, PCAOB
Auditing Standard 5 defines the objective of an audit of internal control over
financial reporting.
1.
Compare the objective of an audit under AU 110 and ISA 200 (hint:
see paragraph 11). Are there substantive differences in the
objective of an audit as defined by these two standards?
Answer:
Paragraph .01 of AU 110 states that [T]he objective of the ordinary
audit of financial statements by the independent auditor is the
expression of an opinion on the fairness with which they present, in
all material respects, financial position, results of operations, and its
cash flows in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles. U.S. GAAS require the auditor to express an opinion on
whether the financial statements are presented in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and to identify those
circumstances in which such principles have not been consistently
observed in the preparation of financial statements.
Paragraph .11 of ISA 200 states that In conducting an audit
of financial statements, the overall objectives of the auditor are (a) to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
6-16
Internet Problem 6-1 (continued)
as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud
or error, thereby enabling the auditor to express an opinion on
whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects,
in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework and
(b) to report on the financial statements, and communicate as
required by the ISAs, in accordance with the auditors findings.
While there are differences in the wording about the objective
of an audit of financial statements, the overall objectives stated in
U.S. GAAS and the ISAs are the same. Both U.S. GAAS and the
ISAs note that the objective of the audit of financial statements is the
expression of an opinion of whether the financial statements comply,
in all material respects, with accounting standards.
2.
What is the objective of an audit of internal control over financial
reporting?
Answer:
Paragraph .03 of PCAOB Auditing Standard 5 states that The auditors
objective in an audit of internal control over financial reporting is to
express an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal
control over financial reporting. That standard notes that to form a
basis for an opinion, the auditor must plan and perform the audit to
obtain competent evidence that is sufficient to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether material weaknesses exist as of the date
specified in managements assessment.
3.
What defines whether financial statements are fairly stated, and
what defines whether internal control is considered effective? Are
they related?
Answer:
Both U.S. GAAS and international auditing standards define financial
statements as being fairly stated when they are free of material
misstatements. PCAOB Auditing Standard 5 defines internal control
as effective when no material weaknesses exist. These definitions are
related. The presence of a material misstatement generally suggests
the presence of a material weakness, since managements internal
controls over financial reporting failed to detect the material
misstatement. While the presence of a material weakness in internal
control does not automatically mean the financial statements contain
a material misstatement, there is a high likelihood that a material
misstatement could occur.
(Note: Internet problems address current issues using Internet sources. Because
Internet sites are subject to change, Internet problems and solutions may change. Current
information on Internet problems is available at www.pearsonglobaleditions.com/arens).
6-17