MANM398: International Auditing and Assurance ANSWERS
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MANM398: International Auditing and Assurance
ANSWERS
Part A
Answer BOTH questions in this section.
Question 1
You are the Audit Manager of Mole and Co and are currently planning the audit of your existing client, Ratty Ltd, whose year end was 31 December 2021.
Ratty is a pharmaceutical company that manufactures and supplies a wide range of medical supplies. The draft financial statements show revenue of £27.3 million and profit before tax of £3.2 million.
Ratty’s previous finance director left the company in October 2021 after it was discovered that he had been claiming fraudulent expenses from the company for a significant period of time. A new finance director was appointed in at the start of December 2021. She was previously a Chief Financial Officer of a retail company and has expressed surprise that Mole & Co had not uncovered the fraud during last year’s audit.
During the year Ratty has spent £1.2m million on developing several new products, including £500,000 on an unsuccessful attempt at a Covid 19 vaccine. These projects are at different stages of development and the draft financial statements show the full amount of £1.2 million within intangible assets. In order to fund this development, £1.5 million was borrowed from the bank and is due for repayment over a seven-year period. The bank has attached minimum profit targets as part of the loan covenants. The new finance director has informed the audit partner that since the year end there has been an increased number of sales returns and that in the month of September over £0.3 million of goods sold in August were returned.
An audit assistant from Mole & Co attended the year-end inventory count at Ratty’s warehouse. The auditor present raised concerns that during the count there were movements of goods in and out the warehouse and this process did not seem well controlled.
During the year, a review of plant and equipment in the factory was undertaken and surplus plant was sold, resulting in a profit on disposal of £130,000.
Required:
(a) State Mole & Co’s responsibilities in relation to the prevention and detection of fraud and error.
(4 marks)
Fraud responsibility – Mole & Co must conduct an audit in accordance with ISA 240 The Auditor’s
Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements and are responsible for obtaining
reasonable assurance that the financial statements taken as a whole are free from material misstatement,
whether caused by fraud or error.
In order to fulfil this responsibility, Mole & Co is required to identify and assess the risks of material
misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud. They need to obtain sufficient appropriate audit
evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and
implementing appropriate responses. It is important to note that fraud is a criminal activity. It is not the role
of an auditor to determine whether fraud has actually occurred. That is the responsibility of a country's legal
system
In addition, Mole & Co must respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.
When obtaining reasonable assurance, Mole & Co is responsible for maintaining professional scepticism
throughout the audit, considering the potential for management override of controls and recognising the fact
that audit procedures which are effective in detecting error may not be effective in detecting fraud.
To ensure that the whole engagement team is aware of the risks and responsibilities for fraud and error, ISAs
require that a discussion is held within the team. For members not present at the meeting, Ratty’s audit
engagement partner should determine which matters are to be communicated to them. The engagement
team should also obtain information for use in identifying the risk of fraud when performing risk assessment
procedures. To be able to make such an assessment auditors must identify, through enquiry, how
management assesses and responds to the risk of fraud. The auditor must also enquire of management,
internal auditors and those charged with governance if they are aware of any actual or suspected fraudulent
activity.
1 mark per relevant point up to 4
(b) Describe FIVE audit risks, and explain the auditor’s response to each risk, in planning the audit of Ratty Ltd.
(10 marks)
1 mark per risk limited to ½ if not explicit on whyAUDITrisk (effect on FS etc)
1 mark per response limited to ½ if not clear or only vague. 0 marks for saying what management would do
as it is not relevant to the question.
Only five risks/responses marked.
(c) Describe TWO substantive audit procedures Mole & Co should perform when undertaking the audit of inventory at Ratty.
(4 marks)
Agree the Inventory balance on the Statement of Financial Position to the stock system and General Ledger.
Agree a sample of inventory in the warehouse and confirm if they are recorded in the inventory records system
to check they have recorded.
Select a sample of goods in the inventory at the year end to agree the cost per the records to a recent purchase
invoice and ensure that the cost is correctly stated.
Select a sample of year-end goods and review post year-end sales invoices to ascertain if net realisable value
is above cost or if an adjustment is required
Confirm that the inventory balance has been disclosed in accordance with IAS 2 Inventory.
Complete an analytical review to confirm that the inventory balance movements can be agreed and explained
year on year.
Review the work undertaken on the year end stock taking process and establish if any additional testing is
required.
Attend stock take and perform test counts (existence, completeness). Trace the items into the final stock
sheets to confirm they have been correctly recorded.
Assess controls for the stock system and conclude whether they can be relied on.
2 marks per test if it includes what you are testing, how you are testing it and why you are doing the test.
Limited to 1 mark if only 2 out of 3 covered.
Only 2 tests marked.
0 marks for tests of controls as question asks for substantive tests.
The new finance director of Ratty Ltd has decided to change the provider of the internal audit service as she feels they are not delivering their audit programme on time or on budget. As he is pleased with the external audit service that Mole & Co are currently providing, she has approached you to take over the contract without following a formal tender process.
She has invited you to play golf next week to discuss this proposal in more detail.
(d) Identify and explain TWO ethical principles that could be threatened following the finance director's suggestion to discuss the proposal whilst playing golf.
(4 marks)
Objectivity – you need to ensure that you remain objective and not allow bias – you should consider whether
it is appropriate to discuss this proposal in an informal setting.
Professional Behaviour – you need to ensure that you comply with the relevant laws and regulations
regarding any discussions on this matter.
Integrity – Any dealings need to be straightforward and honest.
Professional competence and due care - you need to be clear that you have the professional knowledge and
skill to be involved in this discussion. Are you involved in Internal Audit provision? Do you deal with the
preparation of tender documents?
2 marks each if the threat is identified and explained. Must be related to the question.
Limited to ½ mark if ethical threat only discussed generally.
Only two threats marked.
(e) Explain the significance of Sarbannes Oxley when considering the finance director's proposal to provide Internal Audit Services to Ratty Ltd.
(4 marks)
Sarbannes Oxley was developed following the collapse of Andersen following their involvement in Enron.
There are nine recommended non audit services which are considered to impair the independence on audit
clients. Internal Audit is one of these.
Although Ratty is not a listed company, best practice prohibits the provision of internal and external audit by
the same firm. The UK model is a principles-based one, although since adherence is part of stock exchange
listing requirements it cannot be considered to be voluntary for large companies.
1 mark per point. Must be related to the scenario ie internal audit.
(f) Identify and explain TWO limitations of external audit.
(4 marks)
Sampling – not practical to test 100% of transactions. Maybe an error in an item not selected for testing by
the auditor.
Subjectivity – financial statements include judgemental/subjective areas. Auditor required to use judgement
in assessing whether the financial statements are true and fair.
Inherent limitations of internal control systems – an internal control system is liable to human error.
Possibility of controls override by management - collusion and fraud. Impossible to remove all of these
inherent limitations. As auditor relies on the internal control systems, this can reduce the usefulness of the
audit.
Evidence is persuasive not conclusive – opinion is based on audit evidence gathered. However, while this
evidence can indicate possible issues affecting the audit opinion, it involves estimates and judgements and
hence does not give a definite conclusion.
Audit report format – the format of the opinion is determined by International Standards on Auditing (UK and
Ireland). However, the terminology used is not usually understood by non-accountants. This means that users
may not actually understand the audit opinion given (= audit expectation gap).
Historic information – the audit report often issued some time after the year end. Financial information can
be quite different to the current position. In the current marketplace where companies’ financial positions can
change quite quickly, the audit opinion may no longer be relevant as it is out of date
2 marks each, limited to 1 mark if not well explained.
Only two limitations marked.
Total: 30 marks
Question 2
In respect of each of the situations outlined below, reach a conclusion on whether or not you would modify your audit report. Give reasons for your conclusion and describe the effect on your audit report. The year end in each scenario is 30 September 2021.
The total marks will be split equally between each part.
Required:
(A) Crocodile.com
Crocodile.com is a web based company that sells flowers and gift online. The year end audit is almost complete and the statements are due to be signed shortly. Year end revenue is £9.5m and profit before tax and interest is £2.3m.
A key customer with a year end receivables balance of £300,000 has notified Crocodile.com in November 2021 that they are experiencing cash flow difficulties and are unable to make any payments in the near future.
The finance director has told the audit partner that the outstanding balance will be written off as an irrecoverable debt next year in the 2022 Financial Statements.
A key customer of Crocodile.com has informed the company that they are experiencing cash flow problems
and are unable to make payments in the near future. Although this information was received after year end
it provides evidence of the recoverability of the receivables balance at year end.
If the customer is experiencing cash flow difficulties a few months after the year end, then it is unlikely the
end balance was recoverable at year end (30 September) and is therefore an adjusting event.
The current receivables balance is overstated and Crocodile.com should consider adjusting the balance if it is
material. The year end outstanding balance was £300,000 and is material as it represents 3.2% of turnover
(0.300/9.5m) and 13% of profit before tax and interest (0.300/2.3m).
The Directors should amend the 2021 financial statements by writing down or writing off the receivable
balance.
Audit procedures that would be required to form a conclusion as to the level of adjustment:
- Correspondence between Crocodile.com and the customer should be reviewed to establish if there
is any likelihood of payment
- Discuss with management why they feel the balance should not be written off and recognised in the
2022 financial statements
- Review the post year end period to see if any payments have been made
If Crocodile.com are unwilling to amend the accounts to recognize this new information, then the auditors
would be required to discuss the possibility of a qualification of the audit opinion.
The qualification would be on the basis that the Financial Statements were materially misstated
(Disagreement). This would be material but not pervasive and a Qualified – Except for Opinion would be
issued.
(B) Peter and Wendy Ltd
In November 2021 the government tax authorities started an enquiry into all aspects of the tax affairs of the company.
Until the enquiry is completed it is not possible to estimate with any reasonable degree of certainty any ultimate liability which may fall upon the company. Consequently, no liability in respect of this matter has been included in the financial statements. The directors have included a note to the accounts explaining the situation.
The outcome of the tax investigation is uncertain. The auditors should attempt to assess if the uncertainty is
a material uncertainty whose significance might cause significant doubt about the ability of the company to
remain as a going concern. The most common example of this type of uncertainty is where there are concerns
because the company is subject to major litigation the outcome of which is unknown at the time of the audit.
If the uncertainty is of this nature then the auditors would expect the company directors to provide disclosures
about the material uncertainty. If the directors’ note is adequate then the auditors would issue an unmodified
opinion with an explanatory Emphasis of Matter paragraph. The explanatory paragraph would normally be
included just after the opinion section of the audit report making it clear that the accounts were not modified
in respect of the matter. If the note disclosure was considered inadequate by the auditors then they would
have to issue a modified audit opinion on the basis of a disagreement between themselves and the directors.
You might also want to note that the auditors would consider the requirements of IAS 37, Provisions,
contingent liabilities and contingent assets. The auditor would need to ensure that there is no need for the
company to make a provision. This does, however, based on the information provided look unlikely. Of more
pertinence is that this seems to be an example of a contingent liability (IAS 37). IAS 37 states that the following
disclosures need to be made in respect of contingent liabilities; a brief description of the nature of the
contingent liability, an estimate of its financial effect and an indication of the uncertainties relating to the
amount or timing of any outflow. If the possibility of any transfer of resources is remote the company would
not have to provide the above disclosures.
(C) Homes for Dogs
Homes For Dogs (HFD) is a charity with several dog rescue centres around the country. They received a government cash grant of £250,000 in August 2021 to help with the purchase on non-current assets which have estimated useful economic lives of between five and ten years. The £250,000 has been credited directly to the profit and loss account for the year ended 30 September 2021.
This treatment is not in accordance with the accounting standard on accounting for government grants nor the specific requirements of the grant allocation. Current accounting guidance requires this grant to be
credited to profit and loss over the useful economic lives of the assets to which the grant relates. The Director of Finance insists on continuing with the current treatment even though it is incorrect.
The year end profit for HFD for the year ended 30 September 2021 is £500,000.
Homes for Dogs (HFD) is not complying with the treatment required by an accounting standard. This is in the
nature of a disagreement between the auditors and the HFD management. To determine if the audit report
needs to be modified we have to examine the materiality of the item. It would appear that the profit for the
year has been boosted by £250,000, the amount of the grant less any amount that would have been credited
to the profit and loss account if the company had followed the accounting standard.
If HFD had not credited the full amount to the profit and loss account the company would have made a much
smaller profit. The magnitude of the misstatement when compared to the profit clearly indicates that this is a
material amount. Because of this the audit report should be modified.
In the case of a disagreement between the directors and the auditors the latter can issue two types of modified
audit report, an except for or an adverse opinion. Which type of modified report is most appropriate depends
on the materiality of the item. The auditors would only issue an adverse opinion if the effect of the
disagreement is material and pervasive, otherwise they would issue an except for opinion. Where the auditors
give an adverse opinion they state that the accounts do not give a true and fair view whereas if an except for
opinion is given they state that a true and fair view is given except for the matter giving rise to the qualification.
In the opinion part of the audit report the auditors would describe the circumstances relating to the item
which is the cause of the qualification and give an indication of its financial effect.
(D) Hook Ltd
The statement of financial position at 30 September 2021 includes non-current assets at cost of £3.2m. This is a new property which has been constructed by the company during the year and the total includes capitalised project management fees of £250,000.
The project management fees have been calculated using the Director of Finance’s estimate of time taken by project managers who were involved with management of the construction work. This estimate has not been supported by time records or any detailed evidence to support the calculations. No satisfactory audit procedures have been undertaken to confirm that the project management labour costs have been appropriately calculated or capitalised.
The pre-tax profit of Hook Ltd for the year ended 30 September is £780,000.
Hook Ltd: This is a situation where the auditor is unable to gather all the evidence they require to come to a
conclusion of the appropriateness of the amount of project management fees capitalised. The amount the
directors have estimated for the item of £250,000 can be compared with the balance sheet totals and the
profit for the year. In respect of the profit for the year the £250,000 represents 32% of the profit of £780,000
reported for the year. This is a material amount.
As this is an example of a limitation of scope when the auditors are unable to obtain sufficient appropriate
audit evidence. The auditor can give one of two types of modified audit opinion. The type of modification
given depends on the materiality and pervasiveness of the item under consideration. A disclaimer will be given
where the auditors believe that the possible effect of the limitation is material and pervasive such that the
auditor is unable to express an opinion on the financial statements. Where this is not the case they would
issue an except for opinion.
In the basis of opinion part of the audit report the auditors will provide an explanation of why they consider a
qualification is necessary. In the opinion part of the audit report the auditors would state the type of
qualification they are giving and that they have not be able to obtain all the explanation and information they
require for the purpose of their audit and that they have been unable to determine if proper accounting
records have been kept.
Total: 20 marks
Marks:
Up to 2 marks for issue, 1for materiality, 2for audit report.
Part B:
Answer ONE question only
Question 3
‘A corporate disaster is usually the fault of the Auditors’.
Using relevant examples discuss whether this is a valid statement.
Auditors have a regulatory responsibility to undertake an audit. This is set out by relevant regulations
and statutory requirements (e.g. Companies Act).
There are clear guidelines and standards set up internationally (IFAC) and in the UK (FRC, RSB, CA
2006).
There are clear audit standards (ISAs) which auditors follow and they have specific quality control and
ethical guidelines they must adhere to.
However corporate disasters do happen but it is difficult to explicitly implicate the auditors in a
corporate collapse. Directors have primary responsibility for the provision of useful and meaningful
information for investors and other users of the financial statements.
Relevant Examples –
Societe Generale – Individual opportunistic fraud which led to concealment of the perpetrators
actions. Failure to continue to conceal led to the fraud being exposed. This discovery happened before
the final opinion was given on the financial statement.
Enron/Andersen – Close relationship between the auditor and client and ultimately led to the collapse
of both. Introduction of Sarbannes Oxley was a consequence of this collapse.
Hollinger International – Senior individuals which manipulated deals for their own personal gain and
deceived the company out of millions pounds. Conrad Black went to Prison.
Tesco – Financial Information was overstated to enhance the financial position of the business. Certain
business practices were ingrained culturally in the Finance operations. The Auditors highlighted this
in their previous audit opinion and reported the risk to the client before the full position was known.
Kids Company – Charity collapsed into administration due to weak financial practices and poor
accountability. The role of auditors and advisors was critisied as they informed them of weaknesses
and concerns, but they failed to suitably highlight their concerns.
Auditors do not and should not have operational responsibilities in a client. This means that they need
to ensure that their audit approach is targeted to identify risk areas and that their audit programme
provides them with material coverage so that they can offer a true and fair view on the accounts. This
is not an absolute opinion.
Total Mark: 20 Marks
1 mark per point. Up to 2 per example.
Question 4
An important piece of audit evidence is the Letter of Representation.
Outline its purpose and discuss its significance in the Audit Process.
The Letter of Representation is produced at the end of the audit process. At the start of the audit
process there will be a Letter of Engagement between the auditor and client.
It should be signed on the date the accounts are signed by both the Directors and Auditors. ISA580 is
the relevant auditing standard and it suggests that the CEO, CFO and others with specialized
knowledge make specific written representations.
Examples of the types of representations that are required are: -
• Financial statements prepared in accordance with applicable financial reporting framework
• All information provided and transactions recorded
• Additional representations about statements (appropriateness of accounting policies, matters
accounted for correctly given future plans)
• Written representations about specific assertions (e.g. specialists)
• Acknowledgement of management responsibility for internal control
• That they believe effects of uncorrected misstatements are immaterial
If Management refuse to sign this could be a qualification issue because the auditor would be lacking
important evidence (limitation of scope, disclaimer).
The auditors could have doubts about the reliability and they could link this back to completed audit
work as it could highlight or magnify issues or disputes. Again there could be an issue with
qualification.
The completion of the Letter of Representation does not change the liability of management or
auditors.
Auditors are responsible for the opinion on the Financial Statements. Management have a duty to
prepare Financial Statements that show a true and fair view. It does not reduce the liability of the
auditor.
At the end of the audit process the auditor will also be completing audit work between the end of the
financial statement audit to establish if there are any significant subsequent events or contingencies
that should be included or considered. This would include review of the current management accounts
and budget reports, board meetings, knowledge of sector/business area.
Total&nbs
2022-03-31