...Chapter 18 Audit of the Payroll and Personnel Cycle ← Review Questions 18-1 General ledger accounts that are likely to be affected by the payroll and personnel cycle in most audits include the following: Cash Direct labor Inventory Salary expense Construction in progress Commission expense Wages payable Payroll tax expense Payroll taxes withheld Accrued payroll taxes 18-2 In companies where payroll is a significant portion of inventory, as in manufacturing and construction companies, the improper account classification of payroll can significantly affect asset valuation for accounts such as work in process, finished goods, and construction in process. For example, if the salaries of administrative personnel are incorrectly charged to indirect manufacturing overhead, the overhead charged to inventory on the balance sheet can be overstated. Similarly, if the indirect labor cost of individual employees is charged to specific jobs or processes, the valuation of inventory is affected if labor is improperly classified. When some jobs are billed on a cost plus basis, revenue and the valuation of inventory are both affected by improperly classifying labor to jobs. 18-3 Five tests of controls that can be performed for the payroll and personnel cycle are: 1. Examine time card for indication of approval to ensure that payroll payments are properly authorized. The purpose of this test is to determine that recorded payroll payments are for work...
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...Assignment 2: Accounting and Audit Enforcement ACC 599 – Graduate Accounting Capstone QUESTION #1 After so many scandals in regards to financial frauds, Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 mandates that all publicly-traded companies must establish internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and must document, test and maintain those controls and procedures to ensure their effectiveness. Non-for-profit healthcare organizations do not hold themselves to the same standards as the for-profit organizations. Although whether SOX guidelines apply to businesses in the healthcare industry depends on whether the business is a for-profit or non-for-profit organization, some voluntarily adopt SOX in an effort to strengthen internal management controls and increase the quality of healthcare financial reporting (Lohrey, n.d., ¶1). Non-for-profit organizations could certainly benefit from the SOX Section 404 to help reduce the possibilities of corporate fraud by increasing the stringency of procedures and requirements for financial reporting. Many health care executives and board members have concluded that SOX created a new benchmark for best practices, as well as provided extra protection from liability by evidencing direct board attention and oversight of organization compliance (Kusserow, 2013, ¶1). Without audit committees, non-for-profit organizations are at higher risk of financial disaster. Following the SOX compliances can be very beneficial for the non-for-profit...
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...Accounting scandals back in the early 2000, including that of Enron and WorldCom, led to the passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). SOX aims to reduce corporate governance concern and ultimately seek to increase the credibility of the financial reporting. Agoglia, Doupnik, and Tsakumis (2011) looked at two aspects related to the strength of the financial reporting: the influence of standard precision and the role of audit committee. This article had and referred to with particularly focus on the circumstance in US with regards to their rules-based approach of accounting. The more precision based accounting standards in US is suppose to dampen the executives' ability to manipulate financial results as well as increase comparability across all firms. However, all the accounting scandals brought to the attention of the public has began to question whether the rules-based standards are serving their purpose better than the other option: principle-based. Originally, the view was principle-based accounting standards offers more room for flexibility and interpretation in the view of the executives and therefore more prone to manipulation because it allows for differences in judgment. This also implies of reduced comparability across firms because of the variations permitted. However, research from the article suggests otherwise. Results from the experiment showed that under the precise standard, or the rules-based standards, preparers are more likely to make aggressive financial...
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...Accounting is considered as the major helping hand to form a successive management which needs to report and analyse the business transactions. Accounting is a pathway of measuring success through the designing projects as measuring the outcomes of the projects in line with the target goal of the organisations (Elliot, Barry & Elliot, Jamie, 2004). Organisations maintain their financial reports with the help of accounting theories and policies. The international financial reporting standards also help to keep the accounting practice effectively, efficiently, and correctly. The efficient management will be built if the organisation follows the international reporting standards accurately. As a mandatory course unit of myself I need to prove my understanding about the financial systems and auditing through this report. I will gradually demonstrate my understanding on the purpose, use, importance of accounting records, accounting systems, computerised accounting system, manual accounting systems, business risk, audit risk, internal and external control systems, importance of auditing, and planning audit assignment as well as preparing audit report in the body part of my report. Task One Purpose and Use of Different Accounting Records Accounting records represents the management of all source of information in different records books. These records are ledger, journals, bank statements, adjusting journals, statement verification, invoice, brochure, and etc. The purpose and...
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...companies that restated their previously issued financial statements as a result of accounting irregularities and fraud. Especially responsible were the very visible Enron and WorldCom fraud cases. Both companies filed for bankruptcy and constituted the largest companies in American history to do so. The extent of the accounting irregularities and fraud being investigated and disclosed brought into question the effectiveness of financial statement audits. In addition, the criminal conviction of Arthur Andersen, LLP, one of the then Big 5 accounting firms, on charges of destroying documents related to the Enron case brought into question the ethical standards of the profession. 1–2 Assurance services are professional services that enhance the quality of information, or its context, for decision making. The two types are: (a) those that increase the reliability of information and (b) those that involve putting information in a form or context that facilitates decision making. 1–3 A financial statement audit is, by far, the most common type of attest engagement. The overall assertion, made by management, most frequently is that the financial statements follow generally accepted accounting principles. 1–4 A large corporation with securities listed on a stock exchange is required by the rules of the stock exchange and by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide an audit report with the annual financial statements furnished to its stockholders. It also...
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...Corporation. Instead of becoming the nation’s greatest company, Enron instead laid claim to being the largest corporate bankruptcy in the history. The greediness and egotism wiped out the honesty and integrity that should instill on the persons who were involved in this case. Arthur Edward Andersen built his firm, Arthur Andersen & Company, into one of the largest and most respected accounting firms in the world through his reputation for honesty and integrity. His motto was “Think straight, talk straight” and he insisted that his clients adopt that same attitude when preparing and issuing their periodic financial statements. Arthur Andersen’s auditing philosophy was not rule-based; instead he invoked a substance-over-form approach to auditing and accounting issues. He avidly believed that the primary role of the auditor was to ensure that clients reported fully and honestly to the public, regardless of the consequences for those clients. Ironically, Arthur Andersen & Co.’s dramatic fall from eminence resulted from its association with a client known for aggressive and innovative uses of “accounting gimmicks” to window dress its financial statements. Enron Corporation was the second largest client of the firm and was involved in large, complex transactions with hundreds of special purpose entities (SPEs) that it used to obscure its true financial condition and operating results. Among other uses, these SPEs allowed Enron to download underperforming assets from its balance...
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...Enron Corporation case study • The Enron debacle created what one public official reported was a "crisis of confidence" on the part of the public in the accounting profession. Lists the parties who you believe are most responsible for the crisis. Briefly justify each of your choices. The debacle of Enron, a US firm is looked upon as the worst debacle and fall out in the history of US bankruptcy filed cases. There are many parties involved when it concern to Enron debacle, which was accorded to accounting instability and the compromising factor of accounting profession itself. Out of the many parties in the league and the major force behind the debacle of Enron concern Andersen's, the accounting and auditing firm that once deserved name in the industry for its conscience in accounting professional services and auditing. As the case relates to, accounting audit for Enron is attended by Andersen's since long enough. However, the interesting feature is that some compromise in the profession of accounting services by Andersen's was notable, given that there are noteworthy feature of stock manipulation, especially in financial statements of Enron attended and audited by Andersen's. The statement and restatement of Enron also gives some probable indication for manipulation of accounting, where debate and counter debate in that regard from the prying eye of the media was a common feature. Thus, the involvement of Andersen's in Enron consultancy and professional auditing makes it...
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...Determinants Of Audit Fees: Empirical Evidence From Emerging Economy Kamal Naser* Hamed Abdullhameed** & Rana Nuseibeh*** Abstract This study investigates the structure of audit fees in an emerging economy, Jordan. Data were collected from a sample of companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange that forms 90% of the total population and fairly presents all industrial sectors within the economy. Consistent with previous research, the results of the analysis revealed that corporate size, status of the audit firm, industry type, degree of corporate complexity and risk are the main determinants of audit fees in the Jordanian environment. Unlike previous studies, however, variables such as corporate profitability, corporate accounting year-end and time lag between year-end and the audit report date appeared to be insignificant determinants of audit fees in the sampled companies. Key Words: * Audit fees, Emerging Economy, Jordan. S S cientific Journal of Administrative Development Vol.5 I.A.D. 2007 Dean College of Business Administration, Al-Ain University of Science and Technology, UAE. ** Freelance Financial Analyst, Jordan. *** Link Officer, National Health Service (NHS), UK. 84 Determinants Of Audit Fees: Empirical Evidence From Emerging Economy Introduction Although a number of studies have provided empirical evidence on the relationship between audit fees and the attributes of audited companies, most have tended to focus on developed economies...
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...motto sewed Arthur Andersen & Co. well. Unfortunately, the firm's association with one client, Enron Corporation, abruptly ended Andersen's long and proud history in the public accounting profession. K Y TOPICS: history of the public accounting profession in the United States, scope of E professional services provided to audit clients, auditor independence, and retention of audit workpapers. ; Case 1.2 Just for FEET, Inc. 23 In the fall of 1999, just a few months after reporting a record profit for fiscal 1998, Just for Feet collapsed and filed for bankruptcy. Subsequent investigations by law enforcement authorities revealed a massive accounting fraud that had grossly misrepresented the company's reported operating results. Key features of the fraud were improper accounting for "vendor allowances" and intentional understatements of the company's inventory valuation allowance. K Y TOPICS: applying analytical procedures, identifying inherent risk and control risk E factors, need for auditors to monitor key developments within the client's industry assessing the health of a client's industry, and receivables confirmation procedures. Case 1.3 Jamaica Water P r o p e r t i e s 37 Shortly after accepting an executive position with JWP David Sokol discovered several suspicious items in the company's accounting records. Sokol insisted on thoroughly investigating those items. When that investigation...
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...Standards. It is a set of international accounting standards stating how particular types of transactions and other events should be reported in financial statements. IFRS are issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. 2. What impact does IFRS have on students currently studying accounting? With over 100 countries currently allowing or requiring IFRS (including the European Union), and with multi-national companies ever growing, students will need to know and understand the international Financial Reporting Standards. The SEC appears to transition to the international standards. It might be objective to have a single set of high quality globally accepted accounting standards. • Part Two: 3. What is Sarbanes-Oxley? It is a United States federal law enacted on July 30, 2002 in response to a number of scandals that includes Enron, and World Com. 4. What is the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board? The PCAOB is a nonprofit corporation established by Congress to oversee the audits of public companies in order to protect investors and the public interest by promoting informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. The PCAOB also oversees the audits of brokers and dealers, including compliance reports filed pursuant to federal securities laws, to promote investor protection. 5. Select two requirements provided for in Sarbanes-Oxley; describe (IN YOU OWN WORDS) the impact of the items you selected on the accounting profession. Your response should...
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...at its 333th meeting, revised the syllabus in a comprehensive manner in the following papers of Intermediate (IPC) and Final Course(s) as annexed herewith (shown in Bold cum Italics): Intermediate (IPC) Course Paper 1: Accounting (Group I) Paper 2: Business Laws, Ethics and Communication (Group I) Paper 5: Advanced Accounting (Group II) Paper 6: Auditing and Assurance (Group II) Final Course Paper 3: Advanced Auditing and Professional Ethics (Group I) Paper 4: Corporate and Allied Laws (Group I) Director, Board of Studies Annexure SYLLABUS PAPER 1: ACCOUNTING (One paper – Three hours – 100 Marks) Level of Knowledge : Working Knowledge Objectives : (a) To lay a foundation for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, (b) To gain working knowledge of the principles and procedures of accounting and their application to different practical situations, (c) To gain the ability to solve simple problems and cases relating to sole proprietorship, partnership and companies and (d) To familiarize students with the fundamentals of computerized system of accounting. Contents : 1. A General Knowledge of the framing of the accounting standards, national and international accounting authorities, adoption of international financial reporting standards Accounting Standards Working knowledge of: AS AS...
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...MICHAEL C. KNAPP SEVENTH EDITION MAKE IT YOURS! SELECT JUST THE CASES YOU NEED Through Cengage Learning’s Make It Yours, you can — simply, quickly, and affordably — create a quality auditing text that is tailored to your course. • Pick your coverage and only pay for the cases you use. • Add cases from a prior edition of Knapp’s Contemporary Auditing. • Add your course materials and assignments. • Pick your own unique cover design. We recognize that not every program covers the same cases and topics in your auditing course. Chris Knapp wrote his case book for people to use either as a core e book or as a supplement to an existing book. If you would like to use a custom auditing case book or supplement the South-Western accounting book you are currently using, simply check the cases you want to include, indicate if there are other course materials you would like to add, and click submit. A Cengage Learning representative will contact you to review and confirm your order. G E T S T A R T E D Visit www.custom.cengage.com/makeityours/knapp7e to make your selections and provide details on anything else you would like to include. Prefer to use pen and paper? No problem. Fill out questions 1-4 and fax this form to 1.800.270.3310. A Custom Solutions editor will contact you within 2-3 business days to discuss the options you have selected. 1. Which of the following cases would you like to include? Section 1: Comprehensive Cases 1.1 1.2 ...
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...(ROSC) Cambodia ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING May 15, 2007 Contents Executive Summary Preface Abbreviations and Acronyms I. Introduction II. Institutional Framework III. Accounting Standards as Designed and as Practiced IV. Auditing Standards as Designed and as Practiced V. Perception of the Quality of Financial Reporting VI. Policy Recommendations EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides an assessment of accounting and auditing practices within the corporate sector in Cambodia with reference to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) issued by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). This assessment is positioned within the broader context of the Cambodia’s institutional framework and capacity needed to ensure the quality of corporate financial reporting Cambodia is putting in place an institutional framework with regard to accounting, auditing, and financial reporting practices. However, institutional weaknesses in regulation, compliance, and enforcement of standards and rules still exist. The accounting and auditing statutory framework suffers from inconsistencies among different laws. Although the national accounting standards and auditing standards are based on IFRS, and ISA, respectively, they appear outmoded and have gaps in comparison with the international equivalents. There are varying compliance gaps in both accounting and auditing practices...
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...The impact of ICT on accounting practice in Nigeria CHAPTER ONE Introduction 1.1 Background of the study In the recent past centuries, before the inception of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), the accountants of an organization were using a socially acceptable behavioural method of reporting accounting and economic reports, carried out during accounting year ends, the preparation of accounting records, book such as the profit and loss account, the balance sheet, cash book, cash flow statement, income and expenditure accounts. The application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), on accounting practice in Nigeria has become a subject of fundamental importance and concerns to all business enterprise and indeed a prerequisite for local and international competitiveness. It is obvious that the way accountants plan and take decision on what and how to provide their service in the accounting profession has been affected immensely by Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This has continued to change the manner in which accounting practice and their corporate relationships are organized worldwide and the variety of innovative device available to improve and facilitate the speed and quality service delivery. It is obvious that the biggest impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been made on accounting; and it is the ability of companies to develop and use computerized system to...
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...Audit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For other uses, see Audit (disambiguation). The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2010) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010) Accountancy Key concepts Accountant · Accounting period · Bookkeeping · Cash and accrual basis · Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting · Cost of goods sold · Debits and credits · Double-entry system · Fair value accounting · FIFO & LIFO · GAAP / International Financial Reporting Standards · General ledger · Historical cost · Matching principle · Revenue recognition · Trial balance Fields of accounting Cost · Financial · Forensic · Fund · Management · Tax Financial statements Statement of Financial Position · Statement of cash flows · Statement of changes in equity · Statement of comprehensive income · Notes · MD&A · XBRL Auditing Auditor's report · Financial audit · GAAS / ISA · Internal audit · Sarbanes–Oxley Act Accounting qualifications CA · CCA · CGA · CMA · CPA · CGFM · APA This box: view · talk · edit The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar...
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