...Finance Part 2 By Assurance Assignment Assurance Assignment ------------------------------------------------- Question 1 “Without accountancy businesses would find it hard to function”, Michael Izza. What you feel he means by the above quote? Accounting is the language of business, without it, business functionality would be difficult to undertake. If we break it down, accountancy is needed in the following ways: 1. Financial Accounting: this comprises of information that companies avail to the general public. As a result of these statements being published, companies can gain potential investors. It also hold firms accountable for their operations and encouraged constant revaluation of systems and development in efficiency. 2. Management Accounting: this deals with internal information e.g. cost of goods sold, profit targets, variance analysis etc. This holds management accountable for decisions they make. As a result, they review, plan and coordinate amongst themselves to ensure smooth functionality. 3. Accountability: Businesses need to be held accountable for the actins they make. Otherwise there would be elements of greed, theft, dishonesty and fraud evident in the framework. Accountancy therefore acts as regulator to stop such miss happenings and in a way ensure the financial market runs at equilibrium. In the article the quote appeared, Michael Izza also states that the Joint Stock Companies Act introduced Statutory Audit. From here we begin...
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...INTRODUCTION A financial audit, or more accurately, an audit of financial statements, is the verification of the financial statements of a legal entity, with a view to express an audit opinion. The audit opinion is intended to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, and/or give a true and fair view in accordance with the financial reporting framework. The purpose of an audit is to enhance the degree of confidence of intended users in the financial statements. 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 concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation. Financial audits are typically performed by firms of practising accountants who are experts in financial reporting. The financial audit is one of many assurance functions provided by accounting firms. Many organizations separately employ or hire internal auditors, who do not attest to financial reports but focus mainly on the internal controls of the organization. External auditors may choose to place limited reliance on the work of internal auditors. Internationally, the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is considered as the benchmark for audit process. Almost all jurisdictions require auditors...
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...GLOSSARY OF TERMS 1 (August 2013) Access controls—Procedures designed to restrict access to on-line terminal devices, programs and data. Access controls consist of “user authentication” and “user authorization.” “User authentication” typically attempts to identify a user through unique logon identifications, passwords, access cards or biometric data. “User authorization” consists of access rules to determine the computer resources each user may access. Specifically, such procedures are designed to prevent or detect: • • • • • Unauthorized access to on-line terminal devices, programs and data; Entry of unauthorized transactions; Unauthorized changes to data files; The use of computer programs by unauthorized personnel; and The use of computer programs that have not been authorized. *Accounting estimate—An approximation of a monetary amount in the absence of a precise means of measurement. This term is used for an amount measured at fair value where there is estimation uncertainty, as well as for other amounts that require estimation. Where ISA 540 2 addresses only accounting estimates involving measurement at fair value, the term “fair value accounting estimates” is used. *Accounting records—The records of initial accounting entries and supporting records, such as checks and records of electronic fund transfers; invoices; contracts; the general and subsidiary ledgers, journal entries and other adjustments to the financial statements that are not reflected in formal journal entries;...
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...To: Management of Apollo Shoes From: Martin & Associates, CPA Re: Auditing and Assurance Services Thank you for the opportunity to present the benefits and services that our firm offers. This letter is intended to explain the benefits of each option, our role in providing the available assurance services, and the qualifications required to meet the standard for the services offered. Martin & Associates has been serving our clients for ten years with a strong emphasis on the auditing and assurance services. Our firm takes pride in building trusting relationships, while performing an effective audit to aid in the success of our clients. First and foremost we must understand what auditing and assurance services are. According to Wikipedia, “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 concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.” When it comes to accounting audits are performed to establish the validity and reliability of information that is being reviewed, in addition to provide an assessment of the internal control system. The main goal of an audit is to express an opinion on the information that is being reviewed based on work that is being done on a test basis. Our firm’s accounting audit includes an independent assessment of how practical management has been representing...
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... Auditing and Assurance Services LEARNING OBJECTIVES | | |Exercises and | | | |Problems | | |Review Checkpoints | | | | | | |Define information risk and explain how auditing and assurance services play|1, 2, 3 |48, 50 | |a role in reducing this business risk. | | | | | | | |Define and contrast accounting, auditing, and assurance services. |4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |47 | | | | | |Describe and define the management assertions embodied in financial |9, 10, 11 |52, 54 | |statements, and why auditors use them as a focal point of the audit. | ...
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...HUISWERK WEEK 3 (E6 C32 & E8 C39) + OPGAVE E7 DQP 29 & 31 Case 6-32 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 firm’s 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...
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...world’ situation that is applicable to all business organization. It is making us familiar with real experience. We now know what kind of fraud is taking place in organization, how we can prevent them, how we improve breakdowns, what kind of process should an auditor follows to discover fraud, all of this will help us further carrier as an auditor Dhaka April 2011. Neaz Executive Summary An audit is an examination of a company’s financial statements prepared by the directors of the company. Its purpose is to give the company’s owners an independent, professional and informed opinion stating. Assurance services are a class of services provided by certified public accountants (CPAs) in public practice. While the term is sometimes used inconsistently among individual CPA firms, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Special Committee on...
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...by its apparent characteristics as audit engagement, attestation engagement, or assurance engagement. Because audits are a subset of attestation engagements, which are a subset of assurance engagements, choose the most specific description. In other words, if you believe the engagement is an audit engagement, select only audit engagement. Similarly, the choice of assurance engagement for an audit, while technically correct, would not be the best choice. (LO2) | Professional service | Type of service | Real estate demand studies | Assurance services | Ballot for awards show | Assurance services | Utility rates applications | Assurance services | Newspaper circulation audits | Assurance services | Third-party reimbursement maximization | Assurance services | Annual financial report to stockholders | Audit services | Rental property operation review | Assurance services | Examinations of financial forecasts and projections | Attestation services | Customer satisfaction surveys | Assurance services | Compliance with contractual requirements | Attestation services | Benchmarking/best practices | Assurance services | Evaluation of investment management policies | Assurance services | Information systems security reviews | Assurance services | Productivity statistics | Assurance services | Internal audit strategic review | Assurance services | Financial statements...
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...INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON AUDITING 200 OBJECTIVE AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES GOVERNING AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after June 15, 2006)∗ CONTENTS Paragraph Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 Objective of an Audit of Financial Statements .............................................. 2-3 Ethical Requirements Relating to an Audit of Financial Statements ............. 4-5 Conduct of an Audit of Financial Statements ................................................ 6-9 Scope of an Audit of Financial Statements .................................................... 10-14 Professional Skepticism ................................................................................. 15-16 Reasonable Assurance ................................................................................... 17-21 Audit Risk and Materiality ............................................................................. 22-32 Responsibility for the Financial Statements ................................................... 33-36 Determining the Acceptability of the Financial Reporting Framework ......... 37-48 Expressing an Opinion on the Financial Statements ...................................... 49-51 Effective Date ................................................................................................ 52 ∗ ISA 315, “Understanding...
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...HUISWERK WEEK 3 (E6 C32 & E8 C39) + OPGAVE E7 DQP 29 & 31 Case 6-32 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 firm’s 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...
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...Chapter 01 An Introduction to Assurance and Financial Statement Auditing True / False Questions 1. | Independence standards are required for audits of public companies, but not for audits of private companies. True False | 2. | Decision makers demand reliable information that is provided by accountants. True False | 3. | Information asymmetry seldom occurs. True False | 4. | Conflicts of interest often occur between absentee owners and managers. True False | 5. | Auditing services and attestation services are the same. True False | 6. | Auditing is a type of attest service. True False | 7. | Testing all transactions that occurred during the period is cost prohibitive. True False | Multiple Choice Questions 8. | Why do auditors generally use a sampling approach to evidence gathering? A. | Auditors are experts and do not need to look at much to know whether the financial statements are correct or not. | B. | Auditors must balance the cost of the audit with the need for precision. | C. | Auditors must limit their exposure to their auditee to maintain independence. | D. | The auditor's relationship with the auditee is generally adversarial, so the auditor will not have access to all of the financial information of the company. | | 9. | Which of the following statements best describes a relationship between sample size and other elements of auditing? A. | If materiality increases, so will...
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...........................................................................................13 200 - STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AFFECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST......................14 201.1-4 Maintenance of Reputation of the Profession ..............................................14 Advocacy Services ......................................................................................14 201.5 202.1 Integrity and Due Care ................................................................................15 202.2 Objectivity ...................................................................................................15 203 Professional Competence ...........................................................................15 204.1 Independence - Assurance and Specified Auditing Procedures Engagements...
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...auditing was demanded prior to government regulation such as statutory audit requirements. Additionally, many private companies and other entities not subject to government auditing regulations also purchase various forms of auditing and assurance services. 1-3 There is a natural conflict of interest in the agency relationship between an owner and manager because of differences in the two parties’ goals. For example, the manager may spend funds on excessive personal benefits or favour entity growth at the expense of stockholders values. If both parties seek to maximize their own self-interest, it is likely that the manager will not act in the best interest of the owner and may manipulate the information provided to the owner accordingly. 1-7 Audit risk is defined as the risk that ‘the auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated’ (ISA 200). Materiality: ‘Misstatements, including omissions, are considered to be material if they, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.’(ISA 320). The audit report states that the auditor obtains ‘reasonable assurance’ whether the financial statements are free from ‘material’ misstatement. The term ‘reasonable assurance’ informs the reader that there is some level of risk that the audit did not...
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...business, they will demand to have this report verified by a third independent party. * Agency theory goes on to suggest that the appointment of professional external auditors is the most preferred cost effective way of monitoring the agents. * Under strict agency theory, financial reports are thus regarded as reports to owners of the business who are the principals and the external auditor is seen to act for and on behalf of the owners. DEFINITION OF AUDIT STATEMENT OF AUDITING STANDARDS-GLOSSARY OF TERMS issued by the Auditing Practices Board defines an Audit as; “ An exercise whose objective is to enable auditors to express an opinion whether the financial statements give a true and fair view of the entity`s affairs at the end of a period and its profit or loss for the period then ended and have been properly prepared in accordance with the applicable reporting framework” PARTIES TO THE AUDIT PROCES The American Accounting Association suggests that there are four parties to the accountability/audit process; The Preparer/Source- This refers to those individuals who have control of the resources that have been provided by other parties and have the responsibility for preparing the accounting reports that show the position and results of the activities controlled by them. Users of accounting...
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...CHAPTER 1 AN INTRODUCTION TO ASSURANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDITING Answers to Review Questions 1-1 The study of auditing is more conceptual in nature compared to other accounting courses. Rather than focusing on learning the rules, techniques, and computations required to prepare financial statements, auditing emphasizes learning a framework of analytical and logical skills to evaluate the relevance and reliability of the systems and processes responsible for financial information, as well as the information itself. To be successful, students must learn the framework and then learn to use logic and common sense in applying auditing concepts to various circumstances and situations. Understanding auditing can improve the decision-making ability of consultants, business managers, and accountants by providing a framework for evaluating the usefulness and reliability of information—an important task in many different contexts. 1-2 There is a demand for auditing in a free-market economy because the agency relationship between an absentee owner and a manager produces a natural conflict of interest due to the information asymmetry that exists between the owner and manager. As a result, the agent agrees to be monitored as part of his/her employment contract. Auditing appears to be a cost-effective form of monitoring. The empirical evidence suggests auditing was demanded prior to government regulation. In 1926, before...
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