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External Confirmations, Receivables and Sales: Session 24
External Confirmations, Receivables and Sales: Session 24
External Confirmations, Receivables and Sales: Session 24
External Confirmations,
Receivables and Sales
FOCUS
This session covers the following content from the ACCA Study Guide.
D. Audit Evidence
4. The audit of specific items
For each of the account balances stated in this sub-capability:
• explain the audit objectives and the audit procedures in relation to
a) Receivables:
i) direct confirmation of accounts receivable,
ii) other evidence in relation to receivables and prepayments, and
iii) the completeness and occurrence of sales.
Session 24 Guidance
Learn the term "external confirmation" and attempt Example 1.
Learn the factors which affect the need for external confirmation (s.1.1) and appreciate
the range of factors which affect the design of the request (s.1.2).
Understand the difference between positive and negative and open and closed confirmation
requests (s.1.2).
EXTERNAL CONFIRMATIONS
• Considerations
• Design of Request
• Confirmation Process
• Responses
RISKS
• General Risks
• Audit Considerations
• Sources of Evidence
C A R E
Session 24 Guidance
Read the general risks (s.2.1); see if you can anticipate the audit considerations (s.2.2).
Attempt Example 3.
Learn the procedures for obtaining direct confirmations (s.3). Attempt Example 4.
Understand other issues related to accounts receivable, prepayments and sales (s.4) and
attempt Example 5 (as revision of Session 21).
1.1 Considerations
1.1.1 Need For
< Materiality of items to be confirmed;
< Assessed risk of material misstatement;
< Effectiveness of controls; and
< Availability of other evidence to reduce audit risk to an
acceptable level.*
1.1.2 Reliability
< Obtained from external sources;
< Initiated and obtained directly by the auditor; and
< In documentary form (written or electronic).
1.1.3 Confirming Party
< Needs to have knowledge of subject matter; and
< Ability or willingness to reply (e.g. if concerned about legal
consequences).
1.2.1 Positive
< Request to confirm agreement with balance shown or express
disagreement.
< Preferred when there is high assessed risk, for example:
= weak internal controls;
= suspicion of irregularity or amounts in dispute; and/or
= numerous bookkeeping errors.
1.2.2 Negative
< Request to reply only in event of disagreement.
< Appropriate when:
= good internal controls (i.e. low control risk);
= large number of small accounts;
= errors not expected; and
= expectation that respondents will not ignore request.
1.2.3 Open
< Balance not shown. Respondent requested to enter balance.
< Used to encourage respondent not to just "tick off"
agreement.
< Usually used when requesting confirmation of possible
understatement of balance.
1.2.4 Closed
< Balance shown.
< Mainly used to confirm possible overstatement of a balance.
1.3 Confirmation Process
< The auditor should have control over:
= determining the information to be requested;
= the selection process and who should confirm;
= designing the confirmation requests;
= sending confirmation requests (including second requests);
= receiving responses.*
Suggest procedures to be carried out by the auditor where management refuse to allow a
confirmation to be sent.
Solution
1.4 Responses
1.4.1 Information Given
< Consider if response given by expected individual and by
expected means (e.g. written and not oral). If not, determine
why and the reliability of the response (e.g. contact by phone
the individual from whom response was expected).
< Assess its consistency and reliability in relation to other
audit evidence. If in doubt, consider other audit procedures
including calling the respondent to confirm particular matters.
1.4.2 Agreement
< Consider the possibility of a "tick box" approach having
been taken.
1.4.3 Disagreement
< Identify reason why and carry out further audit procedures as
necessary (e.g. reconciling goods/cash in transit).
< Consider if increased risk of material misstatement.
< Assess need for further audit procedures to ensure sufficient
reliable audit evidence obtained.
1.4.4 No Response
< Action depends on how the nature and extent of alternative
audit procedures are affected by the assertion(s) assessed by
the confirmation.
< Alternative procedures may provide sufficient evidence.
< If no alternative procedures would provide the assurance
required, the effect on the audit report must be assessed.
2 Risks
2.1.2 Prepayments
< Prepayments may not be recognised and correctly accounted *In most entities
for, resulting in:* individual
= an overstatement of expenses charged to the profit and prepayments will not
loss; and the be material, but the
cumulative effect
= an understatement of prepayments on the statement of of an inappropriate
financial position. accounting treatment
2.1.3 Sales of all prepayments
must be considered
< The auditor should be aware of and respond to the risk of as a risk.
material misstatement due to revenue recognition fraud.
< Common revenue frauds include:
= early revenue recognition;
= holding the books open past the close of the accounting
period;
= fictitious sales; and
= failure to record sales returns.
2.2.2 Prepayments
Completeness, valuation and allocation, and existence are key
assertions for pre-payments.
Audit considerations include:
= Understand the nature of the business and expected
prepayments.
= Obtain a list of prepayments from the client, cast and agree
to general ledger (valuation and allocation).
= Compare current prepayments with previous years and, for
material items, inspect supporting evidence such as paid
invoices (completeness, existence).
= Identify any unrecorded prepayments by reviewing the cash
book for large and unusual items and inspecting supporting
documents such as suppliers invoices (completeness,
cut‑off).
2.2.3 Sales
Match a sample of shipping documents to the corresponding
sales invoices and recording in the proper control accounts
(completeness).
Match a sample of sales transactions from the control account
to sales invoices, the customer order and shipping documents
(occurrence).
< Examine a sample of sales invoices for proper classification
into revenue accounts (classification).
Compare a sample of sales invoices from shortly before and
after year end with the shipment dates and the dates the sales
were recorded (cut-off).
< Compare prices and terms on a sample of sales invoices with
authorised price list and terms of trade (accuracy).
Complete the following "ideas list" for the sources of evidence to be *See Session 20 for
used in the audit of receivables and sales. examples of written
representations.
Solution
Accounting systems
Documentation
Tangible assets
Management and
employees*
Analytical procedures
Yours faithfully,
< From cash received records, trace cash received before year
end to receivables control and bank statement ensuring
entries made before the year end.
Solution
Summary
< An external confirmation is a direct written response to the auditor from a third party.
< Confirmations can be paper based or electronic. When receiving an electronic confirmation,
the auditor should confirm the sender and the security of the content.
< Positive confirmation (a request to confirm either agreement or disagreement with the
balance shown) should be used when controls are weak, there is suspicion of irregularities
or there are numerous bookkeeping errors.
< Negative confirmation (a request to reply only in event of disagreement) should be used
when control risk is low, there are many small accounts, few errors are expected, and
recipients are expected to respond to the request.
< An open confirmation asks the respondent to enter the balance and is used when testing
primarily for possible understatement.
< A closed confirmation shows the balance and is used when testing primarily for
overstatement.
< The auditor should control the confirmation process, including sample selection,
confirmation design and sending/receiving the confirmation.
< When a response indicates disagreement, the auditor should distinguish errors from
reconciling items and perform further audit procedures if there is an increased risk of
material misstatement.
< Financial statement assertions for receivable balances include existence, valuation, cut-off
and rights.
< The auditor should perform procedures on control accounts to verify the accuracy and
completeness of the receivables balance.
Session 24 Quiz
Estimated time: 10 minutes
2. Describe the procedures to be carried out if a debtor replies to a confirmation that they do not
agree to the balance as stated. (3.3)
Additional
Q34 B-Star
< Preparing debt age analysis at year end and date of audit
and comparing to identify year-end debts not yet collected.