Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Audit Chapter 1
Audit Chapter 1
PAPER
CAF 09
AUDIT
AND
ASSURANCE
(BLUFF NOTES)
The author, Mr. Zia Ul Haq, ACA is an associate member of Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and FCCA (fellow member of
Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) UK). He is also an MBA from
Anglia Ruskin University UK.
Having served the firm and industry for 5 years, he has adapted teaching as
profession on full time basis in 2011.
2 Obtaining an engagement 13
6 Internal control 49
7 Tests of controls 57
8 Substantive Procedures 82
1 Company Act 8 8 6 10 6 4 3 8 6 4
Other Areas 3 6 5 8 7 4
2 Engagement 5 4 9 3 8 5 4 4
3 Ethics 9 12 13 10 9 10 12 12 13 11 11 15
Materiality 5 7 2 3 6 7
Analytical Procedures 4 11 9
Fraud 6 10 11 11 4 13 9 4 5 13 8
5 Evidence 2 4
Audit documentation 7 6
Sampling 1 3 7 10
6 Internal Controls 22 4 12 6 6
Other Techniques 13 4
7 Sales 3 5 15
Purchases 10 15
Wages 7
Inventory 8 6 9
Non-current Assets 11
Cash 6
8 Receivables 12 12 5 9 6 5 7 10
Other Areas 10 3 11 2 5 7
10 Related Party 2 7 4 12 6 3 11 8 10
11 Internal Audit 6 2 4 6 4 7
Expert 9 6 2 6 6
12 Audit Report 6 14 10 15 16 9 15 8 18
13 Going Concern 5
Written Representation 5 7 5 8
Subsequent Event 7 10 9 9
14 Review Engagement 2 3 8 5
_____________________________________________Chapter 1: Concept and Need for Assurance
CHAPTER 1
CONCEPT AND NEED FOR ASSURANCE
DEFINITION OF AN AUDIT
The objective of an audit of financial statement is “to enable the auditor to express an opinion whether the
financial statements are prepared, in all material respects (give true and fair view), in accordance with
an identified financial reporting framework (IAS/IFRS)”
Perform walk through tests * -to verify the systems work as recorded
If strong If weak
If satisfactory
Report to management
Perform reduced volume of
substantive tests *
ESSENTIAL TERMINOLOGY
Risk evaluation
This involves an analysis of the client’s business environment, the nature of its business, the nature of
individual transactions, which could result in misstatements in the financial statement, and if undetected
could result in an inappropriate audit opinion.
Walk-through tests
These are audit tests performed to verify the system works as recorded
One or two transactions are selected and “walked through” the system from origin to conclusion
They are performed annually to confirm the system still works as recorded
The sample size is too small to draw any valid conclusion other than the system works as recorded
Tests of control
These are designed to seek evidence that each control was properly performed throughout the period
under review
If controls are found to be satisfactory, the auditor will seek to place reliance on them to reduce the
volume of substantive tests of detail
Interim audits
Audit work performed before the year end has finished is called Interim audit
Audits, particularly of large companies, are often conducted in stages. Due to time pressure and reporting
deadlines, audit work may be commenced before the client’s financial year has finished to perform
detailed audit work particularly on systems and transactions
this is performed before the end of the accounting period and may include:
- Discussions with staff and management designed to enhance auditor’s understanding of the entity and
the environment
(To more fully plan the audit and hopefully reduce the work performed at year end)
-Recording information about internal control systems that are relevant to the audit;
-Performing some preliminary controls testing or substantive procedures
Final audit
Audit work performed after the year end is called final audit
This is sometimes called the “balance sheet audit”
Audit concentration is on verifying items and management assertions in the balance sheet and income
statement/profit and loss account
this is performed after the year-end when the draft F/S are available and include full-year balances.
-Normally the interim audit work is performed by fewer but more senior staff.
-The final audit is then much longer and involves the whole audit team.
The concept is a dynamic concept and is incapable of precise lasting legal definition, but to be true and fair,
financial statements must live up to the current needs and expectations of users.
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_____________________________________________Chapter 1: Concept and Need for Assurance
ISA 320 – ‘Materiality in planning and performing an audit’- defines the concept as follows:
Misstatements 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.
Materiality is not capable of general mathematical definition since it involves qualitative as well as
quantitative considerations:
Quantitative judgments are made in terms of the size of an item when compared with other items
in the financial statements.
Qualitative judgments are made in terms of the nature of an item irrespective of size.
(Materiality will be covered in more detail later when planning the audit is considered)
Agency Theory
Agency theory implies that the agent should work in the best interest of the principal.
Auditors are the agents of shareholders and it is expected that in case of conflict of interest, they should
consider their duties to the users.
In the absence of agency relationship, the users will not have enough confidence in the audited accounts.
Stewardship
Stewardship refers to the obligation of looking after the assets with care and caution.
The person who manages the assets of the owners is called steward. The steward (directors) should take the
actions in the best interest of shareholders. There may be a conflict of interest between the directors and
shareholders. Therefore, the directors want financial statements audited by an independent party to enhance
the credibility. The independent audit reduces the shareholders' mistrust of the directors.
Accountability:
Management and Directors are responsible to the shareholders for their actions and decisions. To show their
accountability, directors and management prepare financial statements and present them to shareholders.
ASSURANCE ENGAGEMENT:
In an assurance engagement the practitioner evaluates a subject matter against suitable criteria, and expresses
an opinion designed to enhance the degree of confidence of the intended user about the subject matter.
Evidence Evidence is the information used by auditor in arriving at the conclusions on which opinion
is based.
Evidence should be Sufficient and Appropriate.
Written It is a report written in standard format (as per ISAs or as per local Laws) which includes
Report conclusion of practitioner. It is provided by practitioner to intended users.
If any of the above element is missing, engagement will be called non-assurance engagement.
Types of Assurance
“Assurance” means confidence with which a practitioner expresses his conclusion.
There are two levels of assurance that can be provided to assurance client i.e. Reasonable Assurance and
Limited Assurance.
Expectation Gap:
Expectation gap means public perception of the role and responsibilities of the external auditor is different
(and usually higher) from his statutory role and responsibilities.
Tenure/Term of Auditor:
Tenure of auditor appointed in each case is from date of appointment till the conclusion of next AGM.
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_____________________________________________Chapter 1: Concept and Need for Assurance
Remuneration of Auditor:
The remuneration of the auditor shall be fixed:
(a) by the members in the general meeting; or
(b) by the board or by the Commission, if the auditor are appointed by the board or the Commission, as the
case may be.
SECP shall appoint auditor, on its own motion or on application by company or members, if:
1st auditors not appointed by directors within 90 days of the incorporation
Auditor not appointed in an AGM
Casual vacancy not filled by directors within 30 days
Auditors appointed are unwilling to act
Member(s) having at least 10% shareholding shall also be entitled to propose any auditor whose consent
has been obtained.
A notice shall be given to company at least 7 days before the date of the AGM
On receipt of such notice, company shall:
-Sent a copy of notice to the retiring auditor, forthwith.
-Post it on its website.
Retiring auditor can make representation to company at least 2 days before AGM.
It shall be read in AGM and it shall be mandatory for auditor/representative to attend the meeting.
Company shall-intimate the registrar within 14 days of appointment / removal / casual vacancy together
with the consent of appointed auditor
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_____________________________________________Chapter 1: Concept and Need for Assurance
DISQUALIFICATIONS OF AUDITOR
1. Person who during preceding 3 years was director, other officer or employee of Company
2. Person who is a director, other officer or employee of Company
3. Person who is a partner or employee of a director, officer or employee of Company
4. Spouse of the director of Company
5. Person indebted to Company, other than in ordinary course of business of such entities
-Not be considered indebted, if owes less than 1,000,000 to a credit card issuer
- Not be considered indebted, if unpaid utility dues for ≤90 days to utility Company
6. Body Corporate
7. Person or his spouse and his minor children, or in case of a firm, all partners of a firm who holds any
shares in Company or its associated company.
(If he holds shares before appointment, the fact shall be disclosed at time of appointment and shall
disinvest such shares within 90 days of appointment)
8. Person who has given a guarantee/security in connection with the indebtedness of any third person to the
company other than in the ordinary course of business of such entities
9. Person or a firm who directly or indirectly, has business relationship with the company other than in the
ordinary course of business of such entities:
10. Person who has been convicted by a court of an offence involving fraud and a period of 10 years has not
elapsed from the date of such conviction;
11. Person who is not eligible to act as auditor under the code of ethics as adopted by the ICAP and the
ICMAP;
Person disqualified as auditor of a company shall also be disqualified for its holding company, its
subsidiary company or subsidiary company of its holding company.
If after appointment auditor becomes disqualified, he shall deem to vacate office with effect from date he
becomes disqualified
If an unqualified / disqualified person is appointed as auditor; it shall be void and SECP may appoint a
qualified person in place of the auditor appointed by Company.
A person, who not being qualified to be an auditor, acts as auditor of a company shall be liable to a
penalty of level 2
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Such audit shall be directed by SECP subject to the recommendation of the regulatory authority supervising
the business of relevant sector. . .
Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of sections 246, 247, 248 and-250 shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale (Sec252]
Following definitions are important to understand and to be memorised in the context of answering the
scenarios of Companies Act area in the ICAP exams.
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IAASB
It is an independent standard-setting body
It sets high-quality international standards for auditing, assurance, and other related standards
It facilitates the convergence of international and national auditing & assurance standards.
After approval it is distributed widely amongst the profession and others for comment.
The IAASB’s pronouncements do not override local laws or regulations.
If local laws or regulations differ from, or conflict with, the IAASB’s standards then a professional
accountant should not state that he has complied with the IAASB’S standards.
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Authority/Status of an ISA:
In Pakistan, audit is conducted in accordance ISAs. To obtain reasonable assurance, it is compulsory
for auditors to comply with all required procedures of all ISAs.
Professional skepticism -An attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions wh.ch may
indicate possible misstatement due to error or fraud, and a critical assessment of audit evidence.
Professional judgment - The application of relevant training, knowledge and experience, within the context
provided by auditing, accounting and ethical standards, in making informed decisions about the courses of
action that are appropriate in the circumstances of the audit engagement.
Independence -Independence means auditor should be free to perform audit procedures without any bias or
influence. Auditor should be Independent of financial, personal and employment relations with client.
Sufficient appropriate audit evidence -Sufficiency is the measure of the quantity of audit evidence.
Appropriateness is the measure of the quality of audit evidence in terms of its relevance and reliability.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about the
amounts and disclosures in the F/S.
The procedures include the assessment of risks of material misstatement of the F/S, whether due to fraud
or error.
In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation
and fair presentation of F/S in order to design appropriate audit procedures, but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on their effectiveness.
An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness
of accounting estimates made by management.
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For Directors/Management:
Auditor identifies deficiencies in entity’s internal control system.
Audit confirms that management is performing its statutory and non-statutory duties.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Auditor is required to express opinion whether financial statements are correct. A complete set of financial
statements include following:
Statement of financial position.
Statement of comprehensive income
Statement of changes in equity.
Statement of cash flows.
Notes to the accounts.
Applicable Financial Reporting Framework (AFRF) is the financial reporting framework adopted by
management and TCWG, in preparation of financial statements considering legal requirements, nature of
entity, nature of financial statements, and purpose of financial statements.
Compliance Framework:
Compliance framework is a financial reporting framework that requires compliance with requirements of the
framework, and does not contain acknowledgements which are contained in fair presentation framework
(regarding additional disclosures or departure from requirements of framework to achieve fair presentation).
An example is Tax-basis Framework.
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