This chapter discusses accepting audit engagements and planning audits. It covers the key steps in client acceptance, which include evaluating management integrity, identifying special risks, assessing competence to perform the audit, and evaluating independence. Planning the audit involves understanding the client's business, industry, and business cycle. Analytical procedures are used in planning to help identify areas of risk, and involve developing expectations, performing calculations, and investigating differences.
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Modern Auditing
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Developed by:
Dr. Raymond N. Johnson, CPA
Gregory K. Lowry, MBA, CPA John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Overview of a Financial Statement Audit
Client Acceptance and Retention
Planning the Audit
Obtaining an Understanding of the
Client’s Business and Industry
Performing Analytical Procedures
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4 Phases of an Audit
1. Client Acceptance and Retention
2. Planning the Audit
3. Performing Audit Tests
4. Reporting the Findings
5. Management IInntteeggrriittyy
• Communication with the Predecessor Auditor
• Make inquiries of other third parties
• Review previous experience with existing clients
– Knowledge of critical success factors competition
• Client background checks
– Previous bankruptcy
– Previous convictions
– Suspected ties to organized crime
• Industry experience
6. Identify Special
Circumstances and Unusual
Risks
Focus on the auditor’s business risks
• Identify intended users of audited statements
– Purchase and sale of business
• Assess prospective client’s legal and financial stability
– Client’s need for capital
• Identify scope limitations
• Evaluate the entity’s financial reporting systems and
auditability
– Inadequate internal controls
7. Assess Competence to
Perform the Audit
• Services desired
• Identify the audit team
• Need for consultation and use of specialists
• Trend in industry specialization
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• 80’s: Accept clients as route to partnership, but
not as cognizant of risks
• 90’s: Clean up client list during good times with
a focus on growth oriented clients
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• Theater company producing shows like Phantom
of the Opera, Showboat, etc.
• Financial statement misstatements:
– Capitalized cost of shows as pre-production costs
– Revenue recognition for tickets given away
• Cost structure
– Heavy fixed costs
– Predictable costs
• Need for ticket revenues and cash flows
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FFiigguurree 77--44
FFiigguurree 77--44
Understand and
Quantify
Understand,
Quantify,
and Correlate with Outcomes
15. Understanding the
Business and Industry
• The clients business risks are strongly correlated
with the auditor audit risk.
• Do audit tests ensure that the entity’s outcomes
associated with business risks are fairly
presented in the financial statements?
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FFiigguurree 77--55
FFiigguurree 77--55
Key Issues What to Understand
Senior Management Does management depend on one or a few key individuals?
How experienced is the entity’s management?
What is management’s attitude toward accepting risks?
How does management delegate authority and responsibility?
What is management’s reputation for integrity and business
ethics?
Management Goals What are management’s primary goals?
and Objectives Obtaining additional market share?
Growth in sales?
Growth in profits?
Growth in operating cash flows?
Growth in market valuation?
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Analytical procedures are used in auditing for
the following purposes:
1. In the planning phase of the audit, to
assist the auditor in planning the nature,
timing, and extent of other auditing
procedures
2. In the testing phase, as a substantive test
to obtain evidential matter about
particular assertions related to account
balances or classes of transactions
3. At the conclusion of the audit, in a final
review of the overall reasonableness of the
audited financial statements
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• Evaluate the data presented on pp 260-261.
• Develop your own expectations
• Compare company data with expectations
• Identify issues that need audit attention.
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