Auditing and Assurance Chapter 1: Nature, Objective and Scope of Audit
CA Inter Auditing and Assurance Chapter 1, Nature, Objective and Scope of Audit, Important Solved Questions for May 2021 & November 2021 Exams.
Question 1
DEF & Co. Chartered Accountants successfully carried out the audit of Shree Garments for the f.y. 2019-2020. After the completion of the audit, there were found material misstatements due to fraud in the financial statements which were not noticed and reported by the auditor. Management alleges that it is failure on the part of auditor. Comment.
Solution
Because of the limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements of the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with SAs. Accordingly, the subsequent discovery of a material misstatement of the financial statements resulting from fraud or error does not by itself indicate a failure to conduct an audit in accordance with SAs. However, the inherent limitations of an audit are not a justification for the auditor to be satisfied with less-than-persuasive audit evidence. Whether the auditor has performed an audit in accordance with SAs is determined by the audit procedures performed in the circumstances, the sufficiency and appropriateness of the audit evidence obtained as a result thereof and the suitability of the auditor’s report based on an evaluation of that evidence in light of the overall objectives of the auditor.
Question 2
M/s Sureshchandra & Co. has been appointed as an auditor of SC Ltd. for the financial year 2014-15. CA. Suresh, one of the partners of M/s Sureshchandra & Co., completed entire routine audit work by 29th May, 2015. Unfortunately, on the very next morning, while going towards office of SC Ltd. to sign final audit report, he met with a road accident and died. CA. Chandra, another partner of M/s Sureshchandra & Co., therefore, signed the accounts of SC Ltd., without reviewing the work performed by CA. Suresh.
Required
State with reasons whether CA. Chandra is right in expressing an opinion on financial statements the audit of which is performed by another auditor.
Solution
Relying on Work Performed by Another Auditor: As per SA 220 “Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements”, an engagement partner taking over an audit during the engagement may apply the review procedures such as the work has been performed in accordance with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements; significant matters have been raised for further consideration; appropriate consultations have taken place and the resulting conclusions have been documented and implemented; there is a need to revise the nature, timing and extent of work performed; the work performed supports the conclusions reached and is appropriately documented; the evidence obtained is sufficient and appropriate to support the auditor’s report; and the objectives of the engagement procedures have been achieved.
Further, one of the basic principles, which govern the auditor’s professional responsibilities and which should be complied with wherever an audit is carried, is that when the auditor delegates work to assistants or uses work performed by other auditor and experts, he will continue to be responsible for forming and expressing his opinion on the financial information. However, he will be entitled to rely on work performed by others, provided he exercises adequate skill and care and is not aware of any reason to believe that he should not have so relied. This is the fundamental principle which is ethically required as per Code of Ethics.
However, the auditor should carefully direct, supervise and review work delegated. He should obtain reasonable assurance that work performed by other auditors/experts and assistants is adequate for his purpose.
In the given case, all the auditing procedures before the moment of signing of final report have been performed by CA. Suresh. However, the report could not be signed by him due to his unfortunate death. Later on, CA. Chandra signed the report relying on the work performed by CA. Suresh. Here, CA. Chandra is allowed to sign the audit report, though, will be responsible for expressing the opinion. He may rely on the work performed by CA. Suresh provided he further exercises adequate skill and due care and review the work performed by him.
Question 3
There are practical and legal limitations on the auditor’s ability to obtain audit evidence. Explain with Examples.
Solution
The Nature of Audit Procedures: There are practical and legal limitations on the auditor’s ability to obtain audit evidence. For example:
- There is the possibility that management or others may not provide, intentionally or unintentionally, the complete information that is relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements or that has been requested by the auditor.
- Fraud may involve sophisticated and carefully organised schemes designed to conceal it. Therefore, audit procedures used to gather audit evidence may be ineffective for detecting an intentional misstatement that involves, for example, collusion to falsify documentation which may cause the auditor to believe that audit evidence is valid when it is not. The auditor is neither trained as nor expected to be an expert in the authentication of documents.
- An audit is not an official investigation into alleged wrongdoing. Accordingly, the auditor is not given specific legal powers, such as the power of search, which may be necessary for such an investigation.
Question 4
In case of certain subject matters, limitations on the auditor’s ability to detect material misstatements are particularly significant. Explain such assertions or subject matters.
Solution
In the case of certain subject matters, limitations on the auditor’s ability to detect material misstatements are particularly significant. Such assertions or subject matters include:
- Fraud, particularly fraud involving senior management or collusion.
- The existence and completeness of related party relationships and transactions.
- The occurrence of non-compliance with laws and regulations.
- Future events or conditions that may cause an entity to cease to continue as a going concern.
Question 5
As per SA 220, “Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements” the auditor should obtain information considered necessary in the circumstances before accepting an engagement with a new client, when deciding whether to continue an existing engagement and when considering acceptance of a new engagement with an existing client. Explain
Solution
Information which assist the Auditor in accepting and continuing of relationship with Client: As per SA 220, “Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements” the auditor should obtain information considered necessary in the circumstances before accepting an engagement with a new client, when deciding whether to continue an existing engagement and when considering acceptance of a new engagement with an existing client. The following information would assist the auditor in accepting and continuing of relationship with the client:
(i) The integrity of the principal owners, key management and those charged with governance of the entity;
(ii) Whether the engagement team is competent to perform the audit engagement and has the necessary capabilities, including time and resources;
(iii) Whether the firm and the engagement team can comply with relevant ethical requirements; and
(iv) Significant matters that have arisen during the current or previous audit engagement, and their implications for continuing the relationship.
Question 6
“An auditor who before the completion of the engagement is requested to change the engagement to one which provides a lower level of assurance should consider the appropriateness of doing so.” Discuss.
Solution
Acceptance of a Change in Engagement: An auditor who, before the completion of the engagement, is requested to change the engagement to one which provides a lower level of assurance, should consider the appropriateness of doing so.
A request from the client for the auditor to change the engagement may result from a change in circumstances affecting the need for the service, a misunderstanding as to the nature of an audit or related service originally requested or a restriction on the scope of the engagement, whether imposed by management or caused by circumstances. The auditor would consider carefully the reason given for the request, particularly the implications of a restriction on the scope of the engagement, especially any legal or contractual implications.
If the auditor concludes that there is reasonable justification to change the engagement and if the audit work performed complied with the SAs applicable to the changed engagement, the report issued would be appropriate for the revised terms of engagement. In order to avoid confusion, the report would not include reference to-
(i) the original engagement; or
(ii) any procedures that may have been performed in the original engagement, except where the engagement is changed to an engagement to undertake agreed-upon procedures and thus reference to the procedures performed is a normal part of the report.
The auditor should not agree to a change of engagement where there is no reasonable justification for doing so.
If the terms of the audit engagement are changed, the auditor and management shall agree on and record the new terms of the engagement in an engagement letter or other suitable form of written agreement.
If the auditor is unable to agree to a change of the terms of the audit engagement and is not permitted by management to continue the original audit engagement, the auditor shall-
(i) Withdraw from the audit engagement where possible under applicable law or regulation; and
(ii) Determine whether there is any obligation, either contractual or otherwise, to report the circumstances to other parties, such as those charged with governance, owners or regulators.