Question Tag: Conflict of Interest

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AAA – Nov 2024 – L3 – Q1a – Ethical Issues in Audit Engagements

Ethical issues and professional conduct in an audit engagement involving conflict of interest.

You are the Audit Partner of a mid-sized audit firm, Amoah Sonko and Associates. One of your major clients, Kudi LTD (Kudi), has approached you for a significant audit engagement. Kudi has been experiencing rapid growth and plans to get listed on the Ghana Alternative Market within the next year. During preliminary discussions, the Managing Director of Kudi, a friend, promised you a bonus if the audit report is completed quickly and is favourable, highlighting the company’s strengths.

In the course of the audit of Kudi, you came across a series of unusual financial transactions. These included large intercompany loans with its sister companies, other significant related-party transactions with the directors, and an unusually high volume of sales recorded a few days before the end of the financial year. Upon further investigation, your team found discrepancies in inventory records and evidence of potential non-compliance with revenue recognition standards. The Finance Manager insists these transactions are legitimate and necessary for the company’s rapid growth.

Additionally, you noticed that Kudi was involved in a high-profile legal battle with a major competitor, which was not fully disclosed in the financial statements. The lawyer for Kudi insists that you omit this information from the audit report, arguing it would damage the company’s reputation and its plans to get listed on the Ghana Alternative Market.

Required:
i) Identify TWO potential ethical issues in the scenario and explain the potential impact on your professional conduct.                      ii) Identify the steps you should take to address the conflict of interest presented by the Managing Director’s offer. 
iii) Discuss the potential sanctions for accepting the Managing Director’s offer and providing a favourable audit report without proper verification. 
iv) Evaluate the impact of the undisclosed legal battle on Kudi LTD’s financial statements and the upcoming initial public offer.

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PSAF – Nov 2024 – L2 – Q2b – Related Party Transactions and Disclosures

Explains related party transactions and their implications under IPSAS 20.

You are the Director of Finance at the Ghana Water Development Authority, an entity under the Ministry of Forestry and Water. The Authority has a five-member Board chaired by the daughter of the Sector Minister. The Chief Executive Officer of the Authority has just been appointed by Government for an initial term of four years.

The Chairperson of the board runs boutique services. The Authority buys a lot of presents from this boutique whenever they are confronted with the need to give out presents to any high-profile person. The Chairperson has made a request to the Authority to finance her boutique services with an amount of GH¢546,000 to enable her business to pay some urgent bills. No terms or conditions were provided in the request. Such an assistance from a financial institution would attract the current prevailing bank interest on loans at a rate of 35% per annum. Recently, another member of the Board contracted a loan from the Bank for her child’s university entrance fees at that rate.

Management of the Authority indicated that the amount was not significant to the Authority and has been approved by the Head of the entity and the Chief Director. The approved document has been handed over to you for payment. Considering the PFM Laws and IPSAS, you engaged the Chief Director about the request, but you were directed to go ahead and pay and use the appropriate accounting treatment in such circumstances. You accordingly raised the necessary documentation and effected the payment.

Required:

In relation to IPSAS 20: Related Party Disclosures:

i) Explain the implications of this transaction on the Authority and state how you would account for this transaction in the financial statements of the entity.

ii) State SIX situations where related party transactions may lead to disclosures by a reporting entity.

iii) Explain TWO reasons for disclosing related party transactions/relations.

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FM – Nov 2014 – L3 – SC – Q6b – Financing Decisions and Capital Markets

Examine reasons for conflict of interest between shareholders and bondholders.

Discuss any FIVE reasons why conflict of interest may exist between shareholders and bondholders. (5 Marks)

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AAA – Nov 2013 – L3 – SB – Q1 – Ethical Issues in Auditing

Evaluate whether to comply with a former executive’s request for audit services while addressing confidentiality in auditor-client relationships.

Your firm acts as the auditors and advisers to Naija Seven Limited, and to its four directors. The company is owned 50% by Praise Caro, 25% by his wife Madame, and 10% by James Patrick. Braima is the Chief Executive, and Julius is the Finance Director. Julius’ sister, Mabel Mama, recently resigned from the executive board following a disagreement with Praise. Mabel Mama formed her own company, Nigeri Heaven, in competition with Naija Seven.

Currently, Mabel is negotiating with her former co-executives on the profit-related remuneration due to her and the sale of her 15% holding of shares in Naija Seven to one or all of them.

Mabel Mama has contacted you to find out Praise Caro’s current remuneration package since he refused to disclose it to her. She has also requested that your firm should continue to act as her personal adviser, financial adviser, and auditor to Nigeri Heaven.

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CR – May 2023 – L3 – Q6b – Ethical Issues in Corporate Reporting

Discuss the ethical implications and possible actions for alleged unethical behavior in a corporate takeover.

On your first day at Omoge Nigeria Plc as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company, you were sitting in the staff canteen where you overheard a conversation between two Admin Officers. They were gossiping about Mr. Adamu Salisu, the Finance Director.

According to their conversation, Mr. Adamu Salisu may have been involved in unethical activities related to Omoge Nigeria Plc’s takeover of Bobo Limited.

Key details include:

  • Mr. Salisu’s wife, Mrs. Salisu, was a director at Bobo Limited prior to the takeover and owned 30% of its shares.
  • It is alleged that Mr. Salisu substantially overpaid for Bobo Limited and facilitated the overpayment to benefit his wife.
  • The alleged unethical act involved colluding with his wife to falsify records submitted to the accountant conducting due diligence for the takeover.
  • Mr. Salisu is reportedly not well-liked by staff, who consider him intimidating and appear pleased at the prospect of him losing his job.

Required:

Discuss the ethical implications of the above and the possible actions that may arise from the incident. (5 Marks)

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AAA – Nov 2016 – L3 – Q2 – Ethical Issues in Auditing

Discuss ethical and legal obligations of auditors regarding independence, confidentiality, money laundering, and client competition safeguards.

As an Audit Manager in a big audit firm in Nigeria, you were opportuned to attend a conference on Professional Ethics and Anti-Money Laundering in New York. On your return, one of the audit seniors went through the presentations and asked questions on some of the statements she noted in the presentations.

You are required to explain the following statements to her:

a. A good Auditor is an independent auditor. (5 Marks)
b. The Accountant’s normal professional duty of confidentiality to clients is not an adequate defence where money laundering is involved. (5 Marks)
c. Specific obligations for detecting and reporting suspicions of money laundering are placed on professional firms. (5 Marks)
d. A firm might act for two clients that are in direct competition with each other where there are acceptable safeguards. (5 Marks)

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AAA – Nov 2020 – L3 – Q6 – Ethical Issues in Auditing

Preparation of briefing notes on audit tendering, ICAN requirements for advertising, fees, and assessment of client suitability.

Nash Investigations Limited specializes in conducting investigations for corporate clients. It employs ex-police officers, security consultants, IT, and fraud specialists. Nash Investigations recently dropped its firm of auditors and has approached your firm to participate in a tender process for selecting the new auditor. You are a manager in the audit firm and will be working with a senior auditor on this assignment. The senior auditor has never been involved in a tender process or appointment of a new auditor. You have been provided with the following information:

  1. Nash Investigations is a major service provider to your firm, particularly in the provision of IT and fraud consultancy.
  2. Nash Investigations has acrimoniously dropped their previous auditors and is withholding fees, pending the resolution of a number of issues, particularly accusations concerning the auditors’ competence.
  3. Nash Investigations is currently facing a hostile takeover bid from Technical Investigations Group, a company also audited by your firm.
  4. Media reports of a fraud allegation have been leveled against one of the directors of Nash Investigations.
  5. One of the partners in the audit firm is also a director of Nash Investigations.

Required:

Prepare briefing notes to explain the following matters to the audit senior:

a. The audit tendering process in terms of the stages that the audit firm will go through should it decide to participate in the tender.
(5 Marks)

b. The requirements of the ICAN Code of Conduct on advertising and publicity.
(5 Marks)

c. The requirements of the ICAN Code of Conduct on fees.
(5 Marks)

d. The impact of each additional piece of information provided above and how this information would influence your decision to participate in the audit tender for Nash Investigations.
(5 Marks)

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AAA – Nov 2011 – L3 – SA – Q6 – Ethical Issues in Auditing

Identifies a service inappropriate for an audit firm to provide due to independence and ethical concerns.

Which ONE of these services may not be appropriate for an audit firm?

  • A. Advising clients on corporate structures, recruitment, and other human capital needs
  • B. Giving necessary legal advice on tax returns including negotiation with the tax authorities
  • C. Acting as a receiver of the company’s operations on behalf of debenture holders and creditors of the company
  • D. Making detailed enquiries and gathering all necessary information to meet the clients’ specific needs
  • E. Advising clients on how best the business can be run and controlled including issues of accountability and management

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FM – May 2024 – L3 – SC – Q7 – Mergers and Acquisitions

Discuss manager-shareholder conflicts with examples and reasons for synergy in mergers and acquisitions.

(a) Discuss conflict of interest that may exist between managers and shareholders and give examples. (8 Marks)

(b) Explain why synergy might exist when one company merges with or takes over another company. (7 Marks)

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AA – Nov 2023 – L2 – Q3 – Professional Ethics and Code of Conduct for Auditors (IESBA Code)

Evaluate ethical threats due to auditor relationships and actions, and recommend mitigations for compliance.

The following scenarios may threaten compliance with fundamental principles in auditing:

i. The audit supervisor is married to the daughter of the Managing Director of the client company;

ii. The audit firm’s Senior Partner holds shares in the client company;

iii. The assurance firm also provides valuation services, internal audit services, and taxation services to an assurance client;

iv. The assurance firm earns more than 50% of its annual revenue from one assurance client; and

v. The firm obtained motor vehicle financing from a client bank for its staff.

Required:

a. Explain why compliance with fundamental principles in auditing may be threatened in each of the above FIVE circumstances. (10 Marks)

b. Explain FIVE ethical requirements that would reduce or mitigate the threats to compliance with the fundamental principles in the above FIVE circumstances. (10 Marks)

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BMF – Nov 2023 – L1 – SA – Q14 – The Role of Professional Accountants in Business and Society

Identify the accounting concept that ensures professional judgment is not affected by conflict of interest.

Which of the following best describes the concept that an accountant must NOT allow his professional or business judgment to be affected by conflict of interest?

A. Due care
B. Objectivity
C. Professional competence
D. Confidentiality
E. Integrity

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AA – Nov 2019 – L2 – Q2b – Professional and Ethical Considerations

Discusses whether the audit firm complied with the IFAC Code of Ethics in relation to independence in two scenarios.

Sowah Quartey & Co., a firm of Auditors with a number of clients listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange, recently held a staff training session on quality control. During the session, staff raised matters from their experience relating to the ethical code on independence. Some of these matters are outlined below:

i) Shortly before commencing the final audit of a large listed company, a Junior Staff member on the audit team inherited a substantial number of shares in that company. No action was taken because, although representing a large investment for the staff member concerned, the number of shares was totally immaterial with respect to the company. Moreover, the partner knew that if the company’s results are announced, there will be a rise in the share price, and he did not think it was fair to require the staff member to sell them beforehand.
(5 marks)

ii) The Management Accountant of another listed client company had an accident and was away from work for three months. At the time of the accident, the audit senior was winding up the prior year’s audit. Given his familiarity with the company’s management accounting system, it was agreed that he would take over as Management Accountant for the three months.
(5 marks)

Required:
Discuss whether Sowah Quartey & Co had complied with the IFAC’s Code of Ethics or had acted unprofessionally in any other way with respect to each of the above scenarios.

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AA – May 2016 – L2 – Q2a – Professional and Ethical Considerations

This question examines ethical threats and their mitigation in the context of audit engagements.

(a) You are a manager in the audit firm of ABC & Co; and this is your first time you have worked on one of the firm’s established clients, Tark Co. The main activity of Tark Co is providing investment advice to individuals regarding saving for retirement, purchase of shares and securities, and investing in tax-efficient savings schemes. Tark is regulated by the relevant financial services authority.

You have been asked to start the audit planning for Tark Co, by Mr. Soon, a partner in ABC & Co. Mr. Soon has been the engagement partner for Tark Co for the past nine years and has excellent knowledge of the client. Mr. Soon has informed you that he would like his daughter, Afi, to be part of the audit team this year; Afi is currently studying for her first set of knowledge-level papers for her ICAG qualification. Mr. Soon also informs you that Mr. Fac, the audit senior, received investment advice from Tark Co during the year and intends to do the same next year.

In an initial meeting with the finance director of Tark Co, you learned that the audit team will not be entertained on Tark Co.’s yacht this year as this could appear to be an attempt to influence the opinion of the audit. Instead, he has arranged a balloon flight costing less than one-tenth of the expenses of using the yacht and hopes this will be acceptable. The director also states that the fee for taxation services this year should be based on a percentage of tax saved, and he trusts that your firm will accept a fixed fee for representing Tark Co in a dispute regarding the amount of sales tax payable to the taxation authorities.

Required:

(i) Explain the ethical threats which may affect the auditor of Tark Co. (6 marks)

(ii) For each ethical threat, discuss how the effect of the threat can be mitigated. (6 marks)

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AA – Nov 2021 – L2 – Q4b – Public Sector Auditing

Identifies corporate governance weaknesses in Formation Bank Ltd and provides recommendations for improvement.

Mr. William Kofi Ansah is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Major Shareholder of Formation Bank Ltd. He single-handedly appointed his father-in-law as board chair and three related parties as Non-Executive Directors, in addition to the existing five (5) Executive Directors. Rewards such as first-class tickets and large consulting contracts were granted to Directors, and compensation for the Directors was excessive and not commensurate with the Bank’s performance.

There is no formal credit management policy for the Bank, and regular Board review meetings were not carried out. Large non-performing loans were granted to the related parties, which resulted in the Bank being heavily exposed. The Bank sent false monthly credit reports to the regulator, and the regulator failed to assess the report and provide prompt feedback.

The External Auditors and Regulator were treated to a high-end reception during audits and given large brown envelopes at the end of the audit. The internal audit unit is ill-resourced and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Required:
Explain FIVE (5) corporate governance weaknesses faced by Formation Bank Ltd in relation to corporate governance principles and for each weakness identified, recommend a solution to overcome it.

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AA – Nov 2021 – L2 – Q1a – Internal Audit and its Relationship with External Audit

Explains two advantages and three disadvantages of outsourcing an internal audit function to an external company.

Traditionally, internal audit work is undertaken mainly by in-house teams. However, in recent times many organizations outsource either completely or partially their internal audit function. Kofi Krakye, the Financial Controller of BHB Ltd, has advised management to consider outsourcing their internal audit function to FPP Ltd.

Required:
Explain TWO (2) advantages and THREE (3) disadvantages of outsourcing the internal audit function to FPP Ltd.
(5 marks)

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AA – Nov 2018 – L2 – Q3d – Professional and Ethical Considerations

Explains safeguards to manage conflicts of interest when auditing competitors.

The Finance Director of the Company informed the audit partner that the reason for appointing Add Consult as auditors was because they audit other similar companies, including the Company’s main competitor. The Finance Director doubts how Add Consult keeps information (obtained during the audit) confidential.

Required:
Explain the safeguards which your firm should implement to ensure that this conflict of interest is properly managed. (5 marks)

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AA – Nov 2018 – L2 – Q1b – Professional and Ethical Considerations

Discusses ethical issues concerning auditor independence and implications of withholding access to company records.

b)

i. Yaw Manu is a Chartered Accountant who has been appointed as an auditor of Level Ltd at the annual general meeting of the company in December 2009, which assignment Yaw Manu accepted. In April 2010, Yaw Manu joined Kwaku Assenso, also a Chartered Accountant, who is the Finance Manager of Level Ltd, as a partner.

Required:
Discuss the ethical issues raised in the above scenario. (5 marks)

ii. You are the auditor of S.K Ltd. While conducting the audit of the company for the year ended 31 December 2017, you wanted to refer to the minutes book, but the Board of Directors refused to give these books to you.

Required:
Discuss the implications of the directors’ action. (5 marks)

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CR – May 2019 – L3 – Q5b – Regulatory framework and ethics

The question requires identifying and discussing the ethical issues arising from conflicts of interest, board dynamics, and related party transactions within Bolgatanga Ltd and how to address them appropriately.

Bolgatanga Ltd (Bolgatanga), currently operating in the biotechnology research and healthcare sector, is a Ghanaian listed company which prepares financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) up to 31 December each year. On 1 January 2015, Bolgatanga acquired 80% interest in Wa Ltd (Wa). You are a newly qualified accountant at Bolgatanga and report directly to Mr. Dominic Atubiga, the Financial Controller (FC). Early 2017, Bolgatanga acquired Sissala Ltd (Sissala), a private company, and has recently had an application for additional funds rejected from its current bankers on the basis that there are insufficient assets to offer security.

You have been reviewing the minutes of Bolgatanga’s last board meeting, dated 28 December 2017. The minutes indicate that the sales director resigned on 1 December 2017. In her resignation letter to the board, the sales director states that she can no longer work with Dominic Atubiga, who is dominating the board and allowing a close friendship with, and advice from, Salifu Adams (Managing Director of Sissala) to compromise his judgement.

The Human Resources department is currently in the process of recruiting a new sales director. Dominic Atubiga tells the board that, in the interim, the marketing department will just have to cope until a replacement sales director is appointed. Speaking to other staff in Bolgatanga, you have become aware that the wife of the Managing Director of Bolgatanga is a partner in Brother and Co., a firm of solicitors which the company uses to provide legal advice in relation to the market development activities of Wa. However, Brother and Co. has confirmed that the FC’s wife works in a different division and that she has no involvement in the services provided. It is your understanding that legal fees of GH¢500,000 (included in administration expenses) were paid by Bolgatanga to Brother and Co. during the year ended 31 December 2017.

Required:
Discuss the ethical issues arising from the information provided, and the appropriate steps to address them.

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CR – Mar 2024 – Q3c – Regulatory framework and ethics

Analyze ethical issues in a takeover scenario, including views on considering ethics and potential conflicts of interest.

The directors of Akilapa Ltd are involved in takeover talks with Bongo Partners. In the discussions, Mr Mensah, the Managing Director of Akilapa Ltd stated that there was no point in considering issues of ethics because the purpose of the takeover is to increase the market share of the company and ultimately increase the profit of the firm. In seconding his point, Miss Benkro indicated that in adopting a pragmatic approach to the takeover, there was no ethical issue in considering a third-party in relation to Bongo Partners because, in her opinion, the takeover will not benefit the third party but the company and the society.

During the meeting, Dr Worlanyo who was the previous Accountant of Bongo Partners before moving to Akilapa Ltd was involved in drafting the financial statements and provided a positive approval of the takeover bid. Upon receipt of the recommendation, a member of the board of directors found that there are indications that several of Bongo Partners’s Non-current assets might be impaired.

Required: i) Comment on the views of Mr Mensah and Miss Benkro regarding the fact that there is no point in considering ethical issues in the takeover bid. (4 marks)

ii) Assess the ethical issues in this scenario and explain how they should be addressed. (6 marks)

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CSEG – May 2019 – L2 – Q2a – Corporate governance framework

Describe a director’s fiduciary duty in relation to conflict of interest and assess whether this duty was breached by Gyeabour.

Muntaka Property Investments Ltd (MPI) owns a variety of shopping centres and retail units throughout Ghana. Last year, it decided to build a new outlet shopping centre in Adenta, Accra City, in the belief that the opening of the new light-rail line in this area would facilitate customer access to this centre and could attract customers from all parts of the country. To finance this development, MPI decided to sell some of its other properties. One of these properties was a small retail park located within three kilometers off Weija (a large provincial town). Gyeabour, a director of MPI, was tasked with overseeing this sale. Within three weeks of the Weija property being advertised for sale, Gyeabour reported that he had received an offer on the property for the full asking price. Delighted with this, the Board of MPI authorized Gyeabour to effect the sale of this property.

However, two months after the sale was completed, it was announced that one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world was establishing its global head office on the site adjacent to the former Weija property, and as a consequence of this fact, the value of the property had already increased by an excess of 60%. Upon further investigation, MPI discovered that the Weija property was purchased by Gyasco Properties Ltd., a company wholly owned by Gyeabour’s two sons, and that the mother-in-law of one of these sons is a local politician in Weija. Consequently, she would have been aware of the impending purchase of the adjacent property by the pharmaceutical company.

Required:
Describe a director’s fiduciary duty regarding conflict of interest and determine whether this duty has been breached by Gyeabour in this situation.

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