Nexu Co assembles mobile telephones in a large factory. Each telephone contains up to 100 different parts, with each part being obtained from one of 50 authorised suppliers.
Like many companies, Nexu’s accounting systems are partly manual and partly computerised. In overview the systems include:
(i) Design software
(ii) A computerised database of suppliers (bespoke system written in-house at Nexu)
(iii) A manual system for recording goods inwards and transferring information to the accounts department
(iv) A computerised payables ledger maintained in the accounts department (purchased off-the-shelf and used with no program amendments)
(v) Online payment to suppliers, also in the accounts department
(vi) A computerised general ledger which is updated by the payables ledger
Mobile telephones are assembled in batches of 10,000 to 50,000 telephones. When a batch is scheduled for production, a list of parts is produced by the design software and sent, electronically, to the ordering department. Staff in the ordering department use this list to place orders with authorised suppliers. Orders can only be sent to suppliers on the suppliers’ database. Orders are sent using electronic data interchange (EDI) and confirmed by each supplier using the same system. The list of parts and orders are retained on the computer in an ‘orders placed’ file, which is kept in date sequence.
Parts are delivered to the goods inwards department at Nexu. All deliveries are checked against the orders placed file before being accepted. A hand-written pre-numbered goods received note (GRN) is raised in the goods inwards department showing details of the goods received with a cross-reference to the date of the order. The top copy of the GRN is sent to the accounts department and the second copy retained in the goods inwards department. The orders placed file is updated with the GRN number to show that the parts have been received.
Paper invoices are sent by all suppliers following dispatch of goods. Invoices are sent to the accounts department, where they are stamped with a unique ascending number. Invoice details are matched to the GRN, which is then attached to the invoice. Invoice details are then entered into the computerised payables ledger. The invoice is signed by the accounts clerk to confirm entry into the payables ledger. Invoices are then retained in a temporary file in number order while awaiting payment.
After 30 days, the payables ledger automatically generates a computerised list of payments to be made, which is sent electronically to the chief accountant. The chief accountant compares this list to the invoices, signs each invoice to indicate approval for payment, and then forwards the electronic payments list to the accounts assistant. The assistant uses online banking to pay the suppliers. The electronic payments list is filed in month order on the computer.
Required
(a) List the substantive audit procedures you should perform to confirm the assertions of completeness, occurrence and cut-off for purchases in the financial statements of Nexu Co. For each procedure, explain the purpose of that procedure.
(b) List the audit procedures you should perform on the trade payables balance in Nexu Co’s financial statements. For each procedure, explain the purpose of that procedure.
(c) Describe the control procedures that should be in place over the standing data on the trade payables master file in Nexu Co’s computer system.
(d) Discuss the extent to which automated tools and techniques might be used in your audit of purchases and payables at Nexu Co.
