Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

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AA – July 2023 – L2 – Q3b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Professional and Ethical Considerations

Factors external auditors should consider when engaging an actuary for evaluating an insurance company's reserves and premium rates.

Question

b) Fritz Insurance is a large insurance company that provides a wide range of insurance products to individuals and businesses. As part of their annual audit, the external auditor has engaged the services of an Actuary to assist with the evaluation of the company’s reserves and the adequacy of its premium rates.

Required:
Explain FIVE (5) factors to be considered by External Auditors in engaging the services of an Actuary to assist with the evaluation of the company’s reserves and the adequacy of its premium rates. (10 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Actuary, External Auditor, Insurance, Premium Rates, Reserves
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Professional and Ethical Considerations
Series: JULY 2023

AA – July 2023 – L2 – Q3a – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Audit and Assurance Evidence

Procedures external auditors perform to evaluate the effectiveness of data security controls.

Question

a) Abbey Ltd is a medium-sized manufacturing company that produces various products for consumers. The company has a large amount of confidential data, including financial records, trade secrets, and personal information of employees and customers. The company has recently become concerned about cyber security risks and has hired an external auditor to conduct an audit of their data security controls.

Required:
Explain FIVE (5) procedures the External Auditor would need to perform to obtain evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of Abbey Ltd’s data security controls.

(10 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Procedures, Cybersecurity, Data security, External Auditor
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Evidence, Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: JULY 2023

AA – July 2023 – L2 – Q1b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Audit and Assurance Evidence

Explanation of control weaknesses inherent in Non-Profit Organizations (NFPOs).

Question

b) Understanding the client’s business environment is critical to understanding the client’s business. There is a need for this because the objectives of commercial organizations are different from that of not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs). The inherent control weaknesses for both forms of organizations may not be the same.

Required:
Explain FIVE (5) control weaknesses inherent in NFPOs. (10 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Internal Control, Non-Profit Organizations, Risk, Weaknesses
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Evidence, Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: JULY 2023

AA – Nov 2023 – L2 – Q5b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

This question identifies areas in the audit process where Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can be applied.

Question

The sixth Market Scan from the IAASB’s Disruptive Technology team explored Robotic Process Automation, a technology used for executing repetitive tasks that has applications across the audit process, from data transformation to work paper creation, as well as the potential for forming part of an audited entity’s IT environment. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that involves creating software robots or “bots” to perform repetitive, routine manual tasks, such as extracting data, filling out forms, or moving files. By completing rules-based actions that emulate human processes, RPA tools can autonomously complete various activities across multiple unrelated software systems.

Required:
State THREE (3) areas of the audit process where RPA can be deployed.
(3 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit technology, Automation in audit, Robotic Process Automation, RPA
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: NOV 2023

AA – Nov 2023 – L2 – Q2b – Professional and Ethical Considerations, Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

This question discusses five key factors to consider before accepting an audit engagement.

Question

Afrak and Associates is an Audit Firm that has been providing audit and assurance services for over 20 years. The firm has recently received a request from a new client, XYZ Ltd., to provide audit services. The audit engagement will cover the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Required:
Explain FIVE (5) factors Afrak and Associates must consider prior to accepting the audit engagement, paying attention to, risk areas that may give rise to liability, including fraud, error, and non-compliance.
(10 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Engagement, Audit Risk, Client Acceptance, Ethical considerations, Fraud risk
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Professional and Ethical Considerations
Series: NOV 2023

AA – Nov 2023 – L2 – Q1a – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

List five ways an external auditor can fulfill responsibilities toward a company’s corporate governance.

Question

The external auditor’s responsibility towards corporate governance is to provide an independent and objective assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the company’s corporate governance practices. The auditor’s role is to evaluate the company’s internal controls and make recommendations for improvements to ensure the company is adhering to good corporate governance practices.

Required:
State FIVE (5) ways the External Auditor can fulfill his/her responsibility towards the company’s corporate governance practices.
(5 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Corporate Governance, External Auditor, Internal Controls, Responsibilities, Risk Management
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: NOV 2023

AA – Mar 2023 – L2 – Q5a – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Identify and explain the components of an entity’s internal control system.

Question

ISA 315 (Revised): Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment requires auditors to understand the entity’s internal control. An entity’s internal control is made up of several components.

Required:
In reference to the statement above, state the FIVE (5) components of an entity’s internal control and give a brief explanation of each component.

Answer

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Tags: Control Environment, Entity’s Risk Assessment, Internal Control, ISA 315
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: MAR 2023

AA – Mar 2023 – L2 – Q2c – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Discuss the auditor’s responsibilities concerning fraud and the procedures to follow when fraud risks are identified.

Question

ISA 240: The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements recognizes that financial statements’ misrepresentation can occur as a result of either fraud or error. The distinction is whether the underlying activity that caused the misrepresentation was deliberate or unintentional. An auditor’s job is not to determine whether or not fraud has happened. The external auditor is concerned with getting reasonable assurance that the financial statements as a whole are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Required:
i) Describe TWO (2) ways by which the external auditor may report fraud in an engagement. (2 marks)
ii) Discuss TWO (2) types of fraud in relation to the financial statements. (2 marks)
iii) State SIX (6) audit procedures that the auditor is required to perform in light of the risk of fraud. (6 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Procedures, Auditors' responsibilities, Financial Statements, Fraud, ISA 240
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: MAR 2023

AA – Dec 2022 – L2 – Q5e – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Lists four factors an auditor may consider when determining whether deficiencies in internal control are significant.

Question

The significance of a deficiency or a combination of deficiencies in internal control depends not only on whether a misstatement has actually occurred, but also on the likelihood that a misstatement could occur and the potential magnitude of the misstatement. Significant deficiencies may therefore exist even though the auditor has not identified misstatements during the audit.

Required:
State FOUR (4) matters that an Auditor may consider in determining whether a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control constitutes a significant deficiency.

Answer

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Tags: Auditor's Role, Corporate Governance, Deficiency, Internal Control, Risk Assessment
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: DEC 2022

AA – Dec 2022 – L2 – Q5d – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

States the auditor's responsibilities when significant deficiencies in internal control are identified during an audit.

Question

A significant deficiency in internal control is one which merits the attention of those charged with governance.

Required:
State THREE (3) requirements of an Auditor when there are deficiencies in internal control of a client.

Answer

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Tags: Auditor's responsibility, Corporate Governance, Deficiencies, Internal Control, ISA
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: DEC 2022

AA – Dec 2022 – L2 – Q5b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Describes the factors that auditors should consider when assessing the competence and objectivity of an expert.

Question

ISA 620: Using the Work of an Expert explains how an auditor may use an expert to obtain audit evidence.

Required:
State THREE (3) factors that the external auditor should consider when assessing the competence and objectivity of the expert.

Answer

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Tags: Audit evidence, Competence, Expert, ISA 620, Objectivity
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: DEC 2022

AA – Nov 2015 – L2 – Q3 – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Identifying audit risks and auditors' responses, performing proof in total calculations for revenues and expenses, and proposing internal controls for club operations.

Question

You are the senior responsible for planning the audit of Hometown Football Club Limited (HFC) for the year ended May 31, 2008.

HFC runs a football club which was promoted to the top division in the league this season. The football season starts on September 1 and ends on May 31 so that the players get a break over the summer months.

HFC owns their football stadium, which now has the capacity to seat 25,000 people. Of the 25,000 seats, 19,000 are allocated to HFC supporters (home supporters) and are sold to season ticket holders only. The remaining 6,000 tickets are for away supporters and cannot be sold to HFC supporters.

Season tickets cost GHS175 for children. Following their recent promotion, all the season tickets have been sold this year with 70% of season tickets sold to adults and the remaining 30% to children. Tickets for away supporters are always sold at GHS20 per ticket, regardless of whether the ticket is sold to an adult or a child. On average, 50% of away supporter tickets have been sold for each of the 14 home games played at HFC’s stadium during the football season.

HFC’s other revenue streams include the sale of football kits and other memorabilia from the club shop, and food and drink sales from the club snack bars.

Following promotion to the top division, the club added an extra stand to the stadium to increase the seating capacity to the current level of 25,000. Other existing areas of the stadium also underwent maintenance in order to restore them to their original condition. The work was carried out during June and July 2007 and cost a total of GHS3,360,000. To finance this, HFC took out a GHS2,900,000 loan on June 1, 2007. The loan carries an interest rate of 7% and is repayable over the next five years. The loan is secured on the stadium.

The directors feel that the club’s greatest assets (other than the stadium) are the football players themselves. The players have performed so well this year that some of the other football clubs in the same division have made preliminary offers to buy three of HFC’s players. HFC is particularly pleased about this as these players joined the club through their youth academy programme. Consequently, the directors would like to value these three players as intangible non-current assets in HFC’s financial statements. The players will be valued at the offer price received from the other clubs. The directors feel this is a prudent valuation because they are confident that the eventual selling price would be much higher than the preliminary offer.

One of the major drawbacks of the club’s promotion has been that the club has had to increase the level of players’ salaries. The total salary expense for the year is estimated to be in the region of GHS2,800,000. This is a particularly surprising figure as it is higher than the other operating costs for the year, which are estimated at GHS2,400,000.

HFC has just appointed a team of internal auditors. They have not been in position long enough to help you with your audit work, but the directors are keen for the internal auditors to improve the company’s internal controls in relation to the club shop and snack bars.

Required:

a) Using the information provided, describe FIVE (5) audit risks and explain the auditor’s response to each risk.
(10 marks)

b) Describe how the auditor could perform a proof in total calculation to confirm each of HFC’s revenue from ticket sales, loan interest, and payroll expense for players’ salaries.
(4 marks)

c) Explain THREE (3) internal controls the internal auditors of HFC should implement relating to the club shop or snack bars, and state the objective of each of the three controls.
(6 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Risk, Football Club, Internal Control, Loans, Payroll, Revenue Verification
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: NOV 2015

AA – Nov 2015 – L2 – Q2c – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Completion Procedures and Reporting

This question covers auditors’ responsibilities for subsequent events and going concern assessments, as well as internal control reporting.

Question

c) Technolab has an internal audit department. The partner in charge of the audit is seeking clarification regarding how any deficiencies in internal control should be identified and communicated to management. The partner feels the report produced by the external auditors may duplicate the report produced by the internal audit function.

Required:
Explain how the purpose and content of an internal auditor’s report on internal control deficiencies differ from one prepared by the external auditor.
(7 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Responsibilities, Going Concern, ISA 560, ISA 570, Subsequent Events
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Completion Procedures and Reporting
Series: NOV 2017

AA – Nov 2015 – L2 – Q2a and b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Completion Procedures and Reporting

This question covers auditors’ responsibilities for subsequent events and going concern assessments, as well as internal control reporting.

Question

You are an audit senior for an audit firm and are currently working on the audit of Technolab, a company that produces sophisticated electronic laboratory equipment. The company imports a high proportion of the components it uses from China. The equipment is used by some laboratories dealing with hazardous chemicals.

As the audit draws to a close, the partner in charge has asked you to ensure that all procedures relating to subsequent events and going concern are properly performed. You are to consider the audit work to be performed in relation to ISA 560 Subsequent Events and ISA 570 Going Concern.

Required:

a) Describe the auditor’s responsibilities for subsequent events occurring between:
i. The year-end date and the date the auditor’s report is signed.
ii. The date the auditor’s report is signed and the date the financial statements are issued.
(6 marks)

b) Going concern relates to the judgment that an entity will continue to trade for the foreseeable future.
i. Explain the responsibilities of directors and auditors in relation to going concern.
(3 marks)
ii. Explain the audit procedures that the auditor could carry out when conducting the going concern review of Technolab.
(4 marks)

Required:
Explain how the purpose and content of an internal auditor’s report on internal control deficiencies differ from one prepared by the external auditor.
(7 marks)

Total: 20 marks

Answer

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Tags: Audit Responsibilities, Going Concern, ISA 560, ISA 570, Subsequent Events
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Completion Procedures and Reporting
Series: NOV 2015

AA – Nov 2015 – L2 – Q1a – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Planning and Approach for Audit and Assurance Engagements

This question addresses identifying deficiencies in an inventory count, implications, and recommendations.

Question

Your firm is the external auditor of The Ceramicz Company, and you recently attended the year-end inventory count at the company’s warehouse. The company manufactures high-quality tableware (plates, cups, and saucers, etc.) and maintains an integrated computerised system that shows the inventory held at any point in time.

At the year-end inventory count, reports showing the various categories of inventories (but not the quantities) are printed off the system, and the quantities of inventories actually counted are inserted manually by the counters. Later, the quantities are compared with those per the computer system.

The count instructions were received by both you and the counters the day before the count was due to take place. The instructions consisted of the following five points:

Counters must arrive at 8 am on the morning of the count.
They will work in teams of two people.
Each team will be assigned a specific area of the warehouse to count. They will receive inventory sheets listing the products to be found in their area.
The inventory sheets are pre-numbered.
Once the counters have finished the inventory count, the inventory sheets must be handed to the warehouse manager.
Your notes from the attendance at the count include the following observations:

Many areas in which the count took place were untidy, and inventory was sometimes difficult to find because it was not in the allocated area. The same categories of inventories were sometimes found in several different areas, and some inventory was incorrectly labelled.
The count was conducted in a hurry in order to close the warehouse before a public holiday, and there were insufficient counters to conduct the count properly in the time available. The issue and receipt of inventory sheets (on which the quantities were recorded by counters) were not properly controlled. It was difficult to reconcile the inventory quantities recorded at the count to the computerised records, and some significant differences remain outstanding.
Although no finished goods were dispatched during the inventory count, a large delivery of raw materials was received into the warehouse.
Required:

a) For the inventory count conducted by the Ceramicz Company:
i. Identify and explain FOUR (4) deficiencies in the count.
ii. Explain the possible implication of each deficiency and
iii. Provide a recommendation to address each deficiency.
(12 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Procedures, Deficiencies, Inventory Count, Recommendations
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Planning and Approach for Audit and Assurance Engagements
Series: NOV 2015

AA – Dec 2022 – L2 – Q1b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Defines fraud under ISA 240 and provides examples of two types of fraud: fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets

Question

According to ISA 240: The Auditor’s Responsibility to Consider Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements, the term “Fraud” refers to an intentional act by one or more individuals among management, those charged with governance, employees, or third parties involving the use of deception to obtain an unjust or illegal advantage.

Required:
i) State the TWO (2) types of fraud as identified by ISA 240.
ii) For each type of fraud, list THREE (3) examples.

Answer

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Tags: Asset Misappropriation, Auditor Responsibility, Financial Statements, Fraud, Fraudulent Reporting, ISA 240
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: DEC 2022

AA – May 2017 – L2 – Q2c – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Design of internal control systems for cheque payments and bank reconciliation.

Question

As the Chief Finance Manager of a company, design an internal control for the company with respect to:
i) Cheque payments (10 marks)
ii) Bank reconciliation (5 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Bank Reconciliation, Cheque Payments, Financial Controls, Internal Control
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: MAY 2017

AA – Nov 2016 – L2 – Q5b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Explain the going concern concept and list tests and procedures an auditor performs to assess going concern.

Question

Briefly explain what is meant by the ‘Going Concern Concept’ and describe the test and procedures that the auditor needs to perform to form an opinion on management’s conclusion that the company is a going concern. (6 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Procedures, Going Concern
Level: Level 2

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: NOV 2016

AA – May 2020 – L2 – Q4b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Identify and describe two major categories of services provided by internal audit.

Question

AA&A Chartered Accountants have been auditing ABC Company Ltd for the past four years. The company intends to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange, which requires the establishment of an internal audit department if the company does not have one already. Management has asked your firm to brief them about internal audit, and you have been asked to assist in the briefing.

Required:
i) Outline TWO (2) major categories of services that the internal audit function undertakes. (5 marks)

ii) Outline the scope of internal audit function. (5 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment, Audit Scope, Governance, Internal Audit, Risk Management
Level: Level 3

Topic: Audit and Assurance Risk Environment
Series: MAY 2020

AA – May 2020 – L2 – Q3b – Audit and Assurance Risk Environment

Describe how you would verify the patents appearing in the financial statements of Tamale Pharma.

Question

Tamale Pharma specializes in the development of drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.

Required:
i) State how you could verify the following item appearing in the statement of financial position of Tamale Pharma as at 31 December 2018:

Patents.
(3.5 marks)

ii) State how you could verify the following item appearing in the statement of financial position of Tamale Pharma as at 31 December 2018:

Research and development.
(3.5 marks)

Answer

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Tags: Audit Procedures, IAS 38, Intangible Assets, Research and Development, Verification
Level: Level 2