Section 8 Substantive Procedures ASJ Stages of an Audit Types of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Section 8

Substantive Procedures

ASJ

Stages of an Audit

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Types of Auditors’ Testing - Revision

Test of Controls (ToCs) Test of Controls are designed to evaluate the operating effectiveness of controls in preventing or detecting and correcting material misstatements. Substantive Procedures (SPs) Substantive Procedures are designed to detect material misstatement at the assertion level.

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How auditor extract evidence?

Sources of audit evidence:

Sources of Evidence Test of Controls Substantive Procedures Test of Details Analytical Procedures

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Analytical Procedure Enquiry & RepErformance Inspection (records as well as assets) Observation & COnfirmation RecalcUlation

Means of Getting Audit Evidence

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• Inspection. Obtain evidence about an item by going to look at it.
• Observation. The auditor can obtain evidence by watching a procedure.
• Inquiry. Evidence can be obtained by asking questions.
• Confirmation. This is a specific type of enquiry where the auditor seeks confirmation from a party
• utside the entity, for example, from a bank or a customer.
• Re-calculation. The auditor checks the arithmetical accuracy of documents or records.
• Reperformance. The auditor re-performs a check or control originally carried out by the client.
• Analytical procedures. These are ratios, trends, comparisons and other indirect approaches to

analyzed data.

Means of Getting Audit Evidence - Explained

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Analytical procedures consist of “evaluations (assessment - judgement) of financial information through analysis of plausible (logical – believable) relationships among both financial and non-financial data”. They also encompass “such investigation as is necessary of identified fluctuations or relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information

• r that differ from expected values by a significant amount" (ISA 520).

A basic premise underlying the application of analytical procedures is that plausible relationships among data may reasonably be expected to exist and continue in the absence of conditions to the contrary.

Analytical Procedures

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Analytical procedures are used throughout the audit process and are conducted for three primary purposes: Preliminary analytical review – risk assessment procedures (required by ISA 315) Preliminary analytical reviews are performed to obtain an understanding of the business and its environment (eg financial performance relative to prior years and relevant industry, to help assess the risk of material misstatement. Substantive analytical procedures Analytical procedures are used as substantive procedures when the auditor considers that the use of analytical procedures can be more effective or efficient than tests of details. Final analytical review (required by ISA 520) Analytical procedures are performed as an overall review of the financial statements at the end

• f the audit to assess whether they are consistent with the auditor’s understanding of the entity.

Final analytical procedures are not conducted to obtain additional substantive assurance.

Purpose of Analytical Procedures

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Type of analytical procedures There are several types of analytical procedures commonly used as substantive

• procedures. The auditor chooses among these procedures based on his objectives for

the procedures (i.e. purpose of the test, desired level of assurance). Trend analysis – the analysis of changes in an account over time. Ratio analysis – the comparison, across time or to a benchmark, of relationships between financial statement items and between any financial figure and non-financial data. Reasonableness testing – the analysis of accounts, or changes in accounts between accounting periods, that involves the development of a model to form an expectation based on financial data, non-financial data, or both.

Types of Analytical Procedures

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• Profitability Ratios
• Efficiency Ratios
• Liquidity Ratios
• Debt ratios
• Investors ratios

Types of Ratios

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Effectiveness depends on the following factors:

• Data reliability - The more reliable the data is, the more precise the expectation.
• Reduced burden - Properly designed and executed AP can allow the auditor to achieve audit objectives more

efficiently by reducing or replacing test of details.

• Performed by seniors - The effectiveness of analytical procedures depends on the auditor’s understanding of the

entity and its environment including its internal control and the use of professional judgment; therefore, AP should be performed or reviewed by senior members of the engagement team.

• Documenting It is vital that the analytical procedures be sufficiently documented to enable an experienced auditor,

having no previous connection with the audit, to understand the work done.

• Predictability - There is a direct correlation between the predictability of the data and the quality of the expectation

derived from the data.

Effectiveness of Analytical Procedures

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Audit Assertions – 4 Key Questions - Revision

SN Questions Related to Elements

• f Financial Statements.

Confirmation of Audit Assertions Related to Account Balances Transactions & Events Disclosures & Presentation

1

Should it be in the financial statements at all?

Existence Right & Obligation Occurrence Cut off 2

Is there any more?

Completeness Completeness 3

Is it taken at the right value?

Allocation & Valuation Accuracy Classification 4

Is it properly presented or disclosed?

Understandability Completeness Classification Accuracy & Valuation

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Audit Assertions - Revision

1. Accounts Balance

• Existence
• Right & Obligations
• Completeness
• Valuation and allocation

2. Event and transactions

• Occurrence
• Completeness
• Accuracy
• Cut-off
• Classification

3. Disclosure and Presentation.

• Occurrence
• Completeness
• Classification and understandability
• Accuracy and valuation

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Substantive Procedures for different items of Financial Statements - FS

• Non-current Assets
• Tangible assets
• Principal risk of misstatements
• Substantive procedures
• Intangible assets
• Substantive procedures
• Current Assets
• Inventory
• Valuation
• Physical Count – ISA 501
• Trade receivables
• External confirmation – ISA 505
• Other procedures
• Cash and bank balances
• Bank confirmation
• Physical cash count
• Others
• Trade payables
• Accruals, provisions and contingencies
• Non-current liabilities
• Equity
• Income statement figures

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Computer Assisted Audit Techniques - CAATs

CAAT Test Data Live Dead Audit Software Calculating Filtering Sorting

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C A A T s

Test data Test data is data generated by the auditor which is then processed using the client’s computer systems. It is used for: Reasonableness checks. Confirming exception reporting (therefore test data should include incorrect items). Audit software Software specially designed for audit purposes. It is used for: Selecting samples. Checking computations and calculations by reperformance. Comparing two or more different files. Performing detailed analytical review.

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Tangible Assets – Principal Risks - RMM

Principal Risks

• Completeness assertion. There is a risk that assets owned by the reporting entity have not been included in

the FS.

• Existence assertion. There is a risk that assets reported in the FS do not actually exist (for example, they

may have been sold or scrapped).

• Accuracy, valuation and allocation assertion. There is a risk that the assets have been incorrectly recorded

in FS at inappropriate amounts

• Rights and obligations assertion. There is a risk that the reporting entity does not actually own assets that

are included in the FS.

• Classification assertion. There is a risk that assets have been recorded in the improper accounts.
• Presentation assertion. There is also a risk that the assets have not been correctly presented and disclosed

in the FS.

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Tangible Assets – SP Examples

Substantive Procedures Examples Existence

• Select a sample of assets from the non-current asset register and physically inspect them.

Completeness

• Obtain or prepare a schedule of tangible non-current assets, showing cost or valuation,

depreciation and carrying amount. Right & Obligations

• Ensure that documents are in the name of the entity (the client company).

Presentation

• Review the disclosures in the financial statements and ensure they are correct and clear

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Intangible Assets – SP Examples

Substantive Procedures Examples

• The auditor should confirm the existence, the cost and the client entity’s legal

rights to the acquired assets, by looking at the purchase documentation.

• Check the amortisation calculations for accuracy, using the entity’s stated

policy.

• Consider the possibility that the assets are suffering impairment. This matter

may have to be discussed with the directors of the client company.

• Ensure that any impairment has been correctly dealt with in the ledger.

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Inventory – Principal Risks - RMM

• Not all inventory that is owned by the reporting entity being included in the FS (the

completeness assertion).

• Inventory in the FS not actually existing (the existence assertion).
• Inventory being recorded at inappropriate amounts (which could be due to incorrect

recording of costs etc. (the accuracy, valuation and allocation assertion).

• Inventory being included in the FS which actually belongs to third parties (the rights

and obligations assertion).

• Inventory being incorrectly disclosed in the FS (the classification and presentation

assertion).

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Inventory – Valuation - Examples

Valuation Checking - Examples

• Review and test the procedures in place for comparing NRV with cost for each

item of inventory.

• Follow up any information obtained from other audit work suggesting that for

certain items of inventory, NRV may be lower than cost. Information may be

• btained from the physical inventory count.

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Inventory – Physical Count – ISA 501

Physical Count – Stock Taking - Examples

• Evaluate management’s instructions and procedures for recording and controlling the

results of the count.

• Observe the performance of management’s count procedures.
• Inspect the inventory.
• Perform tests counts.
• Perform audit procedures over the final inventory records to determine whether they

accurately reflect the results of the count.

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Trade Receivable – External Confirmation – ISA 505

External Confirmation – related assertions

• Existence assertion. That the receivables do in fact exist, and there is no
• ver-statement of receivables in the FS
• Rights and obligations assertion. That the client entity has the legal right to

the amounts receivable.

• Accuracy, valuation and allocation assertion. That the receivables are

stated at their appropriate amount.

• Cut-off assertion. That transactions have been recorded in the correct

accounting period.

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Trade Receivable – External Confirmation – ISA 505

External Confirmation – Procedures

• Planning the confirmation exercise
• Positive or negative confirmation?
• Sample selection and performing the confirmation exercise
• Audit procedures following the receipt of replies
• Preparing a summary and reaching a conclusion

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Trade Receivable – Other Procedures

Other Procedures – Irrecoverability

• Review the company’s procedures for identifying irrecoverable and doubtful

receivables.

• Review aged listings of receivables balances. The auditor should enquire as to

whether the overdue receivables are collectable.

• Review any correspondence of the client company with customers, lawyers and

collection agencies that deal with unpaid or disputed debts.

• Review the calculation of any allowances against doubtful receivables.
• Examine credit notes issued after the year-end, as evidence that some balances

were overstated at the year-end.

• Review the replies from customers for the confirmation of balances exercise, for

evidence of receivables that may not be collectable.

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Trade Receivable – Other Procedures

Other Procedures – Cut off

• The use of analytical procedures to confirm that inventory levels, cost of sales and

gross margins can be explained in terms of known business facts.

• Checking that sales invoices and credit notes dated shortly before and after the year

end are recorded in the correct financial year.

• Review of the control account entries shortly before and after the year end for

unusual items, which the client should then be asked to explain. Other Procedures – Classification & Presentation

• The list of receivables ledger balances agrees to the FS.
• Receivables are correctly classified and presented in the FS.

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Cash and bank balances – External Confirmation

Bank Confirmation Typical areas covered by the bank confirmation letter include the following:

• Confirmation of balances on all bank accounts at the end of the reporting period.
• Details of any unpaid bank charges.
• Details of any liens (charges) over assets of the client entity.
• Details of any assets of the client entity held by the bank as security for lending.
• Details of any other client bank accounts that are known to the bank but not listed in

the request to the bank for confirmation of balances.

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Cash and bank balances – Physical Cash Count

Physical Cash Count Audit procedures include the following:

• The auditor should count cash at all locations simultaneously and in the presence of

a company official.

(Simultaneous counting is necessary, to prevent the client from moving cash that has been counted at one location to another location ready for the next count.)

• After the count the auditor should obtain a signed receipt for the amount of cash

returned to the official.

• The auditor should check the cash balance obtained from the count against the

client’s cash records and cash balance in the draft FS.

• Where appropriate, the auditor should also investigate the treatment of any money

advances to employees (for example, against wages or salary or IOUs).

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Trade Payables

• Obtain or prepare a listing of balances on supplier accounts in the payables ledger.
• Check the listing for arithmetical accuracy.
• Take a sample of the balances from the listing and checking them against the balance on the supplier’s

account in the payables ledger.

• Take a sample of balances from supplier accounts in the payables ledger and confirm that they are

included in the listing at appropriate amounts.

• Check that the total of the balances in the listing agrees with the balance for total trade payables in the

trade payables control account in the main ledger.

• For each supplier account balance in the sample, compare the balance from the payables listing with the

balance shown in the supplier’s statement. (The first supplier’s statement received after the reporting period should be

used, because this will include the position as at the end of the reporting period.)

• If there is a difference between the balance in the payables listing and the balance shown in the

supplier’s statement, the auditor should ask the client company to prepare a reconciliation to explain the difference.

• The auditor should then check these reconciling items with the relevant supporting documentation.

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Accruals

• Obtain or prepare a listing of accruals as at the end of the reporting period.
• If the list is prepared by the client company, check the calculations for arithmetical accuracy.
• Check the amounts in the listing against the balances in the relevant main ledger expense

accounts and ensure that the amounts are the same.

• Where invoices have been received, or payments made, after the year end, confirm that the

amount accrued appears reasonable in relation to this evidence.

• Compare the list of accruals with the list that was prepared at the same date in the previous

financial year, and enquire about items not listed in the current year that were in the list in the previous year.

• Review the list of accruals for completeness, based on the auditor’s knowledge of the

business.

• Consider what items should be accrued for at the end of the reporting period, such as unpaid

wages, overtime, holiday pay, bonuses.

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Provisions

• Obtain a listing of provisions that the client has included in the draft FS.
• For each item in the listing, confirm that the accounting provisions of IAS 37 have been followed.
• Review the changes in the provision for the period during the financial period.
• Review the measurement of the closing balance for each provision and discuss these with management

if appropriate.

• Consider whether it might be appropriate to take expert advice on the existence or measurement of a

provision.

• Review the list of provisions for possible omissions, based on the auditor’s knowledge of the business

and the industry in which it operates.

• Compare provisions for the current financial year with provisions in previous years, and investigate any

major differences or omissions.

• Relate the testing of provisions to other areas of the audit work, such as correspondence with lawyers

(which might reveal more information about matters to which the provisions relate). ASJ

Contingencies

• Ascertain the approach taken by the client’s management to identifying

contingencies.

• Review the minutes of board meetings.
• Review relevant sections of the business press and trade journals for areas in

which possible industry-wide contingencies may arise.

• Review the client’s correspondence with lawyers and invoices for legal

services.

• Consider direct confirmation from lawyers of matters handled on behalf of the

entity under audit.

• Consider whether expert advice may be required from outside sources other

than lawyers.

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Non-Current Liabilities

• Obtain or prepare a listing of long-term borrowings/non-current liabilities.
• Agree the opening balances on the listing with the amount for non-current liabilities in last year’s statement of financial

position.

• Check that any new borrowings during the year have been authorized in accordance with the company procedures.
• Agree the details of each loan with the loan agreement/documentation.
• Check whether any restrictions contained in the lending agreements have been complied with.
• Confirm loan repayments in the listing with payments recorded in the cash book, entries in bank statements and also

with any correspondence or receipts or statements from lenders.

• Check the interest calculations and confirm that the correct accounting entries for interest have been made,

recognising any opening and closing accruals for interest expenses.

• Obtain direct confirmation from lenders of amounts outstanding.
• Confirm that any relevant statutory requirements have been complied with.
• Confirm the correct allocation of the total amounts outstanding between current liabilities and non-current.
• Review cash book entries for unusual cash receipts that may represent new loans taken out during the period.

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Equity

Share Capital

• The auditor should check that the total authorised capital in the draft FS is consistent with the company’s constitution.
• The auditor should check the nominal value of shares issued during the year, by reading the supporting documentation, and should

ensure terms of issue were properly complied with.

• If new shares were issued during the year, check that cash received for them has been properly recorded in the main ledger.
• Check that the amount reported as issued share capital agrees with the amount recorded in the register of members/shareholders, if

the company has such a register.

Reserves

• Obtain an analysis of movements on all reserves during the period.
• Check the accuracy of these movements by checking supporting documentation.
• Ensure that any specific legal requirements relating to reserves have been complied with.
• Confirm that dividends have been deducted only from those reserves that are legally distributable.
• Check the authorisation for the amount of dividends paid.
• Check the dividend calculations and check that the total dividends paid are consistent with the amount of issued share capital at the

relevant date. ASJ