Menu Expand
Auditing Fundamentals

Auditing Fundamentals

Marlene Davies | John Aston

(2017)

Additional Information

Book Details

Abstract

Auditing Fundamentals covers the exciting and developing financial area of both External and Internal auditing in a clear and reader friendly way. This up-to-date textbook examines the fundamentals of auditing in terms of legislation, codes affecting the profession, and the International Auditing Standards.  

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover Cover
Dedication v
Brief contents vii
Contents ix
Preface xv
About the authors xvii
Acknowledgements xviii
Chapter 1: Introduction to audit 1
Objectives 1
Introduction 2
External audit 3
Internal audit 5
Summary 6
Practice question 6
Chapter 2: External and internal audit 7
Objectives 7
Introduction 8
External audit 8
External auditor’s reports to users and to management 8
Management representation letters 9
The management letter 10
External audits in the public sector 10
Auditor liability 11
What are the auditor’s duties? 12
Relationship between external and internal audit 14
Internal audit 14
Independence 15
Staffing and training 16
Relationships 16
Due care 17
Planning, controlling and recording 17
Evaluation of the internal control systems 17
Evidence 18
Reporting and follow-up 18
The image and marketing of internal audit 20
Performance indicators for internal audit 22
External audit reviews of internal audit 22
Summary 24
Practice question 24
Chapter 3: Auditing standards 25
Objectives 25
Introduction 26
Background to the adoption of international auditing standards 26
History and development 26
The IAPC becomes the IAASB 27
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board 27
International Standards on Auditing 27
Accounting and auditing regulation in the UK 28
The Financial Reporting Council 28
The Professional Oversight Board 29
The Auditing Practices Board 30
International Standards on Auditing: an introduction 31
International Standard on Quality Control (UK and Ireland) 37
Practice notes and bulletins 38
Summary 38
Practice question 38
Chapter 4: Professional ethics and code of conduct 39
Objectives 39
Introduction 40
Why is there a code of professional ethics? 40
Why is there a need for an ethics guideline for professional auditors? 41
Background 42
Professional ethics and codes 43
Reasons for adopting ethical standards 43
APB Ethical Standard 1 – Integrity, objectivity and independence 45
Integrity 45
Objectivity and independence 46
APB Ethical Standard 2 – Financial, business, employment and personal relationships 48
APB Ethical Standard 3 – Long association with the audit engagement 49
APB Ethical Standard 4 – Fees, remuneration and evaluation policies, litigation, gifts and hospitality 50
APB Ethical Standard 5 – Non-audit services provided to audit clients 51
Audit firms as advisory companies 51
Differences between independence in fact and independence in appearance 51
Proper conduct 52
Ethical Standard: Provisions Available for Small Entities 2005, revised 2008 52
Revised Ethical Standards 2008 53
Internal audit ethics 53
Standards and quality of audit 54
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) ethics guidelines 55
European Union 55
United States 56
Summary 56
Practice question 56
Chapter 5: Corporate governance 57
Objectives 57
Introduction 58
Corporate governance codes 59
Corporate governance developments 59
Cadbury Report (1992) 62
Audit interest in the Cadbury Report 62
Greenbury Report (1995) 63
Hampel Report (1997) 64
Turnbull Report (1999) (Turnbull 1) 65
Smith and Higgs reports (2003) 66
FRC Combined Code (2003) 68
Recommended committees in the Combined Code (2003) 69
Tyson Report (2003) 71
Flint Report (2005) (Turnbull 2) 71
FRC Combined Code (2006) amendments 73
Key aspects of corporate governance in the UK (FRC 2006 and 2008) 73
Audit and corporate governance 75
Audit and risk management 75
Relationship between external and internal audit 77
US legislation on corporate governance – the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) 78
Sarbanes-Oxley, internal auditing and corporate governance 79
An internationally accepted format for corporate governance 80
Limitations to the international acceptance of global corporate governance 81
Summary 82
Practice question 82
Chapter 6: Different approaches to investigation 83
Objectives 83
Introduction 84
Statutory audits 84
Voluntary audits 84
Social audits 85
Value-for-money (VFM) reviews 85
Performance indicators 87
Different approaches to VFM 88
Financial investigations 90
Fraud 90
Evidence 92
Summary 95
Practice question 96
Chapter 7: Planning the audit 97
Objectives 97
Introduction 98
The planning cycle 98
Preliminary arrangements and two important ISAs 99
The overall planning strategy 99
The audit plan 100
The value of the audit plan to the audit manager/senior partner 101
Post-audit review 101
Additional work 102
Considerations for initial audit engagements 102
Direction, supervision and review 103
Direction 103
Supervision 103
Review 104
Documentation 105
Working papers 105
Recording the audit work 106
Performance assessment 108
Controlling the audit 108
Quality of audit 108
Audit risk 109
Can it be eliminated? 109
Materiality 110
The importance of materiality 111
Assessing materiality 111
Qualitative considerations 112
Summary 112
Practice question 112
Chapter 8: Co-operative working between auditors and other professionals 113
Objectives 113
Introduction 114
The letter of engagement 114
Content of the engagement letter 115
Importance of information technology in the audit work plan 116
Computer-assisted audit techniques 116
Structured audit documentation 119
Using the work of others 119
Using the work of an expert 119
Using the work of another auditor 120
Use of internal audit work by the external auditor 121
Working effectively with other review and assurance agencies (external and internal) 123
Outsourcing internal audit 124
Advantages 124
Disadvantages 125
Summary 125
Practice question 125
Chapter 9: Internal control and systems audit 126
Objectives 126
Introduction 127
Risk 127
Internal control 128
Systems-based auditing 133
Planning 134
Evaluating a system 134
Testing 136
Compliance testing 136
Walkthrough tests 137
Substantive testing 137
Weakness testing 138
Evaluation and closure 138
Example of control evaluation: a staff restaurant 138
Summary 142
Practice question 143
Chapter 10: Key systems audits 144
Objectives 144
Introduction 145
Stock and procurement 145
Potential risks 146
Systems control objectives 146
Questions about the system 146
Substantive tests 147
Payroll 148
Potential risks 148
Systems control objectives (SCOs) and key controls 148
Payments to suppliers 149
Potential risks 149
Systems control objectives (SCOs) and key controls 149
Substantive tests 150
Sales and receipts 150
Potential risks 151
Systems control objectives (SCOs) and key controls 151
Computer systems 152
Potential risks 152
Input controls 153
Processing controls 154
Storage controls 154
Output controls 156
Access controls 156
Summary 156
Practice question 157
Chapter 11: Revenue and capital expenditure 158
Objectives 158
Introduction 159
Asset security 159
Safety of employees and members of the public 160
Control of revenue expenditure 161
Questionnaires 163
Internal control questionnaires (ICQs) 163
Internal control evaluation questionnaires (ICEQs) 164
Flowcharting 165
Capital construction contracts 166
Need and feasibility study 169
Option appraisals 169
Capital programme (or capital budget) 170
Design stage 171
Construction of the bill of quantities 171
Contract stage 174
Construction phase 174
Final account stage 175
Post-project appraisal 176
Service contracts 177
Summary 178
Practice question 178
Chapter 12: Audit risk assessment and sampling 179
Objectives 179
Introduction 180
Risk management 181
Identification of risk 181
Risk measurement 185
Avoidance of risk 187
Reduction of risk 188
Accommodation of risk 188
Audit risk 190
Inherent risk 191
Control risk 191
Detection risk 191
Overall audit risk 192
Sampling 192
Sample selection 192
Summary 196
Practice question 196
Chapter 13: Financial statement audit 197
Objectives 197
Introduction 198
Financial 198
Non-audit services 200
The interim audit 202
Auditing of accounting estimates 204
Uncertainty and risk 205
Summary 207
Practice question 207
Chapter 14: Asset verification 208
Objectives 208
Introduction 209
Pre-audit preparation 210
Verification of tangible fixed assets 210
Land and buildings 211
Plant and machinery 211
Vehicles 212
Furniture, fitting and equipment 212
Investments 212
Goodwill 213
Certification of current assets 213
Debtors 213
Bank and cash balances 214
Analytical procedures 214
Computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs) 215
Summary 216
Practice question 217
Chapter 15: Liabilities and accruals 218
Objectives 218
Introduction 219
Long-term liabilities 219
Share capital 219
Provisions and reserves 220
Loans and debentures 221
Current liabilities 222
Creditors 222
Dividends 224
Taxation 224
Overdraft 225
Analytical review 225
Summary 226
Practice question 226
Chapter 16: Going concern 227
Objectives 227
Introduction 228
The going concern assumption 228
Management’s assessment of the going concern assumption 229
Risk to the going concern of an entity 229
Auditor’s responsibility 231
Period beyond management’s assessment 231
Procedures when events are identified 232
Management assessments 232
Disclosure requirement relating to going concern issues 232
Additional procedures when events or conditions are identified 233
Subsequent events review 233
The overall review 234
Auditing Practices Board – Bulletin 2008/1 234
Audit evidence issues 235
The Companies Act 2006 and going concern issues 235
Summary 236
Practice question 236
Chapter 17: Audit reporting 237
Objectives 237
Introduction 238
The audit report 238
The unqualified audit report 240
Introductory paragraphs 241
Scope paragraph 241
Opinion paragraph 242
Date, address and signature 242
Sample unqualified statutory auditor’s report 243
The modified (qualified) audit report 245
Matters that affect the auditor’s opinion 245
Matters that do not affect the auditor’s opinion 246
Inherent uncertainty and the auditor’s report 248
Disclaimer of responsibility 248
Comparison between SAS 600 and ISA 700 248
Management reports, internal audit and review reports 249
Summary 250
Practice question 250
Chapter 18: Public sector auditing 251
Objectives 251
Introduction 252
What are the public sector organisations? 253
Accountability in the public sector 253
Parliamentary accountability 254
Other forms of accountability 255
Key points of accountability in the public sector 255
Accountability feedback 255
Public sector auditors 256
National Audit Office (NAO) 256
The Audit Commission 258
Devolved audit 261
External audit in the public sector 261
Internal audit in the public sector 262
External and internal audit relationships 263
Developments impacting on current auditing practices in the public sector 264
Local authority accountability issues – reports in the public interest 270
Report in the public interest versus the qualified audit report 271
Housing associations and charities 272
Summary 273
Practice question 273
Chapter 19: Value-for-money audit and performance indicators in not-for-profit organisations 274
Objectives 274
Introduction 275
The role of audit 276
External audit, internal audit and management’s responsibilities for VFM 276
Statutory requirement for a VFM audit 277
VFM focus 277
Undertaking a VFM audit 278
Categories of VFM studies 279
Performance targets, measures and indicators 280
The value of performance measurement 281
Internal and external performance measures that are used to enhance accountability 281
Evaluation of performance indicators 283
Setting of targets and measures 284
Limitations of performance indicators 285
Summary 289
Practice question 289
Chapter 20: Emerging issues in auditing 290
Objectives 290
Introduction 291
Forensic audit 292
Working with others 293
Forensic auditing and IT 293
The expert witness 293
The development of the ‘added value’ audit 294
Changes in the nature of auditing 294
Globalisation 295
Wider use of technology 295
The growth of audit assurance services 295
Management of risk 295
Risk management and audit 296
Environmental audit 296
Auditor skills 296
Environmental issues that auditors may encounter 296
Social audit 297
Summary 297
Practice question 297
Index 299