Chapter 3 Audit
All of the following refer to an internal auditor's competence except: A. The party in the entity to which the internal auditor reports. B. The quality of internal audit documents and reports. C. Professional certification. D. Supervision and review of internal audit activities.
A
An entity's financial statements were misstated over a period of years due to large amounts of revenue being recorded in journal entries that involved debits and credits to an illogical combination of accounts. The auditor could most likely have been alerted to this fraud by A. Scanning the general journal for unusual entries. B. Performing a revenue cutoff test at year-end. C. Tracing a sample of journal entries to the general ledger. D. Examining documentary evidence of sales returns and allowances recorded after year-end.
A
Evaluating a prospective client requires the following step(s): A. Communicate with the predecessor auditor. B. Preplan the audit. C. Establish the terms of the engagement. D. None of the above.
A
If the independent auditors decide that it is efficient to consider how the work performed by the internal auditors may affect the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures, they should assess the internal auditors' A. competence and objectivity. B. efficiency and experience. C. independence and review skills. D. training and supervisory skills.
A
In assessing the competence of an internal auditor, an independent CPA most likely would obtain information about the A. Quality of the internal auditor's work. B. Organization's commitment to integrity and ethical values. C. Influence of management on the scope of the internal auditor's duties. D. Organizational levels to which the internal auditor reports.
A
Tolerable misstatement is A. materiality used to establish a scope for the audit procedures for the individual account balance or disclosures. B. materiality for the balance sheet as a whole. C. materiality for the income statement as a whole. D. the amount of misstatement that management is willing to tolerate in the financial statements.
A
Which element(s) is/are pervasive to the application of generally accepted auditing standards, particularly the standards of fieldwork and reporting? A. The elements of materiality and audit risk. B. The element of internal control. C. The element of corroborating evidence. D. The element of reasonable assurance.
A
Which of the following factors most likely would cause a CPA not to accept a new audit engagement? A. The prospective client's unwillingness to permit inquiry of its legal counsel. B. The inability to review the predecessor auditor's documentation. C. The CPA's lack of understanding of the prospective client's operations and industry. D. Indications that management has not investigated employees in key positions before hiring them.
A
Which of the following matters generally is included in an auditor's engagement letter? A. Management's responsibility for the entity's compliance with laws and regulations. B. The factors to be considered in setting preliminary judgments about materiality. C. Management's liability for illegal acts committed by its employees. D. The auditor's responsibility to guarantee accuracy of the financial statements.
A
Which of the following procedures would an auditor most likely include in the initial planning of an examination of financial statements? A. Assess the need for the use of specialists in the audit. B. Inquiring of the client's attorney as to any claims that are likely to be asserted. C. Perform detailed testing of the individual financial statement accounts. D. Determining whether necessary internal controls procedures are being applied as prescribed.
A
Which of the following relatively small misstatements most likely would have a material effect on an entity's financial statements? A. An illegal payment to a foreign official that was not recorded. B. A piece of obsolete office equipment that was not retired. C. A petty cash fund disbursement that was not properly authorized. D. An uncollectible account receivable that was not written-off.
A
Which of the following statements is not correct about materiality? A. An auditor considers materiality for the aggregate level of misstatements that could be material to any one of the financial statements individually. B. Materiality judgments are made in light of surrounding circumstances and necessarily involve both quantitative and qualitative judgments. C. An auditor's consideration of materiality is influenced by the auditor's perception of the needs of a reasonable person who will rely on the financial statements. D. The concept of materiality recognizes that some matters are important for fair presentation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, while other matters are not important.
A
Which of the following would not necessarily be a related party transaction? A. Sales to another corporation with a similar name. B. Purchases from another corporation that is controlled by the corporation's chief stockholder. C. Loan from the corporation to a major stockholder. D. Sale of land to the corporation by the spouse of a director.
A
A successor auditor should request the new client to authorize the predecessor auditor to allow a review of the predecessor's A. Engagement letter. B. Audit working papers. C. Engagement letter and audit working papers. D. It would not be typical to allow a review of either the engagement letter or the audit working papers.
B
An auditor is required to establish an understanding with a client regarding the responsibilities for each engagement. This understanding generally includes A. Management's responsibility to guarantee that there are no material misstatements due to fraud. B. The auditor's responsibility to plan and perform the audit to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance of detecting material errors or fraud. C. Management's responsibility for providing the auditor with an assessment of the risk of material misstatement due to fraud. D. The auditor's responsibility for the fairness of the financial statements.
B
An independent auditor finds that Holdaway Corporation occupies office space, at no charge, in an office building owned by a shareholder. This finding likely indicates the existence of A. Management fraud. B. Related party transactions. C. Window dressing. D. Weak internal control.
B
An independent auditor might consider the procedures performed by the internal auditors because A. They are employees whose work must be reviewed during substantive testing. B. They are employees whose work might be relied upon. C. Their work impacts the cost/benefit tradeoff in evaluating inherent limitations. D. Their degree of independence may be inferred by the nature of their work.
B
Before accepting an audit engagement, a successor auditor should make specific inquiries of the predecessor auditor regarding the predecessor's A. awareness of the consistency in the application of generally accepted accounting principles between periods. B. understanding as to the reasons for the change of auditors. C. evaluation of all matters of continuing accounting significance. D. opinion of any subsequent events occurring since the predecessor's audit report was issued.
B
Engagement letters include all of the following except: A. A list of additional services that will be provided. B. A list of adjusting journal entries. C. Information about the audit fee. D. Arrangements involving the use of specialists.
B
If the independent auditors decide that it is efficient to consider how the work performed by the internal auditors may affect the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures, they should assess the internal auditors' A. efficiency and experience. B. competence and objectivity. C. independence and review skills. D. training and supervisory skills.
B
In assessing whether to accept a client for an audit engagement, a CPA should consider A. The current financial health of the prospective client. B. All of these should be considered. C. The CPA's overall engagement risk. D. The integrity of management.
B
The existence of a related party transaction may be indicated when another entity A. Sells real estate to the corporation at a price that is comparable to its appraised value. B. Absorbs expenses of the corporation under audit. C. Borrows from the corporation at a rate of interest which equals the current market rate. D. Lends to the corporation at a rate of interest which equals the current market rate.
B
The in-charge auditor most likely would have a supervisory responsibility to explain to the staff assistants A. That immaterial fraud is not to be reported to the client's audit committee. B. How the results of various auditing procedures performed by the assistants should be evaluated. C. How the overall audit strategy will allow the firm to reach a sufficiently low level of audit risk. D. How overall materiality was selected.
B
When planning an audit, an auditor should A. evaluate detected misstatements. B. determine overall materiality for audit purposes. C. conclude whether changes in compliance with prescribed internal controls justify reliance on them. D. consider whether the extent of substantive procedures may be reduced based on the results of tests of controls.
B
Which of the following factors most likely would cause a CPA to decide not to accept a new audit engagement? A. The CPA's lack of understanding of the prospective client's internal auditor's computer-assisted audit techniques. B. Management's disregard of its responsibility to maintain an adequate control environment. C. The CPA's inability to determine whether related party transactions were consummated on terms equivalent to arm's-length transactions. D. Management's refusal to permit the CPA to perform substantive procedures before the year-end.
B
Which of the following is a general audit test? A. Fee assessment procedures. B. Tests of controls. C. Preparation of corporate tax returns. D. Active testing procedures.
B
Which of the following is not a concern as to whether a misstatement is qualitatively material? A. The misstatement hides a failure to meet analysts' expectations. B. The misstatement is less than 5% of pretax income. C. The misstatement increases management's compensation. D. The misstatement changes a small amount of profit to a small reported loss.
B
Which of the following statements is not correct about materiality? A. The concept of materiality recognizes that some matters are important for fair presentation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, while other matters are not important. B. An auditor considers materiality for the aggregate level of misstatements that could be material to any one of the financial statements individually. C. Materiality judgments are made in light of surrounding circumstances and necessarily involve both quantitative and qualitative judgments. D. An auditor's consideration of materiality is influenced by the auditor's perception of the needs of a reasonable person who will rely on the financial statements.
B
Which of the following would an auditor most likely use in determining overall materiality when planning the audit? A. The anticipated sample size of the planned substantive tests. B. The entity's income before taxes for the period-to-date (e.g., 6 months). C. The results of tests of controls. D. The contents of the engagement letter.
B
Which of the following would an auditor most likely use in determining the auditor's planning materiality? A. The anticipated sample size for planned substantive procedures. B. The entity's annualized interim (i.e. quarterly) financial statements. C. The results of the internal control questionnaire. D. The contents of the management representation letter.
B
During the initial planning phase of an audit, a CPA most likely would A. inquire of the entity's attorney if it is probable that any unrecorded claims will be asserted. B. identify specific internal control activities that are likely to prevent fraud. C. discuss the timing of the audit procedures with the entity's management. D. evaluate the reasonableness of the entity's accounting estimates.
C
During the initial planning phase of an audit, a CPA most likely would A. Identify specific internal control activities that are likely to prevent fraud. B. Inquire of the client's attorney as to any unrecorded claims. C. Discuss the timing of the audit procedures with the client's management. D. Evaluate the reasonableness of the client's accounting estimates.
C
During the initial planning phase of an audit, a CPA most likely would A. Identify specific internal control activities that are likely to prevent fraud. B. Evaluate the reasonableness of the client's accounting estimates. C. Discuss the timing of the audit procedures with the client's management. D. Inquire of the client's attorney as to any unrecorded claims.
C
Evaluating a prospective client requires the following step(s): A. Communicate with the SEC. B. Preplan the audit. C. Determine if the firm is independent of the client. D. Communicate with the AICPA.
C
In the context of an audit of financial statements, substantive procedures are audit procedures that A. May be eliminated under certain conditions. B. Are primarily designed to discover significant subsequent events. C. May be either tests of details of transactions, tests of details of account balances, or analytical procedures. D. Will increase proportionately with an increase in the auditor's reliance on internal control.
C
To provide for the greatest degree of independence in performing internal audit functions, an internal auditor most likely should report to the A. Vice-President - Finance B. Corporate controller. C. Audit committee of the board of directors. D. Corporate stockholders.
C
Which of the following arranges the general types of audit tests in the order they are normally performed in an audit? A. Substantive procedures, tests of controls, and risk assessment procedures. B. Substantive procedures, risk assessment procedures, and tests of controls. C. Risk assessment procedures, tests of controls, and substantive procedures. D. Risk assessment procedures, substantive procedures, and tests of controls.
C
Which of the following factors most likely would lead a CPA to conclude that a potential audit engagement should be rejected? A. The details of most recorded transactions are not available after a specified period of time. B. Internal control activities requiring segregation of duties are subject to management override. C. It is unlikely that sufficient appropriate evidence is available to support an opinion on the financial statements. D. Management has a reputation for consulting with several accounting firms about significant accounting issues.
C
Which of the following is not a qualitative factor that may affect an auditor's establishment of materiality? A. Potential for fraud. B. The company is close to violating loan covenants. C. Firm policy sets materiality at 4% of pretax income. D. A small misstatement would interrupt an earnings trend.
C
Which of the following is not an audit procedure that is commonly used in performing tests of controls? A. Inquiring. B. Observing. C. Confirming. D. Inspecting.
C
Which of the following is the most important qualitative factor that auditors should consider when making materiality judgments? A. A misstatement exceeded five percent of net income. B. The auditor also provides consulting services to the audit client. C. The misstatement will cause the client to fail to meet an earnings forecast. D. The audit committee is not well-educated about the accounting principle in question.
C
A dual-purpose test A. Simultaneously tests debits and credits. B. Is a procedure completed by both the internal and external auditors. C. Is useful to both the entity and the auditor. D. Is both a substantive test of transactions and a test of controls.
D
A written understanding between the auditor and the client concerning the auditor's responsibility for the discovery of illegal acts is usually set forth in a(n) A. Client representation letter. B. Letter of audit inquiry. C. Management letter. D. Engagement letter.
D
An auditor has withdrawn from an audit engagement of a publicly held company after finding fraud that may materially affect the financial statements. The auditor should set forth the reasons and findings in correspondence with the A. Securities and Exchange Commission. B. Client's legal counsel. C. Stock exchanges where the company's stock is traded. D. Audit committee of the board of directors.
D
An auditor obtains knowledge about a new client's business and its industry in order to A. Make constructive suggestions concerning improvements to the client's internal control. B. Develop an attitude of professional skepticism concerning management's financial statement assertions. C. Evaluate whether the aggregation of known misstatements causes the financial statements taken as a whole to be materially misstated. D. Understand the events and transactions that may have an effect on the client's financial statements.
D
An auditor who discovers that a client's employees paid small bribes to municipal officials most likely would withdraw from the engagement if A. The payments violated the client's policies regarding the prevention of illegal acts. B. The client receives financial assistance from a federal government agency. C. Documentation that is necessary to prove that the bribes were paid does not exist. D. Management fails to take the appropriate remedial action.
D
As generally conceived, the audit committee of a publicly held company should be made up of A. Representatives of the major equity interests (preferred stock, common stock). B. The audit partner, the chief financial officer, the legal counsel, and at least one outsider. C. Representatives from the client's management, investors, suppliers, and customers. D. Members of the board of directors who are not officers or employees.
D
Before accepting an engagement to audit a new client, a CPA is required to obtain A. An understanding of the prospective client's industry and business. B. The prospective client's signature on the engagement letter. C. A preliminary understanding of the prospective client's control environment. D. The prospective client's consent to make inquiries of the predecessor auditor, if any.
D
Hawkins requested permission to communicate with the predecessor auditor and review certain portions of the predecessor auditor's working papers. The prospective client's refusal to permit this will bear directly on Hawkins' decision concerning the A. Adequacy of the preplanned audit program. B. Ability to establish consistency in application of accounting principles between years. C. Apparent scope limitation. D. Integrity of management.
D
In assessing whether to accept a client for an audit engagement, a CPA should consider A. The current financial health of the prospective client. B. The integrity of management. C. The CPA's overall engagement risk. D. All of the above should be considered.
D
The audit client's board of directors and audit committee refused to take any action with respect to an immaterial illegal act which was brought to their attention by the auditor. Because of their failure to act, the auditor withdrew from the engagement. The auditor's decision to withdraw was primarily due to doubts concerning A. Adequate financial statement disclosures. B. Compliance with the statutory laws and regulations. C. Scope limitations resulting from their inaction. D. The integrity of management.
D
The element of the audit planning process most likely to be agreed upon with the client before implementation of the audit strategy is the determination of the A. Methods of statistical sampling to be used in confirming accounts receivable. B. Pending legal matters to be included in the inquiry of the client's attorney. C. Evidence to be gathered to provide a sufficient basis for the auditor's opinion. D. Timing of the audit.
D
To emphasize auditor independence from management, publicly traded corporations are required to A. Appoint a partner of the CPA firm conducting the examination to the corporation's audit committee. B. Establish a policy of discouraging social contact between employees of the corporation and the independent auditors. C. Request that a representative of the independent auditor be on hand at the annual stockholders' meeting. D. Have the independent auditor report to an audit committee of independent members of the board of directors.
D
Tolerable misstatement is A. Materiality allocated to an assertion. B. Materiality for the balance sheet as a whole. C. Materiality for the income statement as a whole. D. Materiality allocated to a specific account.
D
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the audit committee of a public company has the following requirement(s): A. Each member of the committee must be a board member and shall be independent. B. The audit committee must preapprove all audit and nonaudit services. C. The audit committee must establish and maintain procedures to handle all issues that relate to accounting, internal control, and auditing. D. All of the above.
D
When a CPA is approached to perform an audit for the first time, the CPA should make inquiries of the predecessor auditor. This is a necessary procedure because the predecessor may be able to provide the successor with information that will assist the successor in determining A. Whether the predecessor's work should be utilized. B. Whether, in the predecessor's opinion, the financial statements are materially correct. C. Whether, in the predecessor's opinion, the company's internal controls have been satisfactory. D. Whether the engagement should be accepted.
D
Which of the following audit procedures would be least likely to disclose the existence of related party transactions of a client during the period under audit? A. Reading "conflict-of-interest" statements obtained by the client from its management. B. Scanning accounting records for large transactions at or just prior to the end of the period under audit. C. Reading minutes of the Board of Directors meetings for authorization or discussion of material transactions. D. Confirming purchases and sales transactions with the vendors and/or customers involved.
D
Which of the following is an example of a related party transaction? A. An action is taken by the directors of Company A to provide additional compensation for vice presidents in charge of the principal business functions of Company A. B. A long-term agreement is made by Company A to provide merchandise or services to Company B, a long-time, friendly competitor. C. A short-term loan is granted to Company A by a bank that has a depositor who is a member of the board of directors of Company A. D. A nonmonetary exchange occurs whereby Company A exchanges property for similar property owned by Company B, an unconsolidated subsidiary of Company A.
D
Which of the following procedures would an auditor most likely include in the initial planning of a financial statement audit? A. Perform detailed testing of the individual balance sheet accounts. B. Examining documents to detect illegal acts having a material effect on the financial statements. C. Considering whether the client's accounting estimates are reasonable in the circumstances. D. Determining the extent of involvement of the client's internal auditors.
D
Which of the following should an auditor obtain from the predecessor auditor prior to accepting an audit engagement? A. Analysis of balance sheet accounts. B. Analysis of income statement accounts. C. All matters of continuing accounting significance. D. Facts that might bear on management integrity.
D
Which of the following situations would most likely require special audit planning? A. Some items of factory and office equipment do not bear identification numbers. B. Depreciation methods used on the client's tax return differ from those used on the books. C. Assets costing less than $500 are expensed even though the expected life exceeds one year. D. Inventory is comprised of precious stones.
D
Which of these statements concerning illegal acts by clients is correct? A. An audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards normally includes audit procedures specifically designed to detect illegal acts that have an indirect but material effect on the financial statements. B. An auditor considers illegal acts from the perspective of the reliability of management's representations rather than their relation to audit objectives derived from financial statement assertions. C. An auditor has no responsibility to detect illegal acts by clients that have an indirect effect on the financial statements. D. An auditor's responsibility to detect illegal acts that have a direct and material effect on the financial statements is the same as that for errors and fraud.
D
All companies must have an audit committee.
False
Materiality is based only on a quantitative analysis of the financial statements.
False
The engagement partner is typically responsible for doing the detailed audit testing.
False
The first phase of audit planning is risk assessment.
False
There are five general types of audit tests.
False
If the internal auditor is competent and objective, the auditor may generally rely on the work of an internal auditor in certain areas to reduce the amount of external audit work in these areas.
True
If the prospective client refuses to allow the predecessor auditor to communicate with the successor auditor, the successor auditor should have reservations about accepting the client.
True
In order to properly preplan the audit, the auditor must determine the engagement team requirements and ensure the independence of the audit team and audit firm.
True
Materiality significantly impacts the auditor's decisions about how much and what kind of evidence to gather.
True
The Code of Professional Conduct does not allow an auditor to disclose confidential client information without the client's consent.
True
The audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of any accounting firm employed by a public company.
True
The external auditor is required to make a number of important communications to the audit committee during or at the end of the audit engagement.
True
When the prospective client has previously been audited, auditing standards require that the successor auditor make certain inquiries of the predecessor auditor before accepting the engagement.
True
