11-1

Chapter 11

Completing the Audit

“It ain’t over till it’s over.”

– Yogi Berra, former catcher for the New York Yankees

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Major Activities in Audit

Beginning End of Last day of Issuance

of year year fieldwork of audit reports

Interim testing “Roll-forward” work Subsequent events Subsequent discovery of facts

(tests of controls Revenue and expenses (dual-dating) Omitted audit procedures
and substantive Attorney letters Management letter
procedures) Management representations Audit committee communications
Adjusting entries
Audit documentation review
Subsequent events

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 11-3

Presentation Outline

I. Activities Between End of Year and Last

Day of Field Work
II. Activities Following Issuance of
Auditor’s Reports

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I. Activities Between End of Year

and Last Day of Fieldwork

A. Revenue and Expense Accounts

B. Attorney Letters
C. Management Representations
D. Adjusting Journal Entries
E. Audit Documentation Review
F. Subsequent Events

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A. Revenue and Expense

Accounts
• Substantive procedures for related balance sheet
accounts have also audited many income
statement accounts.
• Analytical procedures can be applied to other
income statements accounts. Examples include
comparison to prior year balances, expected
relationships, statistical estimates, and internal
budgets and reports.
• Scan accounts for large and unusual entries that
may need additional verification.
• Be aware of “miscellaneous,” “other,” and
“clearing” accounts – “earnings management”
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B. Attorney Letters
1. Audit Procedures for Litigations, Claims,
and Assessments
2. Attorney Letters: Responsibilities
3. Attorney Letters: Contents

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1. Audit Procedures for Litigation,

Claims, and Assessments
• Inquiry of clients regarding a description and
evaluation of litigation, claims, and assessments
• Review minutes of meetings of stockholders,
directors, and committees
• Review contracts, loan agreements, and
correspondence from taxing and governmental
agencies
• Obtain information concerning guarantees from
bank confirmations
• Review documentation related to legal services

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2. Attorney Letters: Responsibilities

(Follow Diagram on p. 402 of text)
• Auditor
– Initiate request for attorney letter
• Client
– Prepare listing, description, and evaluation of litigation,
claims, and assessments for letter
– Send letter to attorney including information related to
litigation, claims, and assessments
• Attorney
– Respond to auditor regarding client’s description of
litigation, claims, and assessments contained in attorney
letter

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 11-9
3. Attorney Letters: Contents
(See Sample on p. 403 of Text)
• Listing of pending litigation, claims, and
assessments
• Description of each item or case included in
the listing
• Evaluation of the likelihood of an
unfavorable outcome
• Estimate of the range of potential loss
• Understanding regarding unasserted claims

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 11-10

C. Management Representations

1. Purpose of Management Representations

2. Management Representations Required
Regardless of Materiality
3. Some Representations Related to
Managements’ Assessment of Internal
Control (AS 2)

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1. Purpose of Management
Representations
• Provided by management to the auditor in the
form of a letter (See example on p. 406 of text)
• Dated the last day of fieldwork
• Broad purpose
– Impress upon management its primary responsibility
for the financial statements
– May establish an auditor’s defense if a question related
to inquiries subsequently arises
• Qualify or disclaim an opinion if not provided by
the client

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2. Management Representations
Required Regardless of Materiality
– Management responsibility for the fairness of the
financial statements
– Availability of all financial records and data
– Management responsibility for design and
implementation of programs and controls related
to fraud
– Disclosure of significant deficiencies in internal
control
– Information concerning fraud involving the client
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 11-13
3. Some Representations Related
to Managements’ Assessment of
Internal Control (AS 2)
– Management has performed as assessment of
internal control
– Management’s conclusion with respect to the
operating effectiveness of its internal control
– No subsequent changes in IC that significantly
affect IC
– No control deficiencies from prior engagements
have not been properly resolved

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D. Adjusting Journal Entries

• Accumulate proposed entries on “score sheet”.
(See example on p. 408 of text)
• Consider pre tax and after tax effects.
• Require adjustment for all material entries.
• Require adjustment for proposed entries totaling a
material amount
• Require adjustment for “qualitatively material”
entries
• Recommend adjustment for all other items

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E. Audit Documentation Review

• Audit supervisor
– Have all steps in audit program been performed?
– Is referencing among documentation clear?
– Are explanations understandable?
• Audit manager and partner
– Is the overall scope of the audit adequate?
– Do overall conclusions support the opinion?
• Reviewing partner
– Are the quality of audit work and reporting consistent
with quality standards of the firm?

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F. Subsequent Events
1. Subsequent Period
2. Procedures in Subsequent Period
3. Types of Subsequent Events
4. Timing of Subsequent Events
Identification

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1. Subsequent Period

Beginning End of Last day of Issuance

of year year fieldwork of reports

Subsequent
Period
Audit Procedures
• Auditor performs procedures to evaluate events that may affect presentation
and disclosure in the financial statements
• Events occurring during this period are known as subsequent events

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2. Procedures in Subsequent
Period
• Review latest interim financial statements
• Inquire of officers and other executives
• Read minutes of meetings of shareholders,
directors, and committees
• Obtain attorney letter
• Obtain management representations

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3. Types of Subsequent Events

• Type I
– Provide new information about conditions existing at
balance sheet date
– Adjust financial statements to reflect new information
• Type II
– Involve events occurring after balance sheet date
– Disclose in financial statements
– Prepare pro forma financial statements as if event has
occurred at beginning of period. Only for significant
events.

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4. Timing of Subsequent
Events Identification
• Prior to last day of fieldwork
– Perform audit procedures and ensure proper
disclosure
• Following last day of fieldwork but prior to
issuance of reports
– Dual date audit report
• Following issuance of audit reports
– “Subsequent discovery of facts”

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II. Activities Following

Issuance of Auditor’s Reports

A. Subsequent Discovery of Facts

B. Omitted Audit Procedures
C. Communication with Audit Committee
D. Management Letters

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A. Subsequent Discovery of
Facts
• Require disclosure of events if:
– Facts are reliable and existed at report date
– Facts affect financial statements and auditor’s report
– Persons are continuing to rely on financial statements
and auditor’s reports
• If client refuses disclosure, auditor should inform
board that he or she will notify regulatory agencies
and others relying on the reports

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B. Omitted Audit Procedures

• Perform procedures if:
– Omitted procedures are important
– Individuals are currently relying on financial statements
and auditor’s reports
• If previous opinion can be supported, no further
action necessary
• If previous opinion cannot be supported
– Withdraw the original report
– Issue revised reports
– Inform persons currently relying on the financial
statements
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C. Communication with Audit
Committee
• Auditor’s responsibility under
GAAS
• Initial selection and changes in
significant accounting policies
• Methods used to account for
significant transactions and
transactions in controversial or
emerging areas
• Management judgments and
estimates
• Audit adjustments
• Uncorrected misstatements
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11-24
• Auditor judgment about quality
of accounting principles
• Alternative accounting
treatments permissible under
GAAP
• Disagreements with management
• Issues related to initial or
recurring retention of the auditor
• Consultation with other
accountants
• Difficulties encountered in
dealing with management during
the audit
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D. Management Letters
• Not required under GAAS
• Are prepared as a by-product of procedures
performed in audit
• Provide recommendations to client for
improving effectiveness and efficiency of
operations
• Delivered by auditor to client following
audit engagement

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 11-26

Summary of Audit
Communications

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