ACCT 431 CHAPTER 1:The Demand for Audit and Other Assurance Services

ACCT 431 CHAPTER 1 Auditing and Assurance Services, 15e (Arens) Chapter 1 The Demand for Audit and Other Assurance Services Learning Objective 1-1 1) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act applies to which of the following companies? A) All companies B) Privately held companies C) Public companies D) All public companies and privately held companies with assets greater than $500 million Answer: C Terms: Sarbanes-Oxley Act Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 2) Which of the following is considered audit evidence? A) Oral statements made by management Written Communications Auditor Observation Y N N B) Oral statements made by management Written Communications Auditor Observation N Y Y C) Oral statements made by management Written Communications Auditor Observation Y Y Y D) Oral statements made by management Written Communications Auditor Observation N N Y Answer: C Terms: Audit evidence Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) Evidence is paramount to audit and attestation engagements. List the four basic types of audit evidence. Answer: The four types of audit and attestation evidence include: 1. Electronic and documentary data about transactions 2. Written and electronic communications with outsiders 3. Observations by the auditor 4. Oral testimony of the auditee (client) Terms: Basic types of audit evidence Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 4) The criteria by which an auditor evaluates the information under audit may vary with the information being audited. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Criteria which an auditor evaluates information Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 5) The criteria used by an external auditor to evaluate published financial statements are known as generally accepted auditing standards. A) True B) False Answer: B Terms: Criteria used by external auditor to evaluate published financial statements Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 6) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act establishes standards related to the audits of privately held companies. A) True B) False Answer: B Terms: Sarbanes-Oxley Act Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 7) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is widely viewed as having ushered in sweeping changes to auditing and financial reporting. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Sarbanes-Oxley Act Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 8) An auditor must be competent and have an independent mental attitude. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Competence and independent mental attitude Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-2 1) Recording, classifying, and summarizing economic events in a logical manner for the purpose of providing financial information for decision making is commonly called: A) finance. B) auditing. C) accounting. D) economics. Answer: C Terms: Recording, classifying, and summarizing economic events Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-2 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 2) An accountant: A) must possess expertise in the accumulation of audit evidence. B) must decide the number and types of items to test. C) must have an understanding of the principles and rules that provide the basis for preparing the accounting information. D) must be a CPA. Answer: C Terms: Distinguishes auditors from accountants Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-2 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) In "auditing" financial accounting data, the primary concern is with: A) determining whether recorded information properly reflects the economic events that occurred during the accounting period. B) determining if fraud has occurred. C) determining if taxable income has been calculated correctly. D) analyzing the financial information to be sure that it complies with government requirements. Answer: A Terms: Auditing financial accounting data primary concern Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-2 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 4) The trait that distinguishes auditors from accountants is the: A) auditor's ability to interpret accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. B) auditor's education beyond the Bachelor's degree. C) auditor's ability to interpret FASB Statements. D) auditor's accumulation and interpretation of evidence related to a company's financial statements. Answer: D Terms: Distinguishes auditors from accountants Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-2 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 5) Discuss the differences and similarities between the roles of accountants and auditors. What additional expertise must an auditor possess beyond that of an accountant? Answer: The role of accountants is to record, classify, and summarize economic events in a logical manner for the purpose of providing financial information for decision making. To provide relevant information, accountants must have a thorough understanding of the principles and rules that provide the basis for preparing the accounting information. In addition, accountants must develop a system to ensure that the entity's economic events are properly recorded on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. The role of auditors is to determine whether the recorded information prepared by accountants properly reflects the economic events that occurred during the accounting period. Because U.S. or international standards provide the criteria for evaluating whether financial information is properly recorded, auditors must thoroughly understand those accounting standards. In addition to understanding accounting, the auditor must possess expertise in the accumulation and interpretation of audit evidence. It is this expertise that distinguishes auditors from accountants. Determining the proper audit procedures, deciding the number and types of items to test, and evaluating the results are unique to the auditor. Terms: Roles of accountants and auditors Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-2 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-3 1) risk reflects the possibility that the information upon which the business decision was made was inaccurate. A) Client acceptance B) Information C) Business D) Control Answer: B Terms: Risk that reflects the possibility that information upon which business risk decision was made Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-3 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-4 1) A correct relationship among the auditor, the client, and the external users is: A) management of a public company hires the independent auditor. B) the audit committee of a private company hires the independent auditor. C) the client provides capital to the external users. D) the external users can rely upon the auditor's report to reduce information risk. Answer: D Terms: Relationships among auditor, client, and external users Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-4 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 2) The most common way for users to obtain reliable information is to: A) have an internal audit. B) have an independent audit. C) verify all information individually. D) verify the information with management. Answer: B Terms: Reducing information risk Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-4 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) Explain what is meant by information risk, and list the four causes of this risk. Answer: Information risk reflects the possibility that the information upon which the business risk decision was made was inaccurate. Four causes of information risk are: • remoteness of information, • biases and motives of the provider, • voluminous data, and • complex exchange transactions. Terms: Information risk definition and causes Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-3 and LO 1-4 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-5 1) In the audit of historical financial statements, what accounting criteria is most common? A) Regulatory accounting principles B) Applicable international accounting standards C) Applicable U.S. accounting standards D) B and C E) All of the above Answer: D Terms: Most common accounting criteria Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 2) Any service that requires a CPA firm to issue a report about the reliability of an assertion that is made by another party is a(n): A) accounting and bookkeeping service. B) attestation service. C) assurance service. D) tax service. Answer: B Terms: Strengthen internal controls over accounting for materials used in production Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) Three common types of attestation services are: A) audits of historical financial statements, reviews of historical financial statements, and audits of internal control over financial reporting. B) audits of historical financial information, verifications of historical financial information, and attestations regarding internal controls. C) reviews of historical financial information, verifications of future financial information, and attestations regarding internal controls. D) audits of historical financial information, reviews of controls related to investments, and verifications of historical financial information. Answer: A Terms: Types of attestation services Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 4) Which of the following services provides the lowest level of assurance on a financial statement? A) A review B) An audit C) Neither service provides assurance on financial statements. D) Each service provides the same level of assurance on financial statements. Answer: A Terms: Service provides lowest level of assurance on a financial statement Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 5) Which of the following is not a SysTrust Services principle as defined by the AICPA? A) Online privacy B) Availability C) Processing integrity D) Operational integrity Answer: D Terms: SysTrust Services principles defined by AICPA Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 6) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act prohibits a CPA firm that audits a public company from providing which of the following types of services to that company? A) Reviews of quarterly financial statements B) Preparation of corporate tax returns C) Most consulting services D) Tax services Answer: C Terms: Sarbanes-Oxley Act Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 7) Attestation services on information technology include WebTrust services and SysTrust services. Which of the following statements most accurately describes SysTrust services? A) SysTrust services provide assurance on business processes, transaction integrity and information processes. B) SysTrust services provide assurance on system reliability in critical areas such as security and data integrity. C) SysTrust services provide assurance on internal control over financial reporting. D) SysTrust services provide assurance as to whether accounting personnel are following procedures prescribed by the company controller. Answer: B Terms: Attestation services on information technology; WebTrust and Systrust services Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 8) Two types of attestation services provided by CPA firms are audits and reviews. Discuss the similarities and differences between these two types of attestation services. Which type provides the least assurance? Answer: In both the review and audit of the historical financial statements, management asserts that the statements are fairly stated in accordance with accounting standards. The CPA provides a lower level of assurance for reviews of financial statements compared to the high level for audits, therefore less evidence is needed. A review is often adequate to meet financial statement users' needs. It can be provided by a CPA firm at a much lower fee than an audit because less evidence is needed. An audit is the most common assurance service provided by CPA firms. Publicly traded companies in the U.S. are required to have audits under the federal securities acts. Many nonpublic companies have a review to limit auditor fees. Terms: Attestation services; Audits and reviews of historical financial statements Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 9) What is an engagement to attest on internal control over financial reporting? Answer: For an audit of internal control over financial reporting, management asserts that internal controls have been developed and implemented following well established criteria. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies to report management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Act also requires auditors for larger public companies to attest to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. This evaluation, which is integrated with the audit of financial statements, increases user confidence about future financial reporting, because effective internal controls reduce the likelihood of future misstatements in the financial statements. Terms: Engagement to attest on internal control over financial reporting Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 10) What are the five categories of attestation services? Answer: The five categories of attestation services include: • Audit of historical financial statements • Audit of internal control over financial reporting • Review of historical financial statements • Attestation services on information technology • Other attestation services that may be applied to a broad range of subject matter Terms: Categories of attestation services Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 11) What is a WebTrust engagement? What is a SysTrust engagement? How do they differ? Answer: WebTrust is a service provided by a CPA where the CPA provides assurance that the Web Site owner has met established criteria related to business practices, transaction integrity, and information processes. SysTrust is a service provided by a CPA to evaluate and test a system reliability in areas such as security and data integrity. There are five principles that must be addressed on a SysTrust engagement: security, availability, processing integrity, online privacy, and confidentiality. WebTrust is primarily designed to provide assurance to third party users of a Web site. SysTrust provides assurance to management, the board of directors or third parties about the reliability of information systems used to generate real-time information. Terms: WebTrust and SysTrust engagements Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 12) CPA firms are never allowed to provide bookkeeping services for clients. A) True B) False Answer: B Terms: CPA services provided to clients Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 13) Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies to have an external auditor attest to their internal control over financial reporting. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Topic: SOX 14) Most public companies' audited financial statements are available on the SEC's EDGAR database. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Public companies' audited financial statements: SEC's EDGAR database Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-5 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-6 1) One objective of an operational audit is to: A) determine whether the financial statements fairly present the entity's operations. B) determine if the auditee is in compliance with GAAP. C) make recommendations for improving performance. D) report on the entity's relative success in attaining profit maximization. Answer: C Terms: Objective of operational audit Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 2) An examination of part of an organization's procedures and methods for the purpose of evaluating efficiency and effectiveness is what type of audit? A) Operational audit B) Compliance audit C) Financial statement audit D) Production audit Answer: A Terms: Examination of part of an organization's procedures and method to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) An audit to determine whether an entity is following specific procedures or rules set down by some higher authority is classified as a(n): A) audit of financial statements. B) compliance audit. C) operational audit. D) production audit. Answer: B Terms: Audit to determine whether entity followed specific procedures or rules Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 4) Which one of the following is more difficult to evaluate objectively? A) Presentation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles B) Compliance with government regulations C) Efficiency and effectiveness of operations D) All three of the above are equally difficult. Answer: C Terms: Most difficult to evaluate objectively Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 5) Which of the following audits can be regarded as generally being a compliance audit? A) IRS agents' examinations of taxpayer returns B) GAO auditor's evaluation of the computer operations of governmental units C) An internal auditor's review of a company's payroll authorization procedures D) A CPA firm's audit of a public company Answer: A Terms: Compliance audit Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 6) Which of the following are required to have a written report regarding the assertion of another party? A) Financial Statement Audit Operational Audit Compliance Audit Attestation Engagement Assurance Engagement Y Y Y Y Y B) Financial Statement Audit Operational Audit Compliance Audit Attestation Engagement Assurance Engagement Y Y Y Y N C) Financial Statement Audit Operational Audit Compliance Audit Attestation Engagement Assurance Engagement Y Y Y N N D) Financial Statement Audit Operational Audit Compliance Audit Attestation Engagement Assurance Engagement N N N Y Y Answer: B Terms: Required to have a written report Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 7) Discuss the similarities and differences between financial statement audits, operational audits, and compliance audits. Give an example of each type. Answer: Financial statement audits, operational audits, and compliance audits are similar in that each type of audit involves accumulating and evaluating evidence about information to ascertain and report on the degree of correspondence between the information and established criteria and/or procedures, rules, or regulations. The differences between each type of audit are the information being examined and the criteria used to evaluate the information. An operational audit evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of any part of an organization's operating procedures and methods. At completion of an operational audit, management normally expects recommendations for improving operations. In operational auditing, the reviews are not limited to accounting. It is more difficult to objectively evaluate whether the efficiency and effectiveness of operations meets established criteria than it is for compliance and financial statement audits. Also, establishing criteria for evaluating the information in an operational audit is extremely subjective. Thus, operational auditing is more like management consulting than what is usually considered auditing. A compliance audit is conducted to determine whether the auditee is following specific procedures, rules, or regulations set by some higher authority. Results of compliance audits are typically reported to management, like in the operational audits, rather than to outside users as is done with financial statement audits. A financial statement audit is conducted to determine whether financial statements are stated in accordance with specified criteria, normally the U.S. or international standards. Auditors not only focus on accounting transactions, but also focus on an integrated approach in which both the risk of misstatements and the operating controls are considered. The auditor must have a thorough understanding of the entity and its environment. An example of a financial statement audit would be the annual audit of IBM Corporation, in which the external auditors examine IBM's financial statements to determine the degree of correspondence between those financial statements and generally accepted accounting principles. An example of an operational audit would be an internal auditor's evaluation of whether the company's computerized payroll-processing system is operating efficiently and effectively. An example of a compliance audit would be an IRS auditor's examination of an entity's federal tax return to determine the degree of compliance with the Internal Revenue Code. Terms: Financial statement audits, operational audits and compliance audits Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Analytic skills 8) To perform an audit, it is necessary for the information to be in a verifiable form and there must be some criteria by which the auditor can evaluate the information. Detail the information and criteria that would be used when: (A) an independent CPA firm audits a company's historical financial statements. (B) an Internal Revenue Service auditor audits that same company's tax return. (C) an internal auditor performs an operational audit to evaluate whether the company's computerized payroll processing system is operating efficiently and effectively. Answer: (A) The information used by a CPA firm in a financial statement audit is the financial information in the company's financial statements. The most commonly used criteria are applicable U.S. generally accepted accounting standards or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). (B) The information used by an IRS auditor is the financial information in the company's federal tax return. The criteria used are the internal revenue code and interpretations. (C) The information used by an internal auditor when performing an operational audit of the payroll system could include various items such as the number of errors made, costs incurred by the payroll department, and number of payroll records processed each month. The criteria would consist of company standards for departmental efficiency and effectiveness. Terms: Information and criteria used by CPA firm, Internal Revenue Service auditor, and internal auditor Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-1 and LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 9) The primary purpose of a compliance audit is to determine whether the financial statements are prepared in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. A) True B) False Answer: B Terms: Compliance audit Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 10) Results of compliance audits are typically reported to the company's management rather than to a broad spectrum of outside users. A) True B) False Answer: A Terms: Compliance audit Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-6 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-7 1) Match the engagement described to the (A) type of audit and (B) auditor that would perform the engagement. Each engagement will have an answer from List-A and List-B. An answer can be used once, more than once, or not at all. List A - Type of Audit: List B - Type of Auditor: a. Financial Statement b. Compliance c. Operational d. Internal e. External f. Government g. IRS Engagement: 1. Evaluate a company's payroll processing for economy. 2. Evaluate/determine if bank covenants are being met. 3. Evaluate financial statements that are to be submitted to a bank. 4. Evaluate the promptness of materials inspection in a manufacturer's receiving department. 5. Determine if Medicare reimbursements are in accordance with the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA). 6. Determine if the tax return of a multinational corporation is in accordance with the tax code. 7. Determine if a public school is properly applying their reimbursement for the payment-in-kind program. 8. Determine the effectiveness of a Department of Defense project. Answer: 1. c, d 2. b, d 3. a, e 4. c, d 5. b, f 6. b, g 7. b, e 8. c, f Terms: Financial statement audit; Compliance audit; Operational audit; Types of auditors Diff: Challenging Objective: LO 1-6 and LO 1-7 AACSB: Analytic skills 2) Discuss the similarities and differences between the roles of independent auditors, GAO auditors, internal revenue agents, and internal auditors. Answer: The roles of all four types of auditors are similar in that they involve the accumulation and evaluation of evidence about information to ascertain and report on the degree of correspondence between the information and established criteria. The differences in their roles center around the information audited and the criteria used to evaluate that information. Independent auditors primarily audit companies' financial statements. GAO auditors' primary responsibility is to perform the audit function for Congress. IRS auditors are responsible for the enforcement of federal tax laws. Internal auditors primarily perform operational and compliance audits for their employing company. Terms: Roles of independent auditors, GAO auditors, internal revenue agents and internal auditors Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-7 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) The primary role of the United States General Accounting Office is the enforcement of the federal tax laws as defined by Congress and interpreted by the courts. A) True B) False Answer: B Terms: Primary role of United States General Accounting Office Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-7 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills Learning Objective 1-8 1) The three requirements for becoming a CPA include all but which of the following? A) Uniform CPA examination requirement B) Educational requirements C) Character requirements D) Experience requirement Answer: C Terms: Requirements for becoming a CPA Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-8 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 2) The use of the Certified Public Accountant title is regulated by: A) the federal government. B) state law through a licensing department or agency of each state. C) the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants through the licensing departments of the tax and auditing committees. D) the Securities and Exchange Commission. Answer: B Terms: Certified Public Accountant title Diff: Moderate Objective: LO 1-8 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills 3) List and discuss the three primary requirements to become a CPA. Answer: The three primary requirements for becoming a CPA are: • Educational requirement. An undergraduate degree or a graduate degree with a major in accounting is required. Most states now require 150 semester hours for licensure and some states require 150 semester hours before taking the CPA exam. • Uniform CPA examination requirement. This is a four-part, computer-based examination with components on auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, regulation, and business environment and concepts. Some states also require a separate ethics requirement. • Experience requirement. The experience requirement varies from state to state with some states requiring no experience, while other states require up to two years of audit experience. Terms: Primary requirements to become CPA Diff: Easy Objective: LO 1-8 AACSB: Reflective thinking skills