ABS-LECTURE 1 (Nature & Issues of Audit)
ABS-LECTURE 1 (Nature & Issues of Audit)
ABS-LECTURE 1 (Nature & Issues of Audit)
Lecture 1
fraudulent purposes.
Types of audit
STATUTORY AUDIT
These are audits carried out because the law requires them.
Such audits are governed by the Companies’ Code 1963, Act
179. The auditor must carry out his work in whatever
manner he considers necessary in order to achieve his
statutory duties. The client has no right to restrict enquiries
necessary for the auditor to perform his audit.
It is the audit for an incorporated company having limited
liability status. The auditor has a statutory obligation to
report to members of the company or the appointing
authorities under the statute.
Types of audit
NON STATUTORY (PRIVATE) AUDIT
These are those audits carried out at the request of
interested parties. They are not specifically required by
law. It includes audit of sole proprietor, partnership,
joint ventures. The scope of the audit is underlined in
the engagement letter.
It is the type of audit contracted by businesses not
incorporated under the Companies Act hence have no
legal obligation as regards the auditing of their
accounts.
Complete audit
This is an audit where the auditor is given
unrestricted scope as to the work which he is to
perform and in which he uses his own discretion as to
the extent of the detailed work he is to perform.
It must be noted that a complete audit does not
mean thorough examination and checking of every
document within an undertaking. Modern auditing is
concerned with assessing internal controls and
evaluating these controls to determine the extent of
reliance to be placed on them.
Partial audit
Is one in which the auditor is restricted to carry out
particular work only or is restricted in a way as to his
power of enquiry or examination.
System based audit
This type of audit applies modern auditing techniques
in a scientific and statistical form to investigate the
system of internal control and its operations backed by
test to substantiate the accuracy and reliability of the
records.
It was considered necessary, formerly, to check a great
number of transactions and vouch many documents as
it was as though the greater the amount of work
undertaken the more efficient will be the audit and the
more reliable will the auditor’s report.
Risk based audit
Risk-based auditing refers to the development of
auditing techniques which are responsive to risk
factors in an audit.
The auditor applies judgment to determine what level
of risk pertains to different areas of a client’s system and
devises appropriate audit tests.
This approach should ensure that the greater audit
effort is directed at the areas the auditor considers
critical, so that the chance of detecting errors is
improved and time is not spent on unnecessary testing
of ‘safe areas’.
The increasing use of risk based audit
The increasing use of risk based auditing reflects two
factors:
1. The growing complexity of the business
environment increases the danger of fraud or
misstatement; factors such as the developing use of
computerized systems and the growing
internationalization of businesses are relevant.
Pressures by audit clients for the auditor to keep fee
levels down while providing an improved level of
service.
Management audit
It is concerned with the examination of
procedures laid down by management and of the
efficiency of management itself.
Its objective is to form and express opinion on
the efficiency of management rather than on
the financial statements.
Such audit may be carried out by the internal
auditors of the company.
Areas of Management audit
The suitability, practicality and present compliance or otherwise
of the organization with its designated objects and aims.
The relationship of business with its own shareholders and the
investing public in general.
The current standing of the organization in relation to the
general public and within its own particular industrial or
commercial field.
The relationship between management and staff of the business
Financial policies and controls.
The ratio of operating returns on sales as compared with the
particular industry and the rate of return on capital.
Types of auditors
External auditors
They are independent auditors appointed under either
the private or statutory audit arrangements with no
connection with the company.
Internal auditors
They are auditors who are employed by an enterprise
and who use the same techniques employed by the
external auditors.
Methods of audit
Interim audit
Continuous audit
Disadvantages
Alteration of figures after the audit work by the client
Continuous audit
This audit is carried out throughout the financial year.
It starts from the beginning of the accounting period
to the end. It is appropriate for big companies where
volume of transactions are high and also where
internal controls are weak.
In this case, the auditor’s staff will either make several
visits to the client throughout the year or as in the case
of very large companies, some of the audit staff will be
present at the client’s premises virtually all the time.
Continuous audit
Advantages
Extensive and detailed audit work can be carried out.
Errors and fraud and other weaknesses are likely to be
revealed promptly
Moral check/deterrent on clients staff due to
continuous/regular attendance
Audit can be completed more speedily after year end of
client. This allows for early presentation of financial
statements.
The auditor’s work is more evenly spread over the year
which helps relieve pressures on staff .
Continuous audit
Disadvantages
Deliberate alteration of figures by clients staff
Continuous attendance as a nuisance to clients staff
Familiarity may reduce independence
Audit staff expected to solve clients problems
The auditor’s staff may fail to follow up transaction and
answers to queries not be completed at the previous visit.
Strict control is needed to ensure that this does not happen
particularly where the audit staff assigned to the audit has
changed.
More time is taken over the audit.
Measures to minimise the disadvantages of
continuous audit
All necessary corrections to be made to figures audited
must be by way of journal.
Totals at the end of a period should be recorded in the
audit note book and be verified at the next audit.
Errors and queries should be cleared or dealt with as
soon as necessary.
The audit of impersonal and private ledgers should be
left until the final audit.
Final or completed audit
Final audit is one in which the work is undertaken in a
single period following the end of the company’s
financial year.
The auditor starts the audit after the end of the
accounting period of his client and undertakes the
audit through to completion.
Final or completed audit
Advantages
Efficient planning of the audit and proper arrangement of
timetable.
Work is done at one stretch hence no need to return to
uncompleted work.
Alteration of figures is avoided
No interruption of client’s accounting staff (as compared to
continuous audit)
Disadvantages
Difficulty in allocating audit staff
Delays in submitting annual accounts to shareholders
Interim Audit and Final Audit Compared
The difference between interim audit and final audit is
essentially one of timing. The interim Audit will
normally take place approximately three quarters of the
way through the financial year. During interim audit,
the focus is mainly on systems work while the final
audit concentrates on balance sheet work. However,
it will be necessary to complete some systems work
during the final audit so that transactions between the
time of the interim and final audit do not escape the
auditor’s attention. Similarly, some substantive testing
is very likely to be carried out during the interim audit.
The concept of expectation gap
There is a perception of the public of the role of the auditor
although this has been defined by the auditing profession and
regulated by statute.
There are some common misconceptions in relation to the role
of the auditor even among ‘financially aware’ people.
Many people think that the auditor reports to the Directors of a
company rather than to members.
Some think that a qualified audit report is more favorable than an