Auditing and assurance services

Question 1 15% of total assessment

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You have recently been appointed as an audit senior and have been assigned to the audit of TNO Limited (TNO) a listed public company. It is the beginning of January 2014 and you are gathering information in order to prepare the audit plan for the year ended 31 December 2013. The firm for which you work has been the auditor of TNO for a number of years. The following information has been gathered to date.

The principal activities of TNO are:

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research and development of technologies relating to medical equipment; manufacture and distribution of medical equipment;

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investment of surplus funds; and investment in the property market.

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TNO was incorporated in 1990 and has operated successfully and profitably since that date. In the last few years it has branched out into the property market, acquiring a number of commercial properties which are let mainly to medical practitioners.

The directors of TNO are:

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Mr. John Stanton, Chairman

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Ms Jane Quade, Chief Executive Officer

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Mr. Joe Quade

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Dr Jim Xie

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Dr Jenny Yeo

Doctors X and Y are independent non-executive directors and have been directors since 2001. The other three executive directors have been employed by the company since its incorporation and have considerable experience in the industry. Mr Stanton controls a number of private companies.

In prior years, the audit firm placed reliance on internal controls based on satisfactory results of extensive tests of control. Recent discussions with the client have revealed no changes in the system of internal control since last year.

The company does not have an internal audit function.

In February 2013, research activities relating to a new laser surgery device commenced. Significant costs were incurred in relation to this research. In April 2013 a competitor announced that it had successfully developed and patented a similar device.

In order to finance the research activities noted above the company borrowed from its bankers an additional $5 million during the year. The loan agreement contains a covenant to the effect that should the company’s debt to equity ratio (measured as total liabilities: shareholders’ equity) increase above 1.2:1.0 at any time, the bankers have the right to demand immediate repayment.

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 1

Throughout 2013, the property market has been in decline. The interim audit is scheduled to take place in September 2013 for approximately two weeks. The final audit is scheduled to start on 1 February 2014 and should take about two weeks to complete. The client completed a stock count on 31 December 2013. The directors require the signed audited final financial report by 25 February 2014.

Your audit partner, John Richards, has approached you and advised that there are several account areas he is concerned about. Before you complete your audit program he wants you to report back to him about the following accounts:

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Accounts receivable.

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Current investments.

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Property assets.

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Intangible assets.

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Deferred development expenditure.

An unaudited set of financial reports at 31 December 2013 together with audited comparatives for the year ended 31 December 2012 and 2011 is set out below for your review.

TNO LIMITED

Income Statement for the year ended

for the year ended 31 December

Notes

2013

2012

2011

$’000

$’000

$’000

Sales Revenue

20,888

25,278

27,814

Cost of sales

(14,254)

(17,695)

(20,877)

Gross Profit

6,634

7,583

6,937

Other revenue

2

1,593

1,835

2,010

Operating expenses

3

(3,658)

(2,254)

(2,381)

Finance costs

4

(2,400)

(2,040)

(1,600)

Profit before tax

2,169

5,124

4,966

Tax expense

(648)

(1,537)

(1,489)

Net Profit

1,521

3,587

3,477

TNO LIMITED

Statement of comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 December

2013

2012

2011

$’000

$’000

$’000

Net profit

1,521

3,587

3,477

Revaluation of building asset (net of tax)

350

Total comprehensive income

1,871

3,587

3,477

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 2

TNO LIMITED Statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December

2013

2012

2011

$’000

$’000

$’000

Share Capital

5,000

5,000

5,000

Asset Revaluation Reserve opening balance

5,000

5,000

5,000

Revaluation of asset

350

Asset Revaluation Reserve closing balance

5,350

5,000

5,000

Retained earnings

9,272

5,685

2,208

Profit

1,521

3,587

3,477

Retained profit closing balance

10,793

9,272

5,685

Total equity

21,143

19,272

15,685

TNO LIMITED

Balance Sheet

as at 31 December

2013

2012

2011

$’000

$’000

$’000

Cash

66

96

69

Trade and other receivables

5

4,980

4,200

3,800

Investments

6

1,500

2,300

2,100

Inventories

7

6,607

6,400

6,000

Other

100

120

130

Total Current assets

13253

13116

12099

Investments

8

15,000

14,500

10,000

Property plant & equipment

9

6,400

7,000

7,600

Intangibles

10

4,000

4,000

2,000

Other

11

6000

300

300

Total non-current assets

31,400

25,800

19,900

Total assets

44,653

38,916

31,999

Trades & other payables

12

7,050

8,000

6,800

Provisions

13

300

500

510

Total current liabilities

7,350

8,500

7,310

non-current liabilities

Bank Loans

14

15,000

10,000

8,000

Provisions

15

1,160

1,144

1,004

Total non-current liabilities

16,160

11,144

9,004

Total liabilities

23,510

19,644

16,314

Net assets

21,143

19,272

15,685

Equity

Share capital

5,000

5,000

5,000

Reserve

16

5,350

5,000

5,000

Retained earnings

10,793

9,272

5,685

Total equity

21,143

19,272

15,685

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 3

Significant Account Policies

The accounting policy note states that the company complies with Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001. It also reveals the following:

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commercial properties owned but not occupied by the company and which generate rental income are classified as non-current investments. These assets are not depreciated. Some of the investment properties are stated at cost and some are at directors’ valuation

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technologies relating to modified equipment are included in the accounts as intangible assets. These assets stated at directors’ valuation and are not amortised. The Director’s believe that these assets do not have a limited useful life.

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deferred development expenditure is included in the accounts under ‘other’ non-current assets. This expenditure relates to the new laser surgery device.

NOTE 2 – Other revenue from continuing operations Rental revenue

Dividends

NOTE 3 – Operating Expenses

Impairment expenses

Other operating expenses

NOTE 4 – Finance costs

Interest expense

NOTE 5 – Trade receivables (Current)

Trade receivables

Allowance for doubtful debts

NOTE 6 – Investments (Current)

Shares – listed (at cost)

Provision for impairment

NOTE 7 – Inventories (Current)

Raw materials at cost

Work in progress (at cost)

Finished goods (at net realisable value)

NOTE 8 – Investments (Non-Current) Investment properties – at cost – 2010

Investment properties – at directors’ valuation – 2010 Investment properties – at directors’ valuation – 2012

2013 2012 2011 $’000 $’000 $’000

1,500

1,740

1,913

93

95

97

1,593

1,835

2,010

800

2,858

2,254

2,381

3,658

2,254

2,381

2,400

2,040

1,600

5,108

4,400

4,000

128

200

200

4,980

4,200

3,800

2,300

2,300

2,100

(800)

1,500

2,300

2,100

2,107

2,000

1,850

400

400

400

4,100

4,000

3,750

6,607

6,400

6,000

9,000

9,000

6,500

5,500

5,500

3,500

500

15,000

14,500

10,000

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 4

NOTE 9- Property Plant and Equipment (Non-Current) Freehold land – at directors’ valuation – 2010 Freehold land – at directors’ valuation – 2013

Buildings on freehold land – at directors’ valuation – 2010 Provision for depreciation

Plant & equipment – at cost

Provision for depreciation

Total written-down Property, Plant and Equipment

NOTE 10 – Intangible assets (Non-Current)

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Technologies – directors’ valuation – 2010

NOTE 11 -Other

Deferred development expenditure

NOTE 12- Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Bank loans unsecured

NOTE 13 – Provisions (Current)

Income tax

Employee entitlements

NOTE 14 – Borrowings (Non-Current)

Bank loans – secured

NOTE 15 – Provisions (Non-Current)

Deferred tax liability

Employee entitlements

NOTE 16 – Reserves

Asset revaluation reserve

2013

2012

2011

$’000

$’000

$’000

2,000

2,000

2,500

2,500

2,000

2,000

2,500

2,500

2,500

(150)

(100)

(50)

2,350

2,400

2,450

9,550

10,050

6,900

(8,000)

(7,450)

(3,750)

1,550

2,600

3,150

6,400

7,000

7,600

4,000

4,000

2,000

6,000

300

300

6,550

6,000

5,300

500

2,000

1,500

7,050

8,000

6,800

200

300

300

100

200

210

300

500

510

15,000

10,000

8,000

260

200

40

900

944

964

1,160

1,144

1,004

5,350

5,000

5,000

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 5

REQUIRED:

1. Use Excel to undertake detailed analytical procedures covering all three years and comprising:

§ a trend statement;

§ a common size statement;

§ a simple comparison between years on the Income Statement and Balance Sheet; and

§ profitability, efficiency (activity), liquidity and solvency ratios where applicable.

The results of your analytical procedures are to be included as an appendix to the report you complete for John. Note: A copy of your Excel file is to be separately lodged via EASTS.

2. Prepare a report (excluding an executive summary) for John that outlines:

a. Your analysis and other information provided, to make an assessment of the risk associated with the five accounts identified by John and the reasons for that assessment.

b. The key assertion common to all the identified account balances and, for each of the account balances, one substantive audit procedure that verifies the key assertion.

c. Details of other business risks identified from your analytical procedures and background details.

You may like to present your answers to 2a. and 2b. in the following table format:

Account

Assessment of risk

Substantive audit procedure (test of

detail)

Source: This case was adapted from 1991 Audit module material in the CA Program of the ICAA and modified for currentASAs.

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014 Page | 6

.0/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image011.gif”>Question 2 10% of total assessment

You have been given another client, CTL Limited, to audit. CTL Limited (CTL) sells clay titles to the construction industry and has been in existence for the last four years. During this period, the financial controller has been refining the system of internal controls and informs you, at the planning stage of the current year’s audit, that he has put together an internal control manual for the company. He has stated that this manual will create greater awareness of controls in the company, particularly with management which, in the past, has not been overly conscious of the need to implement and enforce effective internal controls.

Management staff receive bonuses based on certain agreed-upon target ratios which include measures such as targeted monthly sales volumes, variance of actual to budget departmental overheads and profit before interest and tax. The major shareholder takes an active interest in the performance of the company and is quick to request explanations on variances from the agreed-upon monthly budgets.

Two years ago, the company devoted significant time and resources to the development and implementation of a new IT system. All teething problems associated with the implementation phase have now been resolved, and the financial controller is satisfied that the automated controls in place are assisting in producing accurate and complete accounting records. The sales director also looks after the IT function as the position is not regarded by management as being a full-time job. Once application programs have been tested, strict password control exists over access to the programs. Passwords are not required for access to databases.

To assist in the planning for the current year’s audit engagement, the audit manager has extracted the following information from a review of the systems notes in the permanent file and perusal of the new internal control manual:

I. Manual delivery notes for dispatch of tiles to customers are raised by the dispatch department from the sales order form. Where a delivery is only partially filled, the delivery note is marked ‘hold for invoice’ and placed on the incomplete deliveries file. At month end, the supervisor of the dispatch department is responsible for follow-up of the reasons why incomplete deliveries have been outstanding for greater than 30 days.

II. Returns of tiles by customers due to breakages, inferior quality, incorrect specifications or oversupply are received by the dispatch department where staff are required to check quantity and condition of the returned tiles. Details noted by the dispatch personnel, including the reason for the return, are recorded on a ‘goods returned’ note. Once completed, this document is passed on to the trade receivables clerk who raises a credit note and sends it to the customer.

III. Once a delivery has occurred, the office copy manual delivery note is forwarded to the trade receivables clerk who is responsible for generating an invoice on the computer system. An invoice is raised by inputting the total quantity delivered (Note: this could be a number of partial deliveries) and the stock code which is also recorded on the delivery

note. The computer then automatically retrieves the stock code price from the selling price master file. Posting to the debtors account occurs automatically once the trade receivables clerk has performed a screen check on the accuracy of the input of delivery details.

IV. For valued customers, discounts are applied in accordance with the company’s volume rating system. The trade receivables clerk is responsible for updating the individual customer volume ratings every six months after preparing the ‘sales volume analysis by customer’ report. This report is authorised by the sales director prior to updating the customer discounts.

V. A sales journal summarising all sales invoices is prepared monthly by the computer system. This journal is then used by the trade receivables clerk for posting to the general ledger.

ACC331 201430 Assessment 3 February 2014