A1 "Audit Reports" Flashcards
The auditor is responsible for performing an audit in accordance with
GAAS (generally accepted auditing standards)
What are SAS’s
Statements on Auditing Standards = provide generally accepting auditing standards for nonissuers
- Issued by the AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board (ASB)
- Also used in audits of issuers, to the extent adopted by the PCAOB
what are AS’s
Auditing Standards = provide generally accepting auditing standards for issuers
- issued by the PCAOB
- PCAOB uses SAS’s too
What are GAGAS
Generally accepted government auditing standards = provide guidance for audits of gov org, programs, activities, and entities that receive gov funding.
What are SSAE’s
Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements = provide guidance for attestation engagements
- issued by AICPA
- applies to examinations, reviews, AUPs, assertions about subject matter
what are SSARS
Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) = provide guidance for unaudited FS (or financial info) of nonissuers.
- issued by AICPA
= The AICPA provides members with guidelines for behavior in the conduct of their professional affairs.
Code of Professional Conduct
What provides assurance to the public that the profession intends to maintain high standards and to enforce compliance with these standards by its members?
Code of Professional Conduct
= AICPA provides guidance to CPA firms about a quality control system.
Statements on Quality Control Standards
What is a quality control system
= consists of policies and procedures design, implemented, and maintained to ensure that the firm complies with professional standards and appropriate legal/regulatory requirements.
What is the first level of auditing guidance?
auditors are required to comply with SASs published by the ASB for audits of nonissuers and AS’s (Auditing Standards) from the PCAOB for audits of issuers.
What is the second level of auditing guidance?
interpretive publications, which are recommendations for how SASs should be applied to certain situations.
- not considered auditing standards
- auditors should consider these when performing audits
What is the third level of auditing guidance?
other auditing publications, which have no authoritative status but may be helpful for the auditor.
- accounting/audit articles, CPE materials, textbooks, etc.
what does “should” mean in auditing standards
presumptively mandatory
- must be followed in all cases where its relevant except for rare circumstances
what does “must” mean in auditing standards
indicates an unconditional requirement, which must be followed in all cases in which the requirement is relevant.
what does “may”, “might”, and “could” mean in auditing standards
indicate explanatory material that does not impose a professional requirement for performance
What are the chronological steps in the audit process?
engagement acceptance assess risk and plan response perform procedures and obtain evidence form conclusions reporting
What is the overall purpose of an audit? What do auditors provide?
Credibility - the auditor’s report provides credibility to the entity’s FS’s.
Provide FS users with an opinion on whether the entity’s financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework (GAAP or IFRS).
management’s responsibility for an audit
FS + IC + info for auditors
- prepare of the FS in accordance with GAAP;
- design, implement, and maintain IC
- provide the auditor with access to all necessary information
Clients need to identify the appropriate FRF as well as..
include a description of the FRF they used in the FS
What are the auditors main responsibility
- express opinion on FS (Attest function)
- professional skepticism
- professional judgment
- ethical requirements
- audit evidence (sufficient & appropriate)
- GAAS
- express opinion on FS (Attest function)
= recognition that circumstances may exist that cause the FS to be materially misstated.
professional skepticism
What are some specific examples of how an auditor can maintain professional skepticism?
Auditors should be alert for:
• Contradicting audit evidence
• Information that questions the reliability of audit evidence
• Conditions that indicate possible fraud
• Circumstances that suggest the need for audit procedures beyond GAAS
- interpretation of ethical requirements
- informed decisions based on application of knowledge and experience.
professional judgement