©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Internal Control and Control Risk Chapter 10

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 1 Contrast management’s need for internal control with the auditor’s need to consider internal control when designing an audit.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Inherentlimitations Reasonableassurance Management’sresponsibility Key Concepts

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Client’s Concerns Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other applicable laws and regulations and regulations Reliability of financial reporting Efficiency and effectiveness of operations

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Client’s Concerns The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires all public companies to issue an “internal control report” that includes:  a statement that management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting.  an assessment of the effectiveness of the internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting as of the end of the company’s fiscal year.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Auditor Concerns Controls over classes of transactions Controls related to reliability of financial reporting

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Sales Transaction-Related Audit Objectives Objective – General form Related audit objectives Recorded transactions exist (existence). Sales are for shipments to existing customers. Existing transactions are recorded (completeness). Existing sales transactions are recorded. Transactions are stated correctly (accuracy). Sales for goods shipped are correctly billed.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Sales Transaction-Related Audit Objectives Objective – General form Related audit objectives Transactions are properly classified (classification). Sales transactions are properly classified. Transactions are recorded on correct dates (timing). Sales are recorded on the correct dates. Transactions are properly filed (posting and summarization). Sales transactions are properly included in the master files.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 2 Describe how information technology affects internal control.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Effect of Information Technology on Internal Control Information technology IT can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of internal controls. IT also enhances the timeliness and accuracy of information.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Risks Associated With the Use of Information Technology Programmed errors Processing incorrect data Unauthorized access

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 3 Explain the five components of internal control.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Five Components of Internal Control Risk assessment Control activities Information and communication Monitoring

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley The Control Environment Integrity and ethical values Commitment to competence Board of directors or audit committee participation Management’s philosophy and operating style

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley The Control Environment Organizational structure Assignment of authority and responsibility Human resources policies and practices

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Risk Assessment Identify factors affecting risk. Assess significance of risks and likelihood of occurrence. Determine actions necessary to manage risk.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Control Activities 1. Adequate separation of duties 2. Proper authorization of transactions and activities 3. Adequate documents and records 4. Physical control over assets and records 5. Independent checks on performance

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Adequate Separation of Duties Custody of assets Accounting Authorization of transactions The custody of related assets OperationalresponsibilityRecord-keepingresponsibility IT duties User departments

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Proper Authorization of Transactions and Activities General authorization Specific authorization

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Adequate Documents and Records Prenumbered consecutively Prepared at the time of transaction Designed for multiple use Constructed to encourage correct preparation Simple enough to ensure understanding

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Physical Control over Assets and Records The most important type of protective measure for safeguarding assets and records is the use of physical precautions.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Independent Checks on Performance The need for independent checks arises because internal control tends to change over time unless there is a mechanism for frequent review.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Information and Communication The purpose of an accounting information and communication system is to… initiate, record, process, and report the transactions and to maintain accountability for the related assets.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Monitoring Monitoring activities deal with management’s ongoing and periodic assessment of the quality of internal control performance… to determine whether controls are operating as intended and modified when needed.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 4 Explain methods used to obtain an understanding of internal control.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Understanding Internal Control and Assessing Control Risk Obtain understanding of internal control: Design and operation Assess control risk Test controls Decide planned detection risk and substantive tests

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Reasons for Sufficiently Understanding Internal Control SAS 55 (as amended by SAS 78 and SAS 94 plus AU 319) requires the auditor to obtain an understanding of internal control for every audit. Minimumauditplanningmatters: Auditability Auditability Potential materialmisstatements Potential materialmisstatements Detection risk Detection risk Design of test Design of test

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Procedures to Determine Design and Placement –Update and evaluate auditor’s previous experience with the entity. –Make inquiries of client personnel. –Read client’s policy and systems manuals. –Examine documents and records. –Observe entity activities and operations.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Documentation of the Understanding Narrative Flowchart Internalcontrolquestionnaire

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 5 Assess control risk by linking strengths and weaknesses of internal control to transaction- related audit objectives.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Assess Control Risk Assess whether the entity is auditable. Determine assessed control risk. Assess if a lower control risk could be supported. Determine the appropriate assessed control risk.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Assess Control Risk Identify transaction-related audit objectives. Identify specific controls. Identify and evaluate weaknesses.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Identify and Evaluate Weaknesses Identify existing controls. Identify the absence of key controls. Determine misstatements that could result. Consider compensating controls.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley The Control Risk Matrix Auditors use the control risk matrix to identify both controls and weaknesses and to asses control risk.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Communicate Internal Control Deficiencies and Related Matters Management letters Audit committee communications

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 6 Describe the process of designing and performing tests of controls.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Tests of Controls The procedures to test effectiveness of controls in support of a reduced assessed control risk are called tests of controls.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Procedures for Tests of Controls Make inquiries of client personnel. Examine documents, records, and reports. Observe control-related activities. Reperform client procedures.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Extent of Procedures Reliance on evidence from prior year’s audit Testing less than the entire audit period Rotating tests of control

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Relationship of Assessed Control Risk and Extent of Procedures InquiryDocumentationObservationReperformance Yes – extensive Yes – with transaction walk-through walk-throughNo Yes – some Yes – using sampling Yes – at multiple times Yes – using sampling Type of procedure High level: Obtaining an understanding only Lower level: Tests of controls Assessed control risk

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Decide Planned Detection Risk and Design Substantive Tests The auditor uses the results of the control risk assessment process and tests of controls to determine the planned detection risk and related substantive tests. The auditor links the control risk assessments to the balance-related audit objectives.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Learning Objective 7 Understand evidence requirements for reports on internal control.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Reporting on Internal Control Reports under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 1 Other reports on internal control 2

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Reporting on Internal Control Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act restricts the scope of the engagement to internal controls over financial reporting. internal controls over financial reporting. The Act provides that the auditor’s attestation of management’s assessment of internal control for a public company be integrated with the audit of the financial statements.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Differences in Scope of Controls Tested: Nonpublic Company Internal controls over financial reporting Controls that must be tested in an audit of internal controls Internal controls used to assess control risk below maximum Controls that must be tested in an audit of financial statements

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley Public Company Accounting Oversight Board The (PCAOB) has issued guidance for audits of internal control over financial reporting performed in conjunction with an audit of financial statements of public companies.

©2005 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing and Assurance Services 10/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley End of Chapter 10