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P. 577
P. 586
1. There are two common types of confirmations used for confirming accounts
receivable: “positive” confirmations and “negative” confirmations. A
positive confirmation is a letter, addressed to the debtor, requesting that
the recipient indicate directly on the letter whether the stated account
balance is correct or incorrect and, if incorrect, by what amount. A
negative confirmation is also a letter, addressed to the debtor, but it
requests a response only if the recipient disagrees with the amount of the
stated account balance. A positive confirmation is more reliable evidence
because
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Concept Check, P. 586 (continued)
16-2
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Concept Check, P. 586 (continued)
Review Questions
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16-1 (continued)
16-2 The following are analytical procedures for the sales and collection
cycle, and potential misstatements uncovered by each test. Each ratio
should be compared to previous years.
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16-3 The following are balance-related audit objectives and related audit
procedures for the audit of accounts receivable.
BALANCE-RELATED
AUDIT OBJECTIVE AUDIT PROCEDURE
Accounts receivable in the aged Trace twenty accounts from the trial
trial balance agree with related balance to the related accounts in the
master file amounts; the total is master file.
correctly added and agrees with Use audit software to foot the aged trial
the general ledger (detail tie-in). balance, and trace the total to the
general ledger.
The accounts receivable in the Confirm accounts receivable using positive
aged trial balance exist confirmations. Confirm all amounts over
(existence). $15,000 and a statistical sample of the
remainder.
Existing accounts receivable are Trace ten accounts from the accounts
included in the aged trial balance receivable master file to the aged trial
(completeness). balance.
Accounts receivable in the trial Confirm accounts receivable using positive
balance are accurately recorded confirmations. Confirm all amounts over
(accuracy). $15,000 and a statistical sample of the
remainder.
Accounts receivable in the aged Review the receivables listed on the aged
trial balance are properly trial balance for notes and related party
classified (classification). receivables.
Transactions in the sales and Select the last 10 sales transactions from the
collection cycle are recorded in current year’s sales journal and the first 10
the proper period (cutoff). from the subsequent year’s and trace each
one to the related shipping documents,
checking for the date of actual shipment and
the correct recording.
Accounts receivable in the trial Review the minutes of the board of directors
balance are owned (rights). for any indication of pledged or factored
accounts receivable.
Accounts receivable in the trial Discuss with the credit manager the
balance are stated at realizable likelihood of collecting older accounts.
value (realizable value). Examine subsequent cash receipts and the
credit file on older accounts to evaluate
whether receivables are collectible.
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16-4 Accounting standards require that sales returns and allowances be
matched with related sales if the amounts are material. For most companies,
however, sales returns and allowances are recorded in the accounting period in
which they occur, under the assumption of approximately equal, offsetting
amounts at the beginning and end of each accounting period. This approach is
acceptable as long as the amounts are not material.
When the auditor is confident that the client records all sales returns and
allowances promptly, the cutoff tests are simple and straightforward. The auditor
can examine supporting documentation for a sample of sales returns and
allowances recorded during several weeks subsequent to the closing date to
determine the date of the original sale. If auditors discover that the amounts
recorded in the subsequent period are significantly different from unrecorded
returns and allowances at the beginning of the period under audit, they must
consider an adjustment.
16-5 The aged trial balance lists accounts receivable on the basis of the
amount of time passed between the balance sheet date and the date when the
credit sale was recorded, i.e. the age of the outstanding accounts receivable.
The aged trial balance is important in determining the correct balance in
accounts receivable because it is a listing of individual accounts, the total of
which should equal the balance in accounts receivable reported on the general
ledger and balance sheet. These details allow the auditor to conduct additional
tests, if deemed necessary, to confirm account balances.
Possible additional procedures include tracing a sample of individual
receivables to supporting documents such as sales invoices and shipping
documents, to confirm customer names and account balances.
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16-7 A positive confirmation is a communication sent by the auditor requesting
a debtor to confirm the existence and amount owed to the client directly by the
auditor. By communicating directly with the debtor, the auditor receives
independent verification of receivable balances included in the clients’ ledger.
Two modified types of positive confirmation are blank confirmation and
invoice confirmation. In a blank confirmation, rather than asking the debtor to
confirm the amount owed to the client, the confirmation requests the recipient to fill
in the balance owed. As the debtor must enter the amount owed, it provides
additional confirmation of the receivable balance of the client (i.e., it reduces the
risk that the recipient returns the confirmation without checking the balance). A
limitation of a blank confirmation is that they often result in a lower response rate.
An invoice confirmation seeks to confirm the existence and amount of a specific
invoice rather than the aggregate balance owed by the debtor. An invoice
confirmation also, typically results in a higher response rate, as it is relatively
easier to locate and confirm a specific invoice. However, a limitation of an invoice
confirmation is that even if an invoice is confirmed, that does not ensure that the
total receivable balance is accurate.
16-9 The most important factors affecting the sample size in confirmations of
accounts receivable are:
Performance materiality
Inherent risk (relative size of total accounts receivable, number
of accounts, prior year results, and expected misstatements)
Control risk
Achieved detection risk from other substantive tests (extent and
results of substantive tests of transactions, substantive analytical
procedures, and other tests of details)
Type of confirmation (negatives normally require a larger
sample size)
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16-10 Auditing standards indicate oral responses, including responses
received over the telephone, are not considered confirmations, but constitute
other evidence in support of a receivable balance. Email responses are
considered to be valid confirmation responses if the auditor can be confident in
the identity of the confirmation respondent. Auditors can verify mailing addresses
to phone directories, or to information in the client’s accounts receivable
master file if the client has adequate controls over the master file. Email
responses can be verified by third-party intermediaries, or by verifying the
domain of the email address.
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16-13 Negative confirmation is less accurate because the auditor cannot
know for sure whether a non-response occurs because the recipient agrees
with the receivables balance or simply ignored the confirmation request (or it
was lost in the mail). As such, negative confirmation is only appropriate as the
only audit procedure on accounts receivable in four of these circumstances:
16-14 With regard to the sales and collection cycle, the auditor uses
flowcharts, assessing control risk for the accounting cycle, tests of controls, and
tests of details of balances in the determination of the likelihood of a material
misstatement in the accounts affected by the sales and collection cycle. The
flowcharts provide a means for the auditor to document and analyze the
accounting systems as represented by the client. The auditor would then make
an initial assessment of control risk based on the controls which are present in
the accounting cycle as documented in the flowcharts, and would plan the tests
of controls based upon the selection of the significant controls. The auditor
would then perform the tests of the significant controls to determine the
effectiveness ofthe controls and to plan the substantive tests that are necessary
based upon the revised assessment of control risk for this accounting cycle.
Finally, after considering the results of tests of controls and substantive tests
of transactions, the auditor would perform tests of details of balances to
determine whether material misstatements exist in the account balances.
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Discussion Questions and Problems
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16-20 a. Several important factors are worth considering. First, the
expansion in regions and increasing use of accounts receivables
calls into question whether accounts receivables and the related
allowance for doubtful accounts are properly valued (realizable
value). If the client is unfamiliar with their new customer base, the
risk of bad debt might be unusually high, reducing the amount of
receivables that will be collected in the future. Relatedly, new
clients in foreign countries might make purchases in their local
currency. If Teklas does not convert sales into cash, they will have
added currency risk that might not be realizable in the same value
as reported in the financial statement.
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16-21
AUDIT a. b.
OBJECTIVE RISK AUDIT PROCEDURE
Detail tie-in The general ledger is a Foot total the aging schedule
summary of total and the general ledger to ensure
accounts receivables in they match; compare detailed
the individual subsidiary receivables in the aged trial
ledgers and aged trial balance with the master file.
balance. If there were
errors in posting, the
totals would be incorrect
and would not match.
Existence Some accounts Confirmation of existence from
receivables listed on the the client’s customers through
aged trial balance and either positive or negative
included in the general confirmation. Can also verify
ledger total may not truly with future cash collections or
“exist”. against other documents such
as purchase orders, invoices,
and shipping documents.
Completeness While the auditor relies Substantive tests can check
on the financial whether orders fulfilled and
statements prepared by shipped have been properly
the client and their recorded as receivables or
supporting documents, resulted in cash collections.
some transactions or
accounts such as
receivables may be left
off, intentionally or
unintentionally.
Accuracy Receivables could be Confirmation with customers;
recorded at incorrect compare amounts with other
amounts. documentation such as sales
invoices.
Classification Classification risk is that Verify the details of the
some other accounts, receivables to ensure an arms’
e.g. loans or related party length relation exists between
transactions, are the customer and the client.
recorded as accounts
receivables.
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16-21 (continued)
AUDIT a. b.
OBJECTIVE RISK AUDIT PROCEDURE
Cutoff Misstatements of sales Review the client’s cutoff rules
and receivables often and procedures; test transaction,
involve improper cutoff especially those recorded near the
such as recorded sales cutoff to ensure that goods were
and receivables before actually shipped or services
goods are shipped or rendered before the cutoff. Also
services rendered. look for signs of channel stuffing
such as deep discounts or
abnormally high sales or
subsequent returns.
Realizable value Accounts receivable could Review test of controls including
be overstated or allowance how credit is granted; review the
for uncollectible accounts aging schedule to determine if
could be understated to assumptions and calculations are
boost net income and the appropriate.
balance sheet.
Rights The client might not Check minutes of board meetings
continue to have a legal to determine whether
right to the receivable authorization has been given to
because it has given up factor accounts receivable; check
this right through factoring, bank documents to see if
pledging, or a sales receivables have been used as
return/allowance. collateral; check subsequent
events to see if sales have been
returned.
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16-22
a. b.
PROCEDURE TYPE OF TEST BALANCE-RELATED AUDIT OBJECTIVE
1 Test of details Existence and accuracy
2 Test of details Cutoff
3 S T of T Cutoff
Accuracy and existence
(may also include realizable value if cash
4 Test of details receipts examined are for older accounts)
5 S T of T Classification
6 S T of T Rights
7 Test of details Completeness
8 ST of T Existence
9 Test of control Accuracy
10 S T of T Completeness
11 Test of details Detail tie-in
12 S T of T Detail tie-in
13 Test of details Classification
SHIPPING OVERSTATEMENT OR
INVOICE DOCUMENT MISSTATEMENT IN UNDERSTATEMENT OF JUNE
NO. NO. SALES CUTOFF 30 SALES
June sales
6223 5424 none
6226 5425 none
6235 5426 none
6242 5430 504.96 overstatement
6236 5427 none
July sales
6237 5423 7,236.49 understatement
6229 5432 none
6238 5429 none
6216 5428 none
6231 5431 none
Net understatement 6,731.53
Adjusting entry
Accounts receivable 6,731.53
Sales 6,731.53
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16-23 (continued)
Amount of sale
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16-25 a. The two types of confirmations used for confirming accounts
receivable are “positive” and “negative” confirmations. A positive
confirmation is a letter, addressed to the debtor, requesting that the
recipient indicate directly on the letter whether the stated account
balance is correct or incorrect and, if incorrect, by what
amount. A negative confirmation requests a response from the
debtor only when the debtor disagrees with the stated amount.
When deciding which type of confirmation to use, the
auditor should consider the assessed control risk in the sales and
collection cycle, the make-up of the population, cost/benefit
relationship, and any information about the existence of the
accounts. Positive confirmations are more reliable but more
expensive than negative confirmations. Positive confirmations
should be used when the population is comprised of a small
number of large accounts, and when there are suspected
conditions of dispute or inaccuracy. When negative confirmations
are used, the auditor has normally assessed control risk below
maximum and tested the internal controls for effectiveness.
Negative confirmations are often used when accounts receivable
are comprised of a large number of small accounts receivable
from the general public.
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16-25 (continued)
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16-27 a. There are a number of analytical procedures that can be used to
determine whether trade and accounts receivables are likely to be
misstated. Some of these procedures, however, require information
not provided, such as, a break-down of sales by month, detailed
account receivables information, or operating expenses. Based on
the information provided, only a few analytical procedures are
practical. These procedures are explained below, including the
possible misstatement each procedure is designed to detect.
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16-27 (continued)
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16-28 a. Confirmation responses that represent timing differences are due to
such items as payments and shipments in transit. Responses that
represent likely timing differences are:
#2 – represents a likely payment in transit
#5 – represents a likely shipment in transit
Item #3 refers to a payment after year-end. This is not a timing
difference, but an apparent misunderstanding by the customer as to
the required response.
#4 could represent a payment in transit, and #10 could represent a
credit in transit. However, this is unlikely given the date of the
transactions.
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16-29 (continued)
16-30
CONFIRMATION
DECISION POSSIBLE CHOICES
Type of Positive Confirmation (including blank and invoice
confirmation confirmations)
Negative Confirmation
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balance sheet date is a good idea; however this is not
always practical due to the amount of audit procedures that
must be completed near the fiscal year end.
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Integrated Case Application
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Cutoff tests
4. Obtain number of last receiving report issued as part of
physical observation of inventory.
5. Examine subsequent cash disbursements greater than
$50,000 and examine related documentation to
determine if such disbursements were properly recorded
as liabilities as of the balance sheet date. (Note: student
sample sizes or selection criteria will vary.)
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16
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28
16-31 (continued)
d,
e,
and f. See pages 16-32 and 16-33.
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16-30 16
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28
16-31 (continued)
Misstatement in
Difference: Related Accounts
Books
Over Timing Misstatement Other Balance Income
Vendor Balance Amount (Under) Difference: in Accounts Sheet Stmt mis-
Key Accounts Per Confirmed Amount No Payable Misstatement statement Brief
(>$250,000) Books by Vendor Confirmed Misstatement o/s (u/s) o/s (u/s) o/s (u/s) Explanation
FiberChem 793,050 825,550 (32,500) (32,500) (32,500) FOB Origin ( Inventory and A/P)
Total 793,050 825,550 (32,500) -- (32,500) (32,500) --
Accounts in Stratum
$50,001 - $250,000
(37,812 Timing difference – shipment in
Mobil 93,210 131,022 (37,812) ) transit
Unrecorded A/P (Purchases and
Norris 88,315 205,611 (117,296) (117,296) 117,296 A/P)
Remington 123,411 123,411 -- 53,529 (53,529) Pinnacle recorded FOB shipment
before received (Purchases and
A/P)
Advent 51,750 59,250 (7,500) (7,500) (7,500) B/S fixed asset error
Total 356,686 431,137 (162,608) (37,812) (71,267) (7,500) 63,767
Accts in Stratum
less than or equal to
$50000
Timing difference – payment in
Fuller 32,470 39,570 (7,100) (7,100) transit
Total 32,470 39,570 (7,100) (7,100) -- -- --
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Copyrig -
ht © 28
2017
Pearso
n 16-31 (continued)
Educati
on, Ltd.
Estimate of m/s
in the income statement
Misstatements in sample-Stratum
$50,000-$250,000 63,767
Dollars sampled-Stratum
$50,001-$250,000 2,660,879
Dollars in Pop-Stratum
$50,001-$250,000 5,212,467
Income statement m/s -
Point estimate 124,915 (63,767/2,660,879*5,212,467)
Estimate of sampling error 100,000 Highly judgmental
Total Estimate 224,915
Estimate of m/s
in accounts payable
Misstatements in key
items (32,500)
Misstatements in stratum
$50,001-$250,000:
Misstatements in sample (71,267)
Dollars sampled 2,660,879
Dollars in Pop-Stratum
$50,001-$250,000 5,212,467
Point estimate (139,607) (-71,267/2,660,879*5,212,467)
Accounts payable
m/s-Point estimate (171,607)
Estimate of sampling
error (150,000) Highly judgmental
Total Estimate (321,607)
16-32 ACL Problem
a. There are 91 invoices in the file that are still outstanding, totaling
$893,619.03. (Use the Filter command to retain all invoices with
“Outstanding” in the payment_status field and use “Save As to
save the file as Accounts_Receivable. The total number of records
is shown at the bottom of the screen. Use the Total command
under Analyze to determine the total amount outstanding.)
b. When using the Summarize command under Analyze to determine
the amount of accounts receivable outstanding from each
customer, the total amount due is $893,619.03, which equals the
amount determined in part a. There are 90 customers with
balances outstanding, while there are 91 invoices outstanding as
noted in part a. This is due to the fact that there are two invoices
outstanding from Customer Number 0252620. Customer Number
0249158 has the largest balance due of $28,821.31. (Use the
Summarize Command under Analyze and then use Quick Sort to
arrange the Invoice Amount column in descending order.)
c. The largest balance due is $28,821.31 from Customer Number
0249158 and the smallest balance due is $804.55 from Customer
Number 0263849. (Use Quick Sort to arrange the Invoice Amount
column in descending order.)
d. There are 26 invoices that are more than 90 days outstanding,
comprising 27.62% of the total outstanding invoices. The auditor
would use this information to assess the collectibility of accounts
receivable as part of the examination of the realizable value
balance-related audit objective for accounts receivable. (Use the
Age command under Analyze).
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