Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Answer: B
Answer: A
3) _______ is the risk that the financial statements contain a material misstatement due to fraud or error
prior to the audit.
A) Inherent risk
B) Client business risk
C) Acceptable audit risk
D) Risk of material misstatement
Answer: D
Answer: A
5) The auditor uses knowledge gained from the understanding of the client's business and industry to
assess
A) client business risk.
B) control risk.
C) inherent risk.
D) audit risk.
Answer: A
6) There are three main reasons why an auditor should properly plan audit engagements. Discuss each of these
reasons.
Answer: Three reasons why an auditor should properly plan audit engagements are:
• To enable the auditor to obtain sufficient competent evidence for the circumstances. This is essential for
minimizing legal liability and maintaining a good reputation in the business community.
• To help keep audit costs reasonable. Given the competitive auditing environment, keeping costs reasonable
helps the firm obtain and retain clients.
• To avoid misunderstandings with the client. This is important for good client relations.
7) When an auditor sets a low acceptable audit risk, it means that he wants to be more certain that the
financial statements are not materially misstated.
Answer: TRUE
8) As acceptable audit risk is decreased, the likely cost of conducting an audit increases.
Answer: TRUE
9) Assessing acceptable audit risk, client business risk, and risk of material misstatement helps determine
the audit procedures that will be needed.
Answer: TRUE
B)
Engagement objectives Engagement limitations
No No
C)
Engagement objectives Engagement limitations
Yes No
D)
Engagement objectives Engagement limitations
No Yes
Answer: A
2) The auditor is likely to accumulate more evidence when the audit is for a company
A)
Which has large amounts of debt Which is to be sold in the near future
Yes Yes
B)
Which has large amounts of debt Which is to be sold in the near future
No No
C)
Which has large amounts of debt Which is to be sold in the near future
Yes No
D)
Which has large amounts of debt Which is to be sold in the near future
No Yes
Answer: A
3) Initial audit planning involves four matters. Which of the following is not one of these?
A) Develop an overall audit strategy.
B) Request that bank balances be confirmed.
C) Schedule engagement staff and audit specialists.
D) Identify the client's reason for the audit.
Answer: B
4) Smith, CPA, has requested permission to communicate with the predecessor auditor in order to review
certain workpapers for high risk accounts for a new audit client. The new audit client's refusal to allow
this communication to occur would impact Smith's decision concerning
A) the auditor's ability to design audit tests.
B) possible scope exception due to lack of access.
C) the desirability of accepting the prospective engagement.
D) violation of the GAAP rules concerning consistency and comparability of financial information.
Answer: C
5) A successor auditor may perform which of the following for a new audit client?
A)
Speak to local attorneys, banks and other
businesses regarding the company's Speak to the predecessor auditors about
reputation disagreements they had with management
Yes Yes
B)
Speak to local attorneys, banks and other
businesses regarding the company's Speak to the predecessor auditors about
reputation disagreements they had with management
No No
C)
Speak to local attorneys, banks and other
businesses regarding the company's Speak to the predecessor auditors about
reputation disagreements they had with management
Yes No
D)
Speak to local attorneys, banks and other
businesses regarding the company's Speak to the predecessor auditors about
reputation disagreements they had with management
No Yes
Answer: A
Answer: D
C&D can be acceptable but D is better
7) A written understanding detailing what the auditor expects from the client in performing an audit will
normally be expressed in the
A) management letter requested by the auditor.
B) engagement letter.
C) audit Plan.
D) audit Strategy for the client.
Answer: B
8) For public companies, the ________ is responsible for hiring the auditor as required by the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act.
A) client's management
B) client's chief executive officer
C) client's chief financial officer
D) client's audit committee
Answer: D
9) Which of the following statements is true regarding communications between predecessor and
successor auditors?
A) The burden of initiating the communication rests with the predecessor.
B) The predecessor's response can be limited to stating that no information will be provided.
C) The predecessor should communicate with the successor only if the client is public.
D) The predecessor auditor of a public company does not need permission from the client before
communicating with the successor auditor.
Answer: B
10) The purpose of an engagement letter is to
A) document the CPA firm's responsibility to external users of the audited financial statements.
B) document the terms of the engagement.
C) notify the audit staff of an upcoming engagement so that personnel scheduling can be facilitated.
D) emphasize management's responsibility for approving the audit program.
Answer: B
11) The written communication stating the auditor cannot guarantee that all acts of fraud will be
discovered is found in the
A) engagement letter.
B) representation letter.
C) responsibility letter.
D) client letter.
Answer: A
12) Which of the following normally signs the engagement letter for an audit of a private company?
A) management
B) board of directors representative
C) audit committee representative
D) corporate treasurer
Answer: A
13) The two major factors affecting acceptable audit risk are
A) inherent risk and the intended uses of the financial statements.
B) control risk and the intended uses of the financial statements.
C) the likely statement users and their intended uses of the statements.
D) the audit firm and the intended uses of the statements
Answer: C
14) An engagement letter sent to a publicly held audit client usually would not include a(n)
A) reference to the auditor's responsibility for the detection of errors or irregularities.
B) estimation of the time to be spent on the audit work by audit staff and management.
C) statement that management advisory services would be made available upon request.
D) reference to management's responsibility for the financial statements.
Answer: C
Answer: B
16) The purpose of the requirement in having communication between the predecessor and successor
auditors is to
A) allow the predecessor to disclose information which would otherwise be confidential.
B) help the successor auditor to evaluate whether to accept the engagement.
C) help the client by facilitating the change of auditors.
D) ensure the predecessor collects all unpaid fees prior to a change in auditor.
Answer: B
17) The predecessor auditor is required to respond to the request of the successor auditor for
information, but the response can be limited to stating that no information will be provided when
A) the predecessor auditor has poor relations with the successor auditor.
B) the client is dissatisfied with the predecessor's work.
C) there are actual or potential legal problems between the client and the predecessor.
D) the predecessor believes that the client lacks integrity.
Answer: C
18) Which of the following best expresses the understanding of the terms of the engagement that exist
between the client and the CPA firm?
A) Management asserts there are no errors, material or immaterial, in the general ledger.
B) Auditors assert that the primary audit goal is audit efficiency.
C) Auditors assert that their primary responsibility is to plan and perform the audit in order to provide
reasonable assurance as to the detection of material misstatement due to error or fraud.
D) Management asserts that they will provide the auditor with a risk assessment as to material misstatements
due to errors or fraud in the company's financial statements.
Answer: C
Answer: D
20) When developing the overall strategy for the audit, the auditor will
A) decide whether to accept a new client.
B) determine if any audit specialists will be required.
C) identify why the auditor needs an audit.
D) obtain an engagement letter.
Answer: B
Answer: D
Answer: A
Answer: C
24) When may the auditor refer to a specialist in the audit report?
A)
Only if the specialist's report results in a Only if the specialist assisted in the audit of an
modification of the audit opinion account material to the financial statements
Yes Yes
B)
Only if the specialist's report Only if the specialist assisted in the audit of an
results in a modification of the audit opinion account material to the financial statements
No No
C)
Only if the specialist's report Only if the specialist assisted in the audit of an
results in a modification of the audit opinion account material to the financial statements
Yes No
D)
Only if the specialist's report Only if the specialist assisted in the audit of an
results in a modification of the audit opinion account material to the financial statements
No Yes
Answer: C
Answer: B
Answer: B
27) Discuss the factors an auditor should consider before accepting a company as an audit client.
Answer: The auditor should investigate and consider the prospective client's standing in the business
community, financial stability, management's integrity, and relations with its bankers, attorneys, and previous
CPA firm. The auditor should also determine whether he or she possesses the required competence and
independence to do the audit.
28) Discuss the primary purpose of an audit engagement letter. Is an engagement letter required?
Answer: The purpose of an audit engagement letter is to establish a clear understanding between the auditor
and the client regarding the terms of the engagement. An engagement is required for both public and private
company audits.
29) Discuss the essential activities involved in the initial planning of an audit.
Answer: There are four essential activities involved in the initial planning of an audit. These are:
1. Client acceptance or continuation. In the case of a new client, the auditor must determine whether the client
is one with which they wish to be associated with. In the case of a continuing client, an auditor must determine
whether continuing the relationship is appropriate and in the firm's best interest.
2. The auditor should identify why the client wants or needs an audit. The auditor should determine the reason
for the audit as soon as practical. The remainder of the planning activities may be impacted by the client's
reason for requesting the audit.
3. Obtain an understanding with the client about the terms of the engagement. An understanding with the
client should be obtained to avoid misunderstandings. Auditors are required to obtain an understanding with
their clients. This understanding must be written.
4. Develop an overall audit strategy. The strategy should consider the reasons for the audit, including
engagement staffing and any required audit specialists. Setting a strategy helps the auditor determine the
resources required for the engagement.
30) Discuss the required communications between predecessor and successor auditors.
Answer: Auditing standards require a successor auditor to communicate with the predecessor auditor whenever
accepting a client that has been previously audited. The purpose of the communication is to help the successor
auditor evaluate whether to accept the engagement. While the burden of initiating the communication rests on
the successor auditor, the predecessor auditor must respond to the request for information. However, because of
the requirements related to confidentiality, the predecessor must obtain the former client's permission prior to
providing information to the successor.
31) Discuss several reasons why an auditor may not wish to continue a relationship with an existing audit
client.
Answer: There are a number of reasons an auditor may choose not to continue a relationship with an existing
client. Examples include:
1. previous conflicts over the appropriate scope of the audit, the type of opinion to issue, unpaid fees, or other
matters
2. management integrity may be deemed to be insufficient
3. legal action initiated by either the auditor or client related to prior audit services
4. the presence of excessive risk which could result in financial failure of the client or lawsuits against the
audit firm
32) Discuss four of the matters that should be specified in an engagement letter.
Answer: Matters that should be specified in the engagement letter include:
• the objectives of the engagement
• the responsibilities of the auditor and management
• identification of the financial reporting framework used by management
• reference to the expected form and content of the audit report
• the engagement's limitation
• an agreement as to any other services to be provided
• restrictions to be imposed on the auditor's work
• deadlines for completing the audit
• assistance to be provided by the client's personnel in obtaining records and documents and schedules to be
prepared for the auditor
• agreement on fees
• auditor cannot guarantee that all acts of fraud will be discovered
33) Before accepting a new client, most CPA firms investigate the company to determine its acceptability.
However, AICPA confidentiality requirements prohibit CPA firms from contacting certain parties–
namely the company's attorneys and bankers–during this investigation.
Answer: FALSE
34) For prospective clients that have previously been audited by another CPA firm, the predecessor
auditor must initiate the communication with the successor auditor.
Answer: FALSE
35) When a successor auditor contacts a company's previous auditor, the predecessor auditor is required
to respond fully and without limit to the request for information.
Answer: FALSE
36) A predecessor auditor who has been contacted by a successor auditor for information about the client
does not have to obtain permission from the former client before providing any confidential information
to the successor auditor because the confidentiality requirement does not extend to former clients.
Answer: FALSE
37) An auditor must evaluate a specialist's professional qualifications and understand the objectives of
the specialist's work.
Answer: TRUE
38) Because of audit risk, some CPA firms now refuse any new clients in certain high-risk industries.
Answer: TRUE
39) An engagement letter establishes a clear understanding of the terms of the engagement between the
client and the auditor.
Answer: TRUE
40) Because auditors are responsible for having appropriate competence and capabilities to perform an
audit, auditors are not normally permitted to consult with outside specialists during an audit
engagement.
Answer: FALSE
41) If a prospective client has been audited in the past, the successor auditor will typically rely solely on
the representations about the client by the predecessor auditor.
Answer: FALSE
42) A major consideration in audit staffing is the need for continuity from year to year.
Answer: TRUE
43) When a successor auditor requests information from a company's previous auditor, and there are
legal problems or disputes between the client and the predecessor auditor, the predecessor auditor's
response to the new auditor may be limited to stating that no information will be provided.
Answer: TRUE
44) Staff assigned to an audit engagement must be knowledgeable about the client's industry.
Answer: TRUE
Answer: C
2) Most auditors assess the risk of material misstatement as high for related parties and related-party
transactions because
A) of the unique classification of related-party transactions required on the balance sheet.
B) of the lack of independence between the parties.
C) of the unique classification of related-party transactions required on the income statement.
D) it is required by generally accepted accounting principles.
Answer: B
Answer: D
4) The auditor determines that Matthews Company occupies the 3rd floor of an office tower for which it
pays no rent. The most likely explanation is
A) they got lucky the landlord hasn't noticed the lack of payments.
B) the landlord has weak internal controls over billings.
C) a related party transaction in which a major shareholder owns the office tower.
D) Matthews Company is engaging in fraudulent activities.
Answer: C
5) An official record of meetings of the board of directors and stockholders is included in the corporate
A) bylaws.
B) charter.
C) minutes.
D) license.
Answer: C
Answer: A
7) Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding a public company's code of ethics?
A) A code of ethics is required under The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
B) A code of ethics is required only for mid-level managers and below.
C) The SEC requires companies to disclose amendments and waivers to the code of ethics for the CEO, CFO
and principal accounting officer.
D) The PCAOB requires companies to review their code of ethics every five years.
Answer: C
Answer: B
9) Which of the following would most likely not be classified as a related-party transaction?
A) an advance of one week's salary to an employee
B) sales of merchandise between affiliated companies
C) loans or credit sales to the principal owner of the client company
D) exchanges of equipment between two companies owned by the same person
Answer: A
10) Which of the following best describes the corporate minutes of an entity?
A) official record of the meetings of the board of directors and the stockholders
B) unofficial record of the meeting of the board of directors
C) official record of management meeting with investors and creditors of the company
D) unofficial record of the board of directors meetings
Answer: A
Answer: B
Answer: D
Answer: A
14) Define the term "related party" and discuss why an auditor should identify the client's related parties
early in the audit.
Answer: A related party is an affiliated company, principal owner of the client company, or any other party
with which the client deals, where one of the parties can influence the management or operating policies of the
other. Transactions with related parties are important to auditors because accounting standards require that they
be disclosed in the financial statements. Auditors need to be aware of who the client's related parties are early in
the audit to enable the auditor to identify related-party transactions, especially those that have not been
disclosed.
15) What documents do auditors routinely obtain to aid in their understanding of a client's governance
system? Briefly discuss each of these documents.
Answer: Auditors commonly obtain the company's organizational structure, code of ethics, and the minutes of
meetings of the board of directors and shareholders. To gain an understanding of the client's governance system,
the auditor should understand how the board and the audit committee exercise oversight, including
consideration of the company's code of ethics and evaluation of the corporate minutes. Companies frequently
communicate the entity's values and ethical standards through policy statements and codes of conduct. The
corporate minutes are the official record of the meetings of the board of directors and stockholders. They
include summaries of the most important topics discussed and decisions made at the board meetings.
16) What are three factors that have increased the importance of obtaining an understanding of a client's
business and industry? How can an auditor obtain this understanding?
Answer: Factors that have increased the importance of obtaining an understanding of a client's business and
industry include:
• Recent significant declines in economic conditions around the world are likely to significantly increase a
client's business risks. Auditors need to understand the nature of the client's business to understand the impact
of major economic downturns on the client's financial statements and ability to continue as a going concern.
• Information technology connects client companies with major customers and suppliers. As a result, auditors
need greater knowledge about major customers and suppliers and the related risks. That connectivity also
exposes the client to potential cyber risks that the auditor should consider.
• Companies have expanded operations globally, often through joint ventures and strategic alliances.
• Information technology affects internal client processes, improving the quality and timeliness of accounting
information.
• The increased importance of human capital and other intangible assets has increased accounting complexity
and the importance of management judgments and estimates.
• Many clients have invested in complex financial instruments which may have declined in value, require
complex accounting treatments, and often involve unknown counterparties who may create unexpected
financial risks for the client.
Auditors consider these factors using a strategic approach to understand the client's business. The auditor can
obtain a good understanding of the client's business and industry through various means.
17) There are three primary reasons for obtaining a thorough understanding of the client's industry and
external environment. What are these reasons?
Answer: The three reasons are:
• Risks associated with specific industries may affect the auditor's assessment of client business risk and
acceptable audit risk.
• Many risks are typically common to all clients in certain industries. Familiarity with those risks aids the
auditor in determining their relevance to the client when assessing client business risk and risk of material
misstatement.
• Many industries have unique accounting requirements that the auditor must understand to evaluate whether
the client's financial statements are in accordance with accounting standards.
18) Auditors should obtain copies of the client's code of ethics and minutes of the meetings of the board of
directors to aid in their understanding of the company's management and governance structure.
Answer: TRUE
Answer: TRUE
20) Transactions with related parties must be disclosed in the financial statements if they are deemed to
be material.
Answer: TRUE
21) All known related parties must be identified and included in the auditor's permanent files related to
the client.
Answer: TRUE
22) Because of the lack of independence between related parties, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act prohibits all
related party transactions.
Answer: FALSE
Sox prohibits related parties transactions that involve personal loans to any director or executive officer
of a public company.
23) Management's philosophy and operating style influence the risk of material misstatements in the
financial statements.
Answer: TRUE
24) The auditor should read the corporate minutes to obtain authorizations and other information that is
relevant to performing the audit.
Answer: TRUE
25) Material transactions between the client and the client's related parties must be disclosed in the
auditor's report.
Answer: FALSE
26) A tour of the client's facilities can help the auditor assess physical safeguards over assets and
interpret accounting data related to assets such as factory equipment.
Answer: TRUE
27) Operations are approaches followed by the entity to achieve organizational objectives.
Answer: FALSE
Answer: C
Answer: D
3) When performing planning analytical procedures for a client the auditor detected that the gross profit
percentage had declined by 50% from the previous year to the year currently under audit.
The auditor should
A) investigate the possibility the client may have made an error in their cost of goods sold computation.
B) assist management in developing greater cost efficiencies in their product line.
C) prepare a going concern opinion for the client.
D) advise the client to have extensive disclosure to alleviate investor concerns.
Answer: A
Answer: B
5) When using financial ratios, the most important comparisons are to those of previous years for the
company and to industry averages or similar companies for the same year.
Answer: TRUE
6) Auditors perform preliminary analytical procedures to better understand the client's business and to
assess client business risk.
Answer: TRUE
7) In order to be meaningful, a company's ratios should be compared to their prior year's ratios, not
industry benchmarks.
Answer: FALSE
8) Preliminary analytical procedures can help the auditor assess client business risk.
Answer: TRUE
Answer: C
Answer: D
Answer: D
5) Materiality does not depend on the decisions of users who rely on the statements to make the decisions.
Answer: FALSE
Answer: FALSE
Answer: C
Answer: C
3) If an auditor establishes a relatively high level for materiality, then the auditor will
A) accumulate more evidence than if a lower level had been set.
B) accumulate less evidence than if a lower level had been set.
C) accumulate approximately the same evidence as would be the case were materiality lower.
D) accumulate an undetermined amount of evidence.
Answer: B
4) Which of the following is a reason that the auditors may change the preliminary judgment about
materiality?
A) The auditors decide that the preliminary judgment was too large.
B) The auditors decide that the preliminary judgment was too small.
C) Client circumstance may have changed due to qualitative events.
D) all of the above
Answer: D
5) Which of the following is the primary basis used to decide materiality for a profit-oriented entity?
A) net sales
B) net assets
C) net income before tax
D) all of the above
Answer: C
6) Auditing standards ________ that the basis used to determine the preliminary judgment about
materiality be documented in the audit files.
A) permit
B) do not allow
C) require
D) strongly encourage
Answer: C
7) Amounts involving fraud are usually considered ________ important than unintentional errors of
equal dollar amounts.
A) less
B) no less
C) no more
D) more
Answer: D
8) Qualitative factors can affect an auditor's assessment of materiality. Which of the following statements
is true?
I. Misstatements that are otherwise immaterial may be material if they affect earnings trends.
II. Misstatements that are otherwise minor may be material if there are possible consequences arising from
contractual obligations.
A) I only
B) II only
C) I and II
D) neither I nor II
Answer: C
9) The five steps in applying materiality are listed below in random order.
1. Estimate the combined misstatement.
2. Estimate the total misstatement in the segment.
3. Set materiality for the financial statements as a whole.
4. Determine performance materiality.
5. Compare combined estimate with preliminary judgment about materiality.
The first three steps in correct sequence would be
A) 1, 2, 5
B) 3, 4, 2
C) 2, 1, 5
D) 3, 2, 4
Answer: B
Answer: B
11) Certain types of misstatements are likely to be more important than other types to users, even if the
dollar amounts are the same. Which of the following demonstrates this?
A)
Amounts involving frauds are considered more Misstatements that are otherwise immaterial may
important than errors of equal amount. be material if they affect a trend in earnings.
Yes Yes
B)
Amounts involving frauds are considered more Misstatements that are otherwise immaterial may
important than errors of equal amount. be material if they affect a trend in earnings.
No No
C)
Amounts involving frauds are considered more Misstatements that are otherwise immaterial may
important than errors of equal amount. be material if they affect a trend in earnings.
Yes No
D)
Amounts involving frauds are considered more Misstatements that are otherwise immaterial may
important than errors of equal amount. be material if they affect a trend in earnings.
No Yes
Answer: A
Answer: A
13) Lewis Corporation has a few large accounts receivable that total one million dollars, whereas Clark
Corporation has many small accounts receivable that total one million dollars. Misstatement in any one
account is more significant for Lewis corporation because of the concept of
A) materiality.
B) audit risk.
C) reasonable assurance.
D) comparative analysis.
Answer: A
Answer: D
15) Audit standards require the auditor to consider the combined amount of misstatement early in the
audit. This is known as preliminary materiality judgment. List and discuss the three main factors that
affect an auditor's preliminary judgment about materiality.
Answer: The three main factors that affect an auditor's judgment about materiality are:
• Materiality is a relative rather than an absolute concept. A misstatement of a given size might be material
for a small company, whereas the same dollar misstatement could be immaterial for a larger one.
• Benchmarks are needed for evaluating materiality. Because materiality is relative, it is necessary to have
benchmarks for establishing whether misstatements are material. Net income before taxes is normally the most
commonly used benchmark, but other possible benchmarks include current assets, total assets, current
liabilities, and owners' equity.
• Qualitative factors also affect materiality. Certain types of misstatements are likely to be more important to
users than others, even if the dollar amounts are the same, such as misstatements involving frauds.
16) Due to qualitative factors, certain types of misstatements are likely to be more important to users
than others, even if the dollar amounts are the same. Identify two qualitative factors that might
significantly affect an auditor's materiality judgment, and give an example of each.
Answer: Qualitative factors that affect an auditor's materiality judgment include:
• Amounts involving fraud. Amounts involving fraud are usually considered more important than
unintentional errors of equal dollar amounts because fraud reflects on the honesty and reliability of the
management or other personnel involved. For example, an intentional misstatement of inventory would be more
important to users than a clerical error in inventory of the same amount.
• Misstatements affecting contractual obligations. Misstatements that are otherwise minor may be material if
there are possible consequences arising from contractual obligations. For example, if a misstatement causes a
required minimum working capital balance to exceed the minimum, when the correct balance is less than the
minimum, this misstatement likely would be important to users.
• Amounts affecting a trend in earnings. Amounts that are otherwise immaterial may be material if they affect
a trend in earnings. An example is if reported income has increased three percent annually for the past five years
but income for the current year has declined one percent, that change may be material. Similarly, a misstatement
that would cause a loss to be reported as a profit may be of concern.
Answer: TRUE
18) The auditor's preliminary judgment about materiality is the maximum amount by which the auditor
believes the financial statements could be misstated and still not affect the decisions of reasonable users.
Answer: TRUE
19) Preliminary judgments about materiality are often changed during the course of the engagement.
Answer: TRUE
20) Net assets are the most often used base for deciding materiality.
Answer: FALSE
21) The lower the dollar amount of the preliminary judgment, the more audit evidence is required.
Answer: TRUE
22) Amounts involving fraud are not usually considered qualitative factors affecting the preliminary
materiality judgment.
Answer: FALSE
23) CPA firms can establish policy guidelines to help their auditors determine materiality.
Answer: TRUE
Auditing and accounting standards don't establish policy guidelines for materiality but CPA firms can .
24) Statements on Auditing Standards provide detailed, objective guidance on how auditors are to
establish a preliminary materiality level, thus eliminating the need for subjective auditor judgment in this
task.
Answer: FALSE
25) If the preliminary judgment of materiality increases, the amount of audit evidence required will
decrease.
Answer: TRUE
26) Net income before taxes is the normal base used to determine materiality for a not-for-profit
organization.
Answer: FALSE
For profit organizations
Answer: D
Answer: A
3) Which of the following is an incorrect statement regarding the allocation of the preliminary judgment
about materiality to balance sheet accounts?
A) Auditors expect certain accounts to have more misstatements than others.
B) The allocation has virtually no effect on audit costs because the auditor must collect sufficient appropriate
audit evidence.
C) Auditors expect to identify overstatements as well as understatements in the accounts.
D) Relative audit costs affect the allocation.
Answer: B
4) Which of the following statements is true concerning the allocation of preliminary materiality?
A) It is necessary to allocate preliminary materiality to financial statements as a whole rather than by segments.
B) Preliminary materiality should be allocated to income statement accounts only.
C) Preliminary materiality is required by the SEC.
D) The PCAOB term used when preliminary materiality is allocated to segments is tolerable misstatement.
Answer: D
Answer: C
6) Which of the following are major difficulties auditors face when allocating materiality to balance sheet
accounts?
A)
Certain accounts contain Only overstatements Audit costs can
more misstatements than others. need be considered. affect allocation.
Yes No Yes
B)
Certain accounts contain Only overstatements Audit costs can
more misstatements than others. need be considered. affect allocation.
Yes Yes No
C)
Certain accounts contain Only overstatements Audit costs can
more misstatements than others. need be considered. affect allocation.
Yes Yes Yes
D)
Certain accounts contain Only overstatements Audit costs can
more misstatements than others. need be considered. affect allocation.
No Yes No
Answer: A
Answer: C
Answer: B
Answer: A
10) Explain why it is necessary to allocate the preliminary judgment about materiality to individual
accounts (segments) in the financial statements. Also explain why allocating to balance sheet accounts is
more common than allocating to income statement accounts.
Answer: Allocating the preliminary judgment about materiality to individual accounts (segments) is necessary
because evidence is accumulated for accounts (segments) rather than for the financial statements as a whole.
Allocating to accounts (segments) establishes a tolerable misstatement amount for each account, which helps
the auditor decide the appropriate audit evidence to accumulate for each account. Most practitioners allocate
materiality to balance sheet accounts rather than income statement accounts because most income statement
misstatements have an equal effect on the balance sheet due to the nature of double-entry accounting. Because
there are fewer balance sheet accounts than income statement accounts in most audits, and because most audit
procedures focus on balance sheet accounts, materiality should be allocated only to balance sheet accounts.
11) Auditor's allocate the preliminary judgment about materiality to financial statement segments rather
than by financial statements as a whole. What is the term for the auditor's allocation of preliminary
misstatement to account balances? What are three difficulties auditors face when allocating materiality
to balance sheet accounts?
Answer: Performance materiality is the term for the auditor's allocation of the preliminary judgment of
materiality to any given account balance. The three difficulties auditors face when allocating the preliminary
materiality to account balances are:
1. Auditors expect certain accounts to have more misstatement than others.
2. Both overstatements and understatements must be considered.
3. Audit costs can affect the allocation.
12) Most practitioners allocate the preliminary judgment about materiality to both the balance sheet and
income statement accounts.
Answer: FALSE
13) The primary purpose of allocating the preliminary judgment about materiality to financial statement
accounts is to help the auditor decide the appropriate evidence to accumulate.
Answer: TRUE
14) Both overstatements and understatements must be considered when allocating materiality to balance
sheet accounts.
Answer: TRUE
15) If an auditor assigns a tolerable misstatement of $1,000 to accounts payable, he or she would need to
obtain more audit evidence for that account than if $100,000 had been assigned.
Answer: TRUE
16) To maximize audit efficiency, the auditor should allocate less tolerable misstatement to accounts that
can be verified by using low-cost audit procedures, such as analytical procedures, than to accounts that
are more costly to audit.
Answer: TRUE
2) ________ misstatements are those where the auditor can determine the amount of the misstatement in
the account.
A) Potential
B) Likely
C) Known
D) Projected
Answer: C
Answer: A
4) When evaluating the audit findings, the auditor should be satisfied that the
A) amount of known misstatement is documented in the management representation letter.
B) estimate of the total known and likely misstatements is less than a material amount.
C) estimate of the total likely misstatement includes sample error.
D) amount of known misstatement is acknowledged and recorded by the client.
Answer: B
6) The preliminary judgment on materiality is compared to the total estimated misstatement amount to
determine if an account balance is materially misstated.
Answer: TRUE
7) Total estimated misstatements include known misstatements and projected misstatements plus a
sampling error.
Answer: TRUE
8) If the total misstatement of an account is known, a sampling error still needs to be determined.
Answer: FALSE
Answer: FALSE
10) If the auditor approaches the audit of the accounts in s sequential manner, the findings of the audit of
accounts audited earlier can be used to revise the performance materiality established for accounts
audited later.
Answer: TRUE