AC503: Advanced Auditing | Unit 3 Assignment

Assignment:

This assignment will assess the following Course Outcome:

AC503-2: Evaluate business risk and audit measurement.

The Unit 3 Assignment contains two professional simulations which examine the importance of an
auditor’s role in understanding the entity and its environment, communicating audit findings, audit
programs, and audit planning. At the completion of assignment, you should be able to evaluate business
risks and audit measurement.

Chapter 6: Professional Simulation – You will find this assignment at the end of Chapter 6

Assume that you have just been promoted to the position of in-charge accountant on the audit of Lancer
Corporation, which manufactures and wholesalers consumer products. Lancer’s customer base is
represented by about 10% of the customers that represent 65% of sales and a very large number of
smaller retailers that make up the other 35% of the company’s sales. Last year Baker and Co. (Lancer’s
auditors) send positive confirmations to a sample of Lancer’s customers. All of Lancer’s larger customers
responded to the positive confirmations, but many of the smaller customers did not.

As in-charge on the Lancer audit, you have discussed the low response rate from the smaller customers
with the audit manager, Dustin Barker. You have suggested sending negative confirmations to the smaller
customers. The Dustin wants you to research the guidance provided by the U.S. Auditing Standards about
using negative confirmation. Specifically, cut and paste the standard section that explains the significance
of the evidence provided by unreturned negative confirmations.

Dustin would also like you to research the U.S. auditing standards about the factors that influence the
reliability of confirmation. Draft a memo (no title page) that summarizes the factors that influence the
reliability of confirmations as evidence about the existence and occurrence of receivables and sales.

To: Dustin Barker, Manager

Re: Factors that influence the reliability of confirmations

From: CPA Candidate

Chapter 7: Professional Simulation - You will find this assignment at the end of Chapter 7

Early in 20x4 Hawkins & Co., CPAs was approached about bidding on the audit of Big Dog Construction
(BDC). BDC is a construction company that lays sewer and waste treatment pipe, and builds pipelines to
transport oil and natural gas. BDC’s major clients are cities, counties, and energy companies. BDC is
privately owned. “Big Dog” Herman, and his three brothers own 100 percent of the company, which has
grown to the size where sales hit $95 million dollars in the fiscal year 20x3.

The senior partner of Hawkins & Co., is preparing a bid for the 20x4 audit of BDC. He has asked you to
assist him in the process. He is aware of the professional standards require communication with the
predecessor auditor, and he wants you to research the relevant professional standards. Identify the
auditing standards that explain what should be discussed in the inquiry of the predecessor auditor. Do this
by indicating in the space below the appropriate AU section paragraphs that identify what should be
included in an inquiry of the predecessor auditor.

1. AU Section Paragraphs
 AC503: Advanced Auditing | Unit 3 Assignment
Identify the issues that should be discussed as part of the communication between the predecessor
and successor auditors.
Included in Discussion with Predecessor Auditor

1. Information that might bear on the integrity of management.

2. Disagreements with management about accounting principles.
3. The predecessor’s understanding of the reasons for the change in auditors.
4. The extent of procedures performed in the prior year.
5. Communication with the audit committee about fraud or illegal acts.
6. Disagreements with management about auditing matters.
7. The predecessor’s evaluation of internal control.
8. Communication with the audit committee about auditor independence.

During inquiry of the predecessor auditor and other professionals, the senior partner learns that BDC has
just been engaged to construct an oil pipeline across environmentally sensitive land. The client is a major oil
company, and all required permits have apparently been obtained. The partner wants to ensure that the
audit complies with all professional standards on understanding the industry, regulatory, and other external
factors. Draft a memo (no title page) to Mr. Hawkins explaining what should be included in the auditor’s
understanding of industry, regulatory, and other external factors. For each key item, explain why the
understanding is relevant to the audit.

To: Robert Hawkins, Senior Partner

Re: Factors that influence the reliability of confirmations

Once completed, submit your Assignment to the Unit 3 Assignment Dropbox. Assignments are due
Tuesday 11:59 p.m. ET of their assigned unit.
AC503: Assignment 3

Item criteria: Points Points

Possible Earned

• Draft two separate memos that summarizes key elements of the assignment with a 50
minimum of 2 pages for each, which does not include reference page.
• Answers are in complete sentences or contain bullet points that are supported by
multiple examples to illustrate each element of the assignment

Draws insightful conclusions that are thoroughly defended your answers with evidence 30
and examples.

Writing - No errors related to organization, grammar and style, and citations. Title page 20
and reference page are included.

Total Points 100