Audit 4 Questions

3 September 2022
4.7 (114 reviews)
91 test answers

Unlock all answers in this set

Unlock answers (87)
question
Which of the following is not true regarding audit documentation for a specific audit? a. Audit documentation should be sufficient to enable members of the audit team with supervisory responsibilities to understand the nature, timing, extent, and results of auditing procedures performed. b. Audit documentation should indicate which member(s) of the audit team performed and reviewed the audit work. c. Audit documentation should demonstrate compliance with quality control standards. d. Audit documentation should demonstrate compliance with the standards of fieldwork .
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Quality control standards relate to the conduct of a firm's audit practice as a whole, and compliance with such standards would not be demonstrated by audit documentation for one specific audit engagement.
question
Audit documentation serves mainly to: a. Provide the principal support for the auditor's report. b. Satisfy the auditor's responsibilities concerning the Code of Professional Conduct. c. Monitor the effectiveness of the CPA firm's quality control activities. d. Document the level of independence maintained by the auditor.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Audit documentation serves mainly to provide 1) the principal support for the auditor's report; 2) assistance in the planning, conduct, and supervision of the audit; 3) accountability; and 4) useful information .
question
An auditor ordinarily uses a working trial balance resembling the financial statements without footnotes, but containing columns for: a. Cash flow increases and decreases. b. Audit objectives and assertions. c. Reclassifications and adjustments. d. Reconciliations and tickmarks.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. The working trial balance generally contains a column for adjustments and recla ssifications.
question
Factors affecting the nature and extent of audit documentation include:
answer
1. The risk of material misstatement; 2. The extent to which judgment was required in performing the work and evaluating the results; 3. The nature of the specific auditing procedure; 4. The significance of the evidence obtained; 5. The nature and extent of any problems identified ; and 6. The need to document conclusions that may not be obvious
question
Which of the following documentation is required for an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards? a. A flowchart or an internal control questionnaire that evaluates the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. b. A management representation letter that summarizes the timing and details of the auditor's planned fieldwork. c. An indication in the audit documentation that the accounting records agree or reconcile with the financial statements. d. A list of the procedures performed and the findings obtained.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. The quantity, type, and content of audit documentation vary with the circumstances, but it should be sufficient to show that the accounting records agree or reconcile with the financial statements.
question
Which of the following is not true about the report release date? a. It is defined as the date after which existing documentation must not be deleted, and additions to the documentation file must be documented as such. b. It is often the date on which the report is delivered to the client. c. It is the date on which the auditor grants the client permission to use the report. d. It is used to define the beginning of the retention period .
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The documentation completion date (and not the report release date) is defined as the date after which existing documentation must not be deleted, and additions to the documentation file must be documented as such.
question
Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding sufficient and appropriate documentation? a. Accounting estimates are not considered sufficient and appropriate documentation. b. Sufficient and appropriate documentation should include evidence that the audit working papers have been reviewed. c. If additional evidence is required to document significant findings or issues, the original evidence is not considered sufficient and appropriate and therefore should be deleted from the working papers. d. Audit documentation is the property of the client, and sufficient and appropriate copies should be retained by the auditor for at least five years.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Sufficient and appropriate documentation should include evidence that the audit working papers have been reviewed.
question
Which of the following comparisons would an auditor most likely make in evaluating an entity's costs and expenses? a. The current year's accounts receivable with the prior year's accounts receivable. b. The current year's payroll expense with the prior year's payroll expense. c. The budgeted current year's sales with the prior year's sales. d. The budgeted current year's warranty expense with the current year's contingent liabilities.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The most likely analytical review procedure involving costs and expenses would be to compare the current year's payroll expense (average amount per employee) to the prior year, taking into consideration an average increase in wage rates. This is a very effective technique in auditing payroll expense.
question
The objective of tests of details of transactions performed as substantive tests is to: a. Comply with generally accepted auditing standards. b. Attain assurance about the reliability of the information system relevant to financial reporting. c. Detect material misstatements in the financial statements. d. Evaluate whether management's controls operated effectively.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Substantive tests are concerned with dollar amounts and consist of tests of details of transactions and balances and analytical procedures. The objective of tests of details of transactions performed as substantive tests is to detect material (dollar) misstatements in the financial statements.
question
Which of the following would not be considered an analytical procedure? a. Estimating payroll expense by multiplying the number of employees by the average hourly wage rate and the total hours worked. b. Projecting an error rate by comparing the results of a statistical sample with the actual population characteristics. c. Computing accounts receivable turnover by dividing credit sales by the average net receivables. d. Developing the expected current-year sales based on the sales trend of the prior five years.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Analytical procedures involve comparison of recorded amounts, or ratios developed from recorded amounts, to expectations developed by the auditor. Projecting an error rate from a statistical sample does not involve such a comparison.
question
In determining whether transactions have been recorded, the direction of the audit testing should be from the: a. General ledger balances. b. Adjusted trial balance. c. Original source documents. d. General journal entries.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. To determine whether transactions have been recorded (completeness assertion), the auditor should test from the source documents to the accounting records (general ledger, trial balances, etc.). Choices "a", "b", and "d" are incorrect. Testing from the accounting records to the source documents provides evidence of existence or occurrence, not completeness.
question
Which of the following presumptions is correct about the reliability of audit evidence? a. Information obtained indirectly from outside sources is the most reliable evidential matter. b. To be reliable, audit evidence should be conclusive rather than persuasive. c. Reliability of audit evidence refers to the amount of corroborative evidence obtained. d. An effective internal control structure provides more assurance about the reliability of audit evidence.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Reliability of audit evidence is enhanced by a satisfactory internal control structure.
question
Auditors try to identify predictable relationships when using analytical procedures. Relationships involving transactions from which of the following accounts most likely would yield the highest level of evidence? a. Accounts receivable. b. Interest expense. c. Accounts payable. d. Travel and entertainment expense.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Relationships among income statement accounts tend to be more predictable than balance sheet accounts (accounts receivable, accounts payable) because they represent transactions over a period of time rather than at one point in time. In addition, relationships involving transactions subject to management discretion (travel and entertainment) are less predictable.
question
For audits of financial statements made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the use of analytical procedures is required to some extent: 1. as a substantive test 2. in the final review stage
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Analytical procedures are required to be applied to some extent in planning and in the final review stage. In addition, although not required , analytical procedures may be used as a substantive test when they are more effective or efficient than tests of details.
question
Which of the following types of audit evidence generally is the most reliable? a. Inquiries made of management. b. Confirmation of account information. c. Analytical procedures. d. Review of prior-year audit procedures.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Confirmations are among the most reliable types of evidence, as they constitute external evidence sent directly to the auditor.
question
An auditor compares annual revenues and expenses with similar amounts from the prior year and investigates all changes exceeding 10%. This procedure most likely could indicate that: a. Fourth quarter payroll taxes were properly accrued and recorded , but were not paid until early in the subsequent year. b. Unrealized gains from increases in the value of available-for-sale securities were recorded in the income account for trading securities. c. The annual provision for uncollectible accounts expense was inadequate because of worsening economic conditions. d. Notice of an increase in property tax rates was received by management, but was not recorded until early in the subsequent year.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities should properly be recorded in other comprehensive income. If such gains were erroneously recorded in the income account for trading securities, this might be discovered through comparison of the current year and prior year revenues and expenses (assuming the error occurred only in the current year, and not in the prior year).
question
Which of the following procedures would yield the most reliable evidence? a. A scanning of trial balances. b. An inquiry of client personnel. c. A comparison of beginning and ending retained earnings. d. A recalculation of bad debt expense.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. The auditor's direct personal knowledge (obtained through observation, examination, inspection , or recalculation) is one of the most reliable forms of evidence.
question
Which of the following procedures would be most effective in reducing attestation risk? a. Discussion with responsible individuals. b. Examination of evidence. c. Inquiries of senior management. d. Analytical procedures.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Evidence obtained directly by the accountant (e.g., through physical examination) provides more persuasive evidence than evidence obtained through inquiry, discussion, or analytical procedures, and therefore reduces attestation risk.
question
Which of the following procedures would an auditor most likely perform in auditing the statement of cash flows? a. Reconcile the amounts included in the statement of cash flows to the other financial statements' amounts. b. Vouch a sample of cash receipts and disbursements for the last few days of the current year. c. Reconcile the cutoff bank statement to the proof of cash to verify the accuracy of the year-end cash balance. d. Confirm the amounts included in the statement of cash flows with the entity's financial institution.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. To audit the statement of cash flows , the auditor reconciles the amounts on the statement to amounts on other financial statements.
question
Which of the following most likely would cause an auditor to consider whether a client's financial statements contain material misstatements? a. Management did not disclose to the auditor that it consulted with other accountants about significant accounting matters. b. The chief financial officer will not sign the management representation letter until the last day of the auditor's field work. c. Audit trails of computer-generated transactions exist only for a short time. d. The results of an analytical procedure disclose unexpected differences.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. If the results of an analytical procedure disclose unexpected differences, the auditor should consider that the financial statements may contain a material misstatement.
question
Analytical procedures are most appropriate when testing which of the following types of transactions? a. Payroll and benefit liabilities. b. Acquisitions and disposals of fixed assets. c. Operating expense transactions. d. Long-term debt transactions.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Relationships involving income statement accounts tend to be more predictable than relationships involving only balance sheet accounts because income statement accounts represent transactions over a period of time, whereas balance sheet accounts represent amounts as of a point in time.
question
When applying analytical procedures during an audit, which of the following is the best approach for developing expectations? a. Considering unaudited account balances and ratios to calculate what adjusted balances should be. b. Identifying reasonable explanations for unexpected differences before talking to client management. c. Considering the pattern of several unusual changes without trying to explain what caused them. d. Comparing client data with client-determined expected results to reduce detailed tests of account balances.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Identifying reasonable explanations for unexpected differences before talking to client management helps the auditor in assessing if management's explanation is reasonable. Management's explanation should always be corroborated with other evidence.
question
An auditor suspects that certain client employees are ordering merchandise for themselves over the Internet without recording the purchase or receipt of the merchandise. When vendors' invoices arrive, one of the employees approves the invoices for payment. After the invoices are paid , the employee destroys the invoices and the related vouchers. In gathering evidence regarding the fraud , the auditor most likely would select items for testing from the file of all: a. Cash disbursements. b. Approved vouchers. c. Receiving reports. d. Vendors' invoices.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Since the employee is destroying the invoices and related vouchers, the most obvious documentation remaining would be the file of all cash disbursements. The auditor would select items from this file and then attempt to trace from specific cash disbursements to the related invoices and approved vouchers. Missing documentation might be indicative of fraud .
question
Tracing shipping documents to prenumbered sales invoices provides evidence that: a. No duplicate shipments or billings occurred. b. Shipments to customers were properly invoiced. c. All goods ordered by customers were shipped. d. All prenumbered sales invoices were accounted for.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. By tracing from the shipping documents to the invoices, the auditor confirms that goods that were shipped were properly billed
question
An auditor reviews the reconciliation of payroll tax forms that a client is responsible for filing in order to: a. Verify that payroll taxes are deducted from employees' gross pay. b. Determine whether internal control activities are operating effectively. c. Uncover fictitious employees who are receiving payroll checks. d. Identify potential liabilities for unpaid payroll taxes.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. An auditor reviews the reconciliation of payroll tax forms that a client is responsible for filing in order to identify potential liabilities for unpaid payroll taxes.
question
An auditor discovered that a client's accounts receivable turnover is substantially lower for the current year than for the prior year. This may indicate that: a. Fictitious credit sales have been recorded during the year. b. Employees have stolen inventory just before the year-end. c. The client recently tightened its credit-granting policies. d. An employee has been lapping receivables in both years.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Recording fictitious sales generally has the same impact on revenues and receivables: both would be overstated by the same dollar amount. However, this will cause the accounts receivable turnover ratio to decrease, because the sales figure for the year is generally much larger than the average receivables amount. Since the numerator (sales) is being increased far less proportionately than is the denominator (receivables), overall the ratio will decline. (Try using actual numbers if you want to see how this works: Assume sales of $2,000,000 and average receivables of $300,000. What will happen to the ratio if you increase both of these numbers by $50,000? It will go from 6.7% to 5.9%--a decline.)
question
Which of the following strategies most likely could improve the response rate of the confirmation of accounts receivable? a. Including a list of items or invoices that constitute the account balance. b. Restricting the selection of accounts to be confirmed to those customers with relatively large balances. c. Requesting customers to respond to the confirmation requests directly to the auditor by fax or e-mail. d. Notifying the recipients that second requests will be mailed if they fail to respond in a timely manner.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Some accounting systems facilitate the confirmation of single transactions rather than entire balances. In such cases, inclusion of statements of account showing details of the balances being confirmed makes it easier for the customers to confirm the balances, and therefore may improve the overall response rate.
question
In performing a count of negotiable securities, an auditor records the details of the count on a security count worksheet. What other information is usually included on this worksheet? a. An acknowledgment by a client representative that the securities were returned intact. b. An analysis of realized gains and losses from the sale of securities during the year. c. An evaluation of the client's internal control concerning physical access to the securities. d. A description of the client's procedures that prevent the negotiation of securities by just one person.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. After performing a count of negotiable securities, the auditor would generally obtain an acknowledgment from the client that the securities were returned intact. This helps maintain accountability for the securities, and reduces the likelihood of employee misappropriation (e.g., if a client employee were to steal a security and blame the auditor).
question
In testing plant and equipment balances, an auditor may inspect new additions listed on the analysis of plant and equipment. This procedure is designed to obtain evidence concerning management's assertions of: 1. existence 2. understandability and classification
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Inspection of plant and equipment by the auditor provides evidence concerning the existence of the equipment; if the auditor can see it, it exists. However, physical inspection does not provide any evidence concerning whether the amounts paid for plant and equipment are properly presented, described , and disclosed. Only reviewing drafts of the financial statements will provide evidence regarding understandability and classification.
question
In auditing accounts receivable, the negative form of confirmation request most likely would be used when: a. The total recorded amount of accounts receivable is immaterial to the financial statements taken as a whole. b. Response rates in prior years to properly designed positive confirmation requests were inadequate. c. Recipients are likely to return positive confirmation requests without verifying the accuracy of the information . d. The combined assessed level of inherent risk and control risk relative to accounts receivable is low.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Negative confirmations are most likely to be used when the assessed level of audit risk, including inherent and control risk, is low.
question
An auditor usually tests the reasonableness of dividend income from investments in publicly-held companies by computing the amounts that should have been received by referring to: a. Dividend record books produced by investment advisory services. b. Stock indentures published by corporate transfer agents. c. Stock ledgers maintained by independent registrars. d. Annual audited financial statements issued by the investee companies.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Dividend income from investments is tested by referring to the dividend record books produced by investment advisory services, such as "Moody's Dividend Record." These books state the dividend that was declared and paid by the investee.
question
In determining the effectiveness of an entity's internal controls relating to the occurrence assertion for payroll transactions, an auditor most likely would inquire about and: a. Observe the segregation of duties concerning personnel responsibilities and payroll disbursement. b. Inspect evidence of accounting for prenumbered payroll checks. c. Recompute the payroll deductions for employee fringe benefits. d. Verify the preparation of the monthly payroll account bank reconciliation.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The occurrence assertion as it relates to payroll transactions would correspond to an audit objective to determine that payroll transactions actually occurred (i.e. , that all payroll checks were issued to valid employees for hours actually worked). Segregation of duties between personnel and payroll departments is an important control to ensure that only valid employees receive paychecks.
question
A weakness in internal control over recording retirements of equipment may cause an auditor to: a. Inspect certain items of equipment in the plant and trace those items to the accounting records. b. Review the subsidiary ledger to ascertain whether depreciation was taken on each item of equipment during the year. c. Trace additions to the "other assets" account to search for equipment that is still on hand but no longer being used. d. Select certain items of equipment from the accounting records and locate them in the plant.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Testing to see whether equipment listed in the accounting records is physically present in the plant and still in service is an effective way to test whether unrecorded disposals occurred.
question
Which of the following explanations most likely would satisfy an auditor who questions management about significant debits to the accumulated depreciation accounts? a. The estimated remaining useful lives of plant assets were revised upward. b. Plant assets were retired during the year. c. The prior year's depreciation expense was erroneously understated . d. Overhead allocations were revised at year-end.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. A debit to accumulated depreciation decreases the balance in that account. The retirement of plant assets necessitates the removal (decrease) of accumulated depreciation related to the retired asset by debiting accumulated depreciation .
question
An auditor most likely would inspect loan agreements under which an entity's inventories are pledged to support management's financial statement assertion of completeness with respect to: a. Presentation and disclosure. b. Transactions and events. c. Account balances. d. All of the above.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Inspecting loan agreements under which an entity's inventories are pledged provides evidence regarding completeness with respect to presentation and disclosure, since such information must be disclosed in the financial statements.
question
In confirming with an outside agent, such as a financial institution , that the agent is holding investment securities in the client's name, an auditor most likely gathers evidence in support of management's financial statement assertions of existence and: a. Valuation and allocation. b. Rights and obligations. c. Completeness. d. Understandability and classification.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. A confirmation from an outside agent indicating that securities are being held in the client's name provides evidence with respect to both the existence assertion and the rights and obligations assertion.
question
Which of the following statements is correct concerning the use of negative confirmation requests? a. Unreturned negative confirmation requests rarely provide significant explicit evidence. b. Negative confirmation requests are effective when detection risk is low. c. Unreturned negative confirmation requests indicate that alternative procedures are necessary. d. Negative confirmation requests are effective when understatements of account balances are suspected.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Although returned negative confirmations may provide evidence about the financial statement assertions, unreturned negative confirmation requests do not provide explicit evidence that the intended third parties received the confirmation requests and verified that the information contained in them is correct.
question
When an auditor does not receive replies to positive requests for year-end accounts receivable confirmations, the auditor most likely would: a. Inspect the allowance account to verify whether the accounts were subsequently written off. b. Increase the assessed level of detection risk for the valuation and completeness assertions. c. Ask the client to contact the customers to request that the confirmations be returned . d. Increase the assessed level of inherent risk for the revenue cycle.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. When using positive confirmation requests, the auditor should generally follow up with a second and sometimes third request to those parties from whom replies have not been received . In addition, asking the client to contact its customers may encourage further responses.
question
In confirming a client's accounts receivable in prior years, an auditor found that there were many differences between the recorded account balances and the confirmation replies. These differences, which were not misstatements, required substantial time to resolve. In defining the sampling unit for the current year's audit, the auditor most likely would choose: a. Individual overdue balances. b. Individual invoices. c. Small account balances. d. Large account balances
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The auditor should consider the nature of the information requested when determining the sampling unit for the current year audit. Certain respondents' accounting systems may facilitate the confirmation of single transactions rather than of entire balances.
question
When control risk is assessed as low for assertions related to payroll, substantive tests of payroll balances most likely would be limited to applying analytical procedures and: a. Observing the distribution of paychecks. b. Footing and crossfooting the payroll register. c. Inspecting payroll tax returns. d. Recalculating payroll accruals.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. If the control risk is assessed as low, less substantive testing is necessary. In such an instance, substantive testing would normally be limited to analytical procedures and recalculating year-end accruals.
question
Which of the following questions would an auditor least likely include on an internal control questionnaire concerning the initiation and execution of equipment transactions? a. Are requests for major repairs approved at a higher level than the department initiating the request? b. Are prenumbered purchase orders used for equipment and periodically accounted for? c. Are requests for purchases of equipment reviewed for consideration of soliciting competitive bids? d. Are procedures in place to monitor and properly restrict access to equipment?
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Questions relating to access controls for assets would not normally be a part of a questionnaire related to controls over the initiation and execution of equipment purchases.
question
In auditing accounts receivable the negative form of confirmation request most likely would be used when: a. Recipients are likely to return positive confirmation requests without verifying the accuracy of the information . b. The combined assessed level of inherent and control risk relative to accounts receivable is low. c. A small number of accounts receivable are involved but a relatively large number of errors are expected. d. The auditor performs a dual purpose test that assesses control risk and obtains substantive evidence.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Negative confirmations are used when the combined assessed level of inherent and control risk is low, a large number of small balances is involved, and the auditor has no reason to believe that the recipients of the requests are unlikely to give them consideration.
question
A client maintains perpetual inventory records in both quantities and dollars. If the assessed level of control risk is high , an auditor would probably: a. Increase the extent of tests of controls of the inventory cycle. b. Request the client to schedule the physical inventory count at the end of the year. c. Insist that the client perform physical counts of inventory items several times during the year. d. Apply gross profit tests to ascertain the reasonableness of the physical counts.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The assessment of control risk affects the nature, timing , and extent of substantive audit procedures. If the assessed level of control risk is high, the auditor would generally request that the client schedule the inventory at the end of the year.
question
In auditing long-term bonds payable, an auditor most likely would: a. Perform analytical procedures on the bond premium and discount accounts. b. Examine documentation of assets purchased with bond proceeds for liens. c. Compare interest expense with the bond payable amount for reasonableness. d. Confirm the existence of individual bondholders at year-end.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Comparing interest expense with the bond payable amount for reasonableness provides evidence that all interest expense was included and that the outstanding balance of the bonds payable is reasonable, as well as providing limited evidence concerning the amortization of bond discounts or premiums.
question
In performing tests concerning the granting of stock options, an auditor should: a. Confirm the transaction with the Secretary of State in the state of incorporation . b. Verify the existence of option holders in the entity's payroll records or stock ledgers. c. Determine that sufficient treasury stock is available to cover any new stock issued. d. Trace the authorization for the transaction to a vote of the board of directors.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. In auditing the granting of stock options, the auditor would normally trace the transactions to approval by the board of directors.
question
An auditor analyzes repairs and maintenance accounts primarily to obtain evidence in support of the audit assertion that all: a. Noncapitalizable expenditures for repairs and maintenance have been recorded in the proper period . b. Expenditures for property and equipment have been recorded in the proper period. c. Noncapitalizable expenditures for repairs and maintenance have been properly charged to expense. d. Expenditures for property and equipment have not been charged to expense.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Analysis of repairs and maintenance expense provides assurance with regard to management's assertion that expenditures for property and equipment have been capitalized
question
When an entity uses a trust company as custodian of its marketable securities, the possibility of concealing fraud most likely would be reduced if the: a. Trust company has no direct contact with the entity employees responsible for maintaining investment accounting records . b. Securities are registered in the name of the trust company, rather than the entity itself. c. Interest and dividend checks are mailed directly to an entity employee who is authorized to sell securities. d. Trust company places the securities in a bank safe-deposit vault under the custodian's exclusive control.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. When an entity uses a trust company as custodian of its marketable securities, the possibility of concealing fraud would be reduced if the trust company deals only with the person reconciling the accounts, and not with the employees responsible for maintaining investment records.
question
During an audit of an entity's stockholders' equity accounts, the auditor determines whether there are restrictions on retained earnings resulting from loans, agreements, or state law. This audit procedure most likely is intended to verify management's assertions related to:
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Restrictions on retained earnings are for contractual or legal appropriation of retained earnings. The purpose is to restrict dividends, and such restrictions should be disclosed in the financial statements.
question
On receiving a client's bank cutoff statement, an auditor most likely would trace: a. Prior-year checks listed in the cutoff statement to the year-end outstanding checklist. b. Deposits in transit listed in the cutoff statement to the year-end bank reconciliation. c. Checks dated after year-end listed in the cutoff statement to the year-end outstanding checklist. d. Deposits recorded in the cash receipts journal after year-end to the cutoff statement.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The auditor should obtain bank cutoff statements that include transactions for 10 to 15 days after year-end. The outstanding checks and deposits in transit at year-end on the bank reconciliation should agree with the information in the bank cutoff statement.
question
Which of the following procedures concerning accounts receivable would an auditor most likely perform to obtain audit evidence supporting the effective operation of controls? a. Observing an entity's employee prepare the schedule of past due accounts receivable. b. Sending confirmation requests to an entity's principal customers to verify the existence of accounts receivable. c. Inspecting an entity's analysis of accounts receivable for unusual balances. d. Comparing an entity's uncollectible accounts expense to actual uncollectible accounts receivable.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. In order to obtain audit evidence supporting the effective operation of controls, an auditor must obtain evidence regarding how controls were applied, the consistency with which controls were applied, and by whom or by what means controls were applied. Observing preparation of the schedule of past due accounts receivable provides some of this evidence.
question
In testing controls over cash disbursements, an auditor most likely would determine that the person who signs checks also: a. Reviews the monthly bank reconciliation. b. Returns the checks to accounts payable. c. Is denied access to the supporting documents. d. Is responsible for mailing the checks.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Once signed, the check should be mailed to the payee by the check signer or an employee operating under the supervision of the check signer to prevent defalcations of checks. Generally this occurs in the treasurer's department.
question
For effective internal control, the accounts payable department generally should: a. Stamp, perforate, or otherwise cancel supporting documentation after payment is mailed. b. Ascertain that each requisition is approved as to price, quantity, and quality by an authorized employee. c. Obliterate the quantity ordered on the receiving department copy of the purchase order. d. Establish the agreement of the vendor's invoice with the receiving report and purchase order.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Under an effective system of internal control, the accounts payable clerk should ensure that supporting documents (invoice, receiving report, and purchase order) are in agreement before the voucher is submitted for payment.
question
Which of the following sets of information does an auditor usually confirm on one form? a. Accounts payable and purchase commitments. b. Cash in bank and collateral for loans. c. Inventory on consignment and contingent liabilities. d. Accounts receivable and accrued interest receivable.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The standard AICPA bank confirmation form includes spaces for the bank to confirm both cash balances on deposit at the bank and collateral pledged on loans originating from the bank.
question
Which of the following procedures would an auditor most likely perform in searching for unrecorded liabilities? a. Vouch a sample of accounts payable entries recorded just before year-end to the unmatched receiving report file. b. Compare a sample of purchase orders issued just after year-end with the year-end accounts payable trial balance. c. Vouch a sample of cash disbursements recorded just after year-end to receiving reports and vendor . . Invoices. d. Scan the cash disbursements entries recorded just before year-end for indications of unusual transactions.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. The auditor is able to detect liabilities not recorded at year-end by comparing cash payments made after the balance sheet date to the related receiving reports and vendor invoices; any payments made on transactions dated before year-end reflect a liability that should have been recorded.
question
An auditor traced a sample of purchase orders and the related receiving reports to the purchases journal and the cash disbursements journal. The purpose of this substantive audit procedure most likely was to: a. Identify unusually large purchases that should be investigated further. b. Verify that cash disbursements were for goods actually received. c. Determine that purchases were properly recorded. d. Test whether payments were for goods actually ordered.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. In general , an audit procedure can be restated as the question to be answered. In this case, tracing a sample of purchase orders and related receiving reports to the purchases journal and the cash disbursements journal seeks to answer the question, "Were all purchases properly recorded?" (the completeness assertion).
question
Sound internal control dictates that, immediately upon receiving checks from customers by mail, a responsible employee should: a. Add the checks to the daily cash summary. b. Verify that each check is supported by a prenumbered sales invoice. c. Prepare a duplicate listing of checks received. d. Record the checks in the cash receipts journal.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Upon receipt of cash , a remittance listing should be prepared.
question
To provide assurance that each voucher is submitted and paid only once, an auditor most likely would examine a sample of paid vouchers and determine whether each voucher is: a. Supported by a vendor's invoice. b. Stamped "paid" by the check signer. c. Prenumbered and accounted for. d. Approved for authorized purchases.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. By stamping the voucher "paid," the check signer cancels the voucher so it cannot be resubmitted for payment.
question
In assessing control risk for purchases, an auditor vouches a sample of entries in the voucher register to the supporting documents. Which assertion would this test of controls most likely support? a. Completeness. b. Occurrence. c. Accuracy. d. Rights and obligations.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Vouching to supporting documents tests the occurrence assertion
question
Which of the following tests of controls most likely would help assure an auditor that goods shipped are properly billed? a. Scan the sales journal for sequential and unusual entries. b. Examine shipping documents for matching sales invoices. c. Compare the accounts receivable ledger to daily sales summaries. d. Inspect unused sales invoices for consecutive prenumbering.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Tracing from a sample of shipping documents to matching sales invoices would provide support for the completeness assertion for billing.
question
Which of the following internal controls most likely would assure that all billed sales are correctly posted to the accounts receivable ledger? a. Daily sales summaries are compared to daily postings to the accounts receivable ledger. b. Each sales invoice is supported by a prenumbered shipping document. c. The accounts receivable ledger is reconciled daily to the control account in the general ledger. d. Each shipment on credit is supported by a prenumbered sales invoice.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Comparison of daily sales summaries to daily postings to the accounts receivable ledger would ensure the completeness of the accounts receivable ledger.
question
Under properly designed internal control, the same employee most likely would match vendors' invoices with receiving reports and also: a. Post the detailed accounts payable records. b. Recompute the calculations on vendors' invoices. c. Reconcile the accounts payable ledger. d. Cancel vendors' invoices after payment.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Matching vendor's invoices with receiving reports provides authorization for payment and is generally performed in the accounts payable department. Recalculation of vendor invoices is compatible with this authorization function.
question
An auditor tests an entity's control of obtaining credit approval before shipping goods to customers in support of management's financial statement assertion of: a. Valuation and allocation. b. Completeness. c. Existence. d. Rights and obligations.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. By ensuring that credit approval is obtained before goods are shipped to customers, the auditor is testing management's assertion that accounts receivable are collectible (valuation or allocation).
question
An independent auditor asked a client's internal auditor to assist in preparing a standard financial institution confirmation request for a payroll account that had been closed during the year under audit. After the internal auditor prepared the form , the controller signed it and mailed it to the bank. What was the major flaw in this procedure?
answer
The auditor should control the mailing of independent confirmations.
question
To determine whether internal control relative to the revenue cycle of a wholesaling entity is operating effectively in minimizing the failure to prepare sales invoices, an auditor most likely would select a sample of transactions from the population represented by the: a. Sales order file . b. Customer order file . c. Shipping document file. d. Sales invoice file .
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Shipping documents provide evidence that a sale occurred , and therefore selecting from a population of shipping documents allows the auditor to test whether corresponding invoices exist for each sale.
question
An auditor scans a client's investment records for the period just before and just after the year-end to determine that any transfers between categories of investments have been properly recorded. The primary purpose of this procedure is to obtain evidence about management's financial statement assertions of: a. Rights and obligations, and existence. b. Valuation and accuracy, and rights and obligations. c. Existence, and understandability and classification. d. Understandability and classification, and valuation and accuracy.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Investments may be classified as trading , available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. The classification of each investment into one of these three categories determines how it will be shown on the balance sheet (understandability and classification) and whether it will be valued at market or at amortized cost (valuation and accuracy).
question
Which of the following procedures represents a weakness in internal controls for payroll? a. The payroll clerk distributes signed payroll checks. Undistributed checks are returned to the payroll department. b. The accounting department wires transfers funds to the payroll bank account. The transfer is based on totals from the payroll department summary. c. The payroll department prepares checks using a signature plate. The treasurer supervises the process before payroll checks are distributed. d. The payroll department prepares checks. The chief financial officer signs the payroll checks.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Unclaimed payroll checks should be returned to an independent party for follow up. Returning such checks (assets) to the payroll department (recordkeeping) represents an inadequate segregation of duties.
question
An auditor who uses a transaction cycle approach to assessing control risk most likely would test control activities related to transactions involving the sale of goods to customers with the: a. Collection of receivables. b. Purchase of merchandise inventory. c. Payment of accounts payable. d. Sale of long-term debt.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The revenue cycle includes sales, receivables , and cash receipts, so an auditor using a transaction cycle approach would be likely to test sales and receivables together.
question
Tracing copies of computer-prepared sales invoices to copies of the corresponding computer-prepared shipping documents provides evidence that: a. Shipments to customers were properly billed . b. Entries in the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger were for sales actually shipped. c. Sales billed to customers were actually shipped. d. No duplicate shipments to customers were made.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Tracing from invoices to shipping documents would provide evidence that sales billed to customers were actually shipped. An invoice for which the corresponding shipping documents could not be located might be indicative of fictitious sales (i.e., sales that were recorded but never actually shipped).
question
An auditor's inquiries of management disclosed that the entity recently invested in a series of energy derivatives to hedge against the risks associated with fluctuating oil prices. Under these circumstances, the auditor should: a. Perform analytical procedures to determine if the derivatives are properly valued. b. Examine the contracts for possible risk exposure and the need to recognize losses. c. Confirm the marketability of the derivatives with a commodity specialist. d. Document the derivatives in the auditor's communication with those charged with governance.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Generally accepted accounting principles specify that, in order to qualify for hedge treatment, the entity must demonstrate and disclose a number of transaction features including risk exposure. The auditor would therefore need to examine the contracts to evaluate the character of the hedge and the degree to which losses should be recognized in the determination of income, as well as the character of any disclosures.
question
An auditor usually determines whether dividend income from publicly-held investments is reasonable by computing the amounts that should have been received by referring to: a. Stock ledgers maintained by independent registrars. b. Dividend records on file with the SEC. c. Records produced by investment services. d. Minutes of the in vestee's board of directors.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Investment income from dividends is generally recalculated by comparing recorded income with dividend record books produced by investment advisory services such as "Moody's Dividend Record." These books state the dividend that was declared and paid by the investee.
question
After making inquiries about credit granting policies, an auditor selects a sample of sales transactions and examines evidence of credit approval. This test of controls most likely supports management's financial statement assertion(s) of: 1. Rights and obligations 2. Allocation and Valuation
answer
1. no 2. yes Choice "c" is correct. By ensuring that credit approval is obtained before goods are shipped to customers, the auditor is testing management's assertion that accounts receivable are collectible (allocation and valuation). Ensuring that credit approval is obtained before goods are shipped does not support the rights and obligations assertion.
question
Which of the following strategies most likely could improve the response rate of the confirmations of accounts receivable? a. Restrict the selection of accounts to be confirmed to those customers with large balances. b. Include a list of items or invoices that constitute the customers' account balances. c. Explain to customers that discrepancies will be investigated by an independent third party. d. Ask customers to respond to the confirmation requests directly to the auditor by fax
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The auditor should consider the types of information respondents will be readily able to confirm. For instance, some accounting systems facilitate the confirmation of single transactions rather than entire balances. In such cases, the auditor might consider including a client-prepared statement of account showing details of the customer's account balance being confirmed. By making it easier for customers to determine which items are included in the balance being confirmed , the auditor also makes it more likely that those customers will respond.
question
An auditor's tests of controls for completeness for the revenue cycle usually include determining whether: a. Each receivable is collected subsequent to the year end. b. An invoice is prepared for each shipping document. c. Each invoice is supported by a customer purchase order. d. Each credit memo is properly approved.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. The auditor often traces a sample of shipping documents to sales invoices to test completeness of sales.
question
An auditor is testing the reasonableness of dividend income from investments in publicly-held companies. The auditor most likely would compute the amount that should have been received and recorded by the client by: a. Reading the details of the board of directors' meetings. b. Confirming the details with the in vestee companies' registrars. c. Electronically accessing the details of dividend records on the Internet. d. Examining the details of the client's most recent cutoff bank statement.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Electronically accessing the details of dividend records on the Internet is an efficient means of verifying dividend rates for multiple investments in a short amount of time.
question
In auditing an entity's computerized payroll transactions, an auditor would be least likely to use test data to test controls concerning: a. Overpayment of employees for hours not worked. b. Control and distribution of unclaimed checks. c. Withholding of taxes and Social Security contributions. d. Missing employee identification numbers.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. In auditing an entity's computerized payroll transactions, an auditor would be least likely to use test data to test controls concerning control and distribution of unclaimed checks, since these sorts of controls are typically not automated. Controls surrounding unclaimed checks typically rely on proper segregation of duties, which is best evaluated through the auditor's direct observation.
question
An auditor is determining if internal control relative to the revenue cycle of a wholesaling entity is operating effectively in minimizing the failure to prepare sales invoices. The auditor most likely would select a sample of transactions from the population represented by the: a. Cash receipts file. b. Shipping document file. c. Customer order file . d. Sales invoice file.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Shipping documents provide evidence that a sale occurred, and tracing from shipping documents to sales invoices might identify instances in which a sale occurred but the associated invoice was not prepared (i.e., if no related invoice can be found ).
question
Which of the following procedures would be most appropriate for testing the completeness assertion as it applies to inventory? a. Scanning perpetual inventory, production, and purchasing records. b. Examining paid vendor invoices. c. Tracing inventory items from the tag listing back to the physical inventory quantities. d. Performing cutoff procedures for shipping and receiving.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Performing cutoff procedures provides assurance that goods in transit (shipped or received) are appropriately included or excluded from inventory and this procedure is most appropriate for testing the completeness assertion.
question
To be effective, analytical procedures in the overall review stage of an audit engagement should be performed by: a. The staff accountant who performed the substantive auditing procedures. b. The managing partner who has responsibility for all audit engagements at that practice office. c. A manager or partner who has a comprehensive knowledge of the client's business and industry. d. The CPA firm's quality control manager or partner who has responsibility for the firm's peer review program.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. The manager and partner on a specific job generally bear a great deal of responsibility for the audit and the report. Typically they would perform analytical procedures during the final review stage, to evaluate overall financial statement presentation and to assess the conclusions reached. In order to evaluate the results of the analysis and to perform an effective review , the manager or partner should have a comprehensive knowledge of the client's business and the industry.
question
Analytical procedures used in the overall review stage of an audit generally include: a. Gathering evidence concerning account balances that have not changed from the prior year. b. Retesting control activities that appeared to be ineffective during the assessment of control risk. c. Considering unusual or unexpected account balances that were not previously identified. d. Performing tests of transactions to corroborate management's financial statement assertions.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. The objective of analytical procedures used in the overall review stage of the audit is to assist the auditor in assessing conclusions reached and in the evaluation of the overall financial statement presentation. Analytical procedures applied in the overall review stage are used to consider the adequacy of evidence gathered in response to unusual or unexpected balances identified in planning the audit, and to identify unusual or unexpected balances or relationships that were not previously identified .
question
Analytical procedures performed in the final review stage of an audit generally would include: a. Reassessing the factors that assisted the auditor in deciding on preliminary materiality levels and audit risk. b. Considering the adequacy of the evidence gathered in response to unexpected balances identified in planning. c. Summarizing uncorrected misstatements specifically identified through tests of details of transactions and balances. d. Calculating projected uncorrected misstatements estimated through audit sampling techniques.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Analytical procedures applied during the final review stage should be used to determine whether adequate evidence has been gathered in response to unusual or unexpected balances identified during the audit.
question
An auditor finds several errors in the financial statements that the client prefers not to correct. The auditor determines that the errors are not material in the aggregate. Which of the following actions by the auditor is most appropriate? a. Document the errors in the summary of uncorrected errors, and document the conclusion that the errors do not cause the financial statements to be misstated . b. Document the conclusion that the errors do not cause the financial statements to be misstated , but do not summarize uncorrected errors in the working papers. c. Summarize the uncorrected errors in the working papers, but do not document whether the errors cause the financial statements to be misstated . d. Do not summarize the uncorrected errors in the working papers, and do not document a conclusion about whether the uncorrected errors cause the financial statements to be misstated.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The auditor should document the errors in the summary of uncorrected errors, and document the conclusion that the errors do not cause the financial statements to be misstated .
question
Lore would use which of the following to determine the average days sales in inventory? Numerator Denominator A. 365 avg inventory B.365 inventory turnover C. avg inventory Sales/ 365 D. Sales/365 inventory turnover
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Average number of days sales in inventory is defined as 365 days per year divided by the inventory turnover.
question
In analyzing a company's financial statements, which financial statement would a potential investor primarily use to assess the company's liquidity and financial flexibility? a. Balance sheet. b. Income statement. c. Statement of retained earnings. d. Statement of cash flows.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. Liquidity ratios and coverage ratios focus on balance sheet account balances.
question
Cash $ 300 Accounts receivable, net 1,200 Inventory 500 Prepaid expenses 100 Other assets 400 Total assets $2,500 Curry also had current liabilities of $1 ,000 at December 31 , 20X2, and net credit sales of $7,200 for the year then ended. What is Curry's acid-test ratio at December 31 , 20X2?
answer
The acid-test ratio is calculated by taking the current assets excluding inventory and prepaid expenses and dividing by current liabilities. In this case, cash and accounts receivable ($300 + $1,200 = $1,500) are divided by current liabilities ($1 ,000), resulting in a ratio of $1 ,500/$1 ,000, or 1.5.
question
In a comparison of 20X2 to 20X1 , Neir Co.'s inventory turnover ratio increased substantially although sales and inventory amounts were essentially unchanged. Which of the following statements explains the increased inventory turnover ratio? a. Cost of goods sold decreased . b. Accounts receivable turnover increased. c. Total asset turnover increased . d. Gross profit percentage decreased.
answer
Gross profit percentage decreased. Cost of sales/ Inventory turnover ratio = Average inventory In order for the inventory turnover ratio to increase, either cost of sales must increase or average inventory must decrease. Since the question indicates that inventory is unchanged, cost of sales must have increased. If the cost of sales increased and sales remained constant, the gross profit percentage would decrease.
question
An auditor discovered that a client's accounts receivable turnover is substantially lower for the current year than for the prior year. This may indicate that: a. Obsolete inventory has not yet been reduced to fair market value. b. There was an improper cutoff of sales at the end of the year. c. An unusually large receivable was written off near the end of the year. d. The aging of accounts receivable was improperly performed in both years.
answer
Choice "b" is correct. Accounts receivable turnover is calculated as sales I receivables. A decline in this ratio may indicate that there was an improper cutoff of sales at the end of the year. For example, if sales made at the beginning of the subsequent year were inadvertently recorded in the current year, both sales and receivables would be overstated by the same amount. This would generally result in a larger proportionate effect on receivables (since the receivables balance is smaller than sales for the year), and an overall decrease in the ratio.
question
Which of the following ratios would an engagement partner most likely consider in the overall review stage of an audit? a. Total liabilities/net sales. b. Accounts receivable/inventory. c. Cost of goods sold/average inventory. d. Current assets/quick assets.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Inventory turnover is a measure of how quickly inventory is sold, which can be used as an indicator of enterprise performance. In general, the higher the turnover, the better the entity's performance.
question
The audit documentation that makes up the current file most likely would include a copy of the: a. Bank reconciliation . b. Pension plan contract. c. Articles of incorporation. d. Flowchart of the internal control.
answer
Choice "a" is correct. The audit documentation that makes up the current file most likely would include a copy of the bank reconciliation.
question
The third standard of fieldwork states that the auditor must obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing audit procedures to afford a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the financial statements under audit. The appropriate audit evidence required by this standard may be obtained, in part, through: a. Flowcharting the internal control structure. b. Proper planning of the audit engagement. c. Analytical procedures. d. Audit documentation .
answer
Choice "c" is correct. Analytical procedures are substantive tests that provide audit evidence used to assess the reasonableness of account balances.
question
In testing the existence assertion for an asset, an auditor ordinarily works from the: a. Financial statements to the potentially unrecorded items. b. Potentially unrecorded items to the financial statements. c. Accounting records to the supporting evidence. d. Supporting evidence to the accounting records.
answer
Choice "c" is correct. In testing the existence assertion for an asset, an auditor ordinarily works from the accounting records to the supporting evidence.
question
Auditors try to identify predictable relationships when using analytical procedures. Relationships involving transactions from which of the following accounts most likely would yield the highest level of evidence? a. Accounts payable. b. Advertising expense. c. Accounts receivable. d. Payroll expense.
answer
Choice "d" is correct. Auditors try to identify predictable relationships when using analytical review procedures. Payroll expense is predictable because it is based on objective information (number of employees and pay rates). It can generally be computed directly by the auditor.