AUDITING THEORY 01

AUDITING THEORY

Overview of Auditing

Related PSAs : PSA 100, 120, 200 and 610

1.        Certain fundamental beliefs called "postulates" underlie auditing theory.  Which of the following is not a postulate of auditing?

a.    No long-term conflict exists between the auditor and the management of the enterprise under audit.

b.    Economic assertions can be verified.

c.    The auditor acts exclusively as an auditor.

d.    An audit has a benefit only to the owners.

2.        In all cases, audit reports must

a.    Be signed by the individual who performed the audit procedures.

b.    Certify the accuracy of the quantitative information which was audited.

c.    Communicate the auditor’s finding to the general public.

d.    Inform readers of the degree of correspondence between the quantifiable information and the established criteria.

3.    The auditor communicates the results of his or her work through the medium of the

a. Engagement letter           c.  Management letter.

b. Audit report                d.  Financial statements.

4.    As used in auditing, which of the following statements best describes "assertions"?

a. Assertions are the representations of management as to the reliability of the information system.

b. Assertions are the auditor's findings to be communicated in the audit report.

c. Assertions are the representations of management as to the fairness of the financial statements.

d. Assertions are found only in the footnotes to the financial statements.

5.        The expertise that distinguishes auditors from accountants is in the

a.    Ability to interpret generally accepted accounting principles.

b.    Requirement to possess education beyond the Bachelor’s degree.

c.    Accumulation and interpretation of evidence.

d.    Ability to interpret ASC Statements.

6.        The framework for auditing and related services as addressed by PSA excludes

a.    Review                                                         c.   Compilation

b.    Tax services                                                            d.   Agreed upon procedure

7.        It refers to the level of auditor’s satisfaction as to the reliability of an assertion being made by one party for use by another party.

a.    Confidence level                                          c.   Assurance level

b.    Reasonableness level                                  d.   Tolerable level

8.        Indicate the level of assurance provided by audit and related services.

	a	b	c	d
·         Audit	High	High	Negative	Absolute
·         Review	Moderate	None	Moderate	High
·         Agreed-upon procedures	None	None	None	Limited
·         Compilation	None	None	None	None

9.        Which of the following is true of the report based on agreed-upon-procedures?

a.    The report is restricted to those parties who have agreed to the procedures to be performed.

b.    The CPA provides the recipients of the report limited assurance as to reasonableness of the assertion(s) presented in the financial information.

c.    The report states that the auditor has not recognized any basis that requires revision of financial statements.

d.    The report should state that the procedures performed are limited to analytical procedures and inquiry.

10.      Which of the following is an objective of a review engagement?

a.    Expressing a positive opinion that the financial information is presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

b.    Expressing a limited assurance to users who have agreed as to procedures that will be performed by the CPA.

c.    Reporting whether material modifications should be made to such financial statements to make them conform with generally accepted accounting principles.

d.    Reporting that the financial statements, in all materials respects, fairly present the financial position and operating results of the client.

11.      According to Philippine Standard on Auditing, the procedures employed in doing compilation are:

a.    Designed to enable the accountant to express a limited assurance.

b.    Designed to enable the accountant to express a negative assurance.

c.    Not designed to enable the accountant to express any form of assurance.

d.    Less extensive than review procedures but more extensive than agreed-upon procedures.

12.      Any services in which the CPA firm issues a written communication that express a conclusion with respect to the reliability of a written assertion that is the responsibility of another party is a (n)

a.    Accounting and bookkeeping service                                 c.   Attestation service

b.    Management advisory service                                            d.   Tax service

13.      The three types of attestation services are:

a.    Audits, review, and compilations

b.    Audits, compilations, and other attestation services

c.    Reviews, compilations, and other attestation services

d.    Audits, reviews, and other attestation services

14.      Which of the following is not primary category of attestation report?

a.    Compilation report

b.    Review report

c.    Audit report

d.    Special audit report based on a basis of accounting other than generally accepted accounting principles.

15.  The primary goal of the CPA in performing the attest function is to

a. Detect fraud

b. Examine individual transactions so that the auditor may certify as to their validity

c. Determine whether the client's assertions are fairly stated

d. Assure the consistent application of correct accounting procedures

16.      Which of the following criteria is unique to the independent auditor’s attest function?

a.    General competence

b.    Familiarity with the particular industry of each client

c.    Due professional care

d.    Independence

17.  Assurance engagement

a. Is an engagement in which a practitioner is engaged to issue, or does issue, a written communication that expresses a conclusion about the reliability of a written assertion that is the responsibility of another party.

b.    Is a systematic process of objectively obtaining and evaluating evidence regarding assertions about economic actions and events to ascertain the degree of correspondence between those assertions and established criteria and communicating the results to interested users.

c.    Is an engagement in which the auditor provides a moderate level of assurance that the information subject to the engagement is free of material misstatement.

d. Is an engagement intended to enhance the credibility of information about a subject matter by evaluating whether the subject matter conforms in all material respects with suitable criteria, thereby improving the likelihood that the information will meet the needs of an intended user.

18.  The single feature that most clearly distinguishes auditing, attestation, and assurance is

a. Type of service.                     c.   Scope of services.

b. Training required to perform the service       d.   CPA’s approach to the service

19.      Identify the following as financial audit (FA), compliance audit (CA), and operational audit (OA).

·         A supervisor is not carrying out his assigned responsibilities.

·         A company’s tax return does not conform to income tax laws and regulations.

·         A municipality’s financial statements correctly show actual cash receipts and disbursements.

·         A company’s receiving department is inefficient.

a.   CA, CA, FA, OA                                          c.   OA, CA, FA, OA

b.   OA, CA, CA, OA                                        d.    CA, CA, FA, CA

20.      The criteria for evaluating quantitative information vary.  For example, in the audit of historical financial statements by CPA firms, the criteria are usually

a.    Generally accepted auditing standards.

b.    Generally accepted accounting principles.

c.    Regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.

d.    Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

21.      Which of the following types of audit uses as its criteria laws and regulations?

a.   Operational audit                                          c.   Financial statement audit

b.   Compliance audit                                         d.   Financial audit

22.      An operational audit is designed to

a.    Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of management’s operating procedures

b.    Assess the presentation of management’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

c.    Determine whether management has complied with applicable laws and regulations

d.    Determine whether the audit committee of the board of directors is effectively discharging its responsibility to oversee management’s operations

23.      A review of any part of an organization’s procedures and methods for the purpose of evaluating efficiency and effectiveness is classified as a (n)

a.    Audit of financial statements                       c.   Operational audit

b.    Compliance audit                                         d.   Production audit

24.      Which one of the following is more difficult to evaluate objectively?

a.    Efficiency and effectiveness  of operations.

b.    Compliance with government regulations.

c.    Presentation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

d.    All three of the above are equally difficult..

25.      Independent auditing can best be described as a

a.    Branch of accounting

b.    Discipline that attests to the results of accounting and other operations and data

c.    Professional activity that measures and communicates financial and business data

d.    Regulatory function that prevents the issuance of improper financial information

26.      A financial statement audit:

a.    Confirms that financial statement assertion are accurate.

b.    Lends credibility to the financial statements.

c.    Guarantees that financial statements are presented fairly.

d.    Assures that fraud had been detected.

27.      Which of the following best describes the objective of an audit of financial statements?

a.    To express an opinion whether the financial statements are prepared in accordance with prescribed criteria.

b.    To express an assurance as to the future viability of the entity whose financial statements are being audited.

c.    To express an assurance about the management’s efficiency or effectiveness in conducting the operations of entity.

d.    To express an opinion whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respect, in accordance with an identified financial reporting framework.

28.      Because an external auditor is paid a fee by a client company, he or she

a.    Is absolutely independent and may conduct an audit

b.    May be sufficiently independent to conduct an audit

c.    Is never considered to be independent

d.    Must receive approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission before conducting an audit

29.      Which of the following is responsible for an entity’s financial statements?

a.    The entity’s management                            c.   The entity’s audit committee

b.    The entity’s internal auditors                        d.   The entity’s board of directors

30.      The best statement of the responsibility of the auditor with respect to audited financial statement is:

a.    The audit of the financial statements relieves management of its responsibilities

b.    The auditor’s responsibility is confined to his expression of opinion about the audited financial statements.

c.    The responsibility over the financial statements rests with the management and the auditor assumes responsibility with respect to the notes of financial statements.

d.    The auditor is responsible only to his unqualified opinion but not for any other type of opinion.

31.      Which of the following least likely limits the auditors ability to detect material misstatement?

a.    Most audit evidences are conclusive rather than being persuasive.

b.    The inherent limitations of any accounting and internal control system.

c.    Audit is based on testing

d.    Audit procedures that are effective in detecting ordinary misstatements are ineffective in detecting intentional misstatements.

32.      Because an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards is influenced by the possibility of material errors, the auditor should conduct the examination with an attitude of

a.    Professional responsiveness                                   c.   Objective judgment

b.    Conservative advocacy                                           d.   Professional skepticism

33.      Which of the following best describes why an independent auditor reports on financial statements?

a.    Independent auditors are likely to detect fraud

b.    Competing interests may exist between management and the users of the statements

c.    Misstated account balances are generally corrected by an independent audit.

d.    Ineffective internal controls may exist.

34.      An audit can have a significant effect on

a.    Information Risk                                                      c.   Business Risk

b.    The risk-free interest rate                                        d.   All of these

35.      The main way(s) to reduce information risk is to have

a.    The user verify the information

b.    The user share the information risk with management

c.    Audited financial statements provided

d.    All of the above

36.      Which of the following is an appraisal activity established within an entity as a service to the entity?

a.    External  auditing                                                     c.   Financial auditing

b.    Internal auditing                                                        d.   Compliance auditing

37.      The scope and objectives of internal auditing vary widely and depend on the size and structure of the entity and the requirements of its management.  Ordinarily, internal auditing activities include one or more of the following:

	a	b	c	d
·         Review of the accounting and internal control systems	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
·         Examination of financial and operating information	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
·         Review of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of operations	Yes	Yes	No	No
·         Review of compliance with laws, regulations and other external requirements	Yes	No	No	No

38.      To operate effectively, an internal auditor must be independent of

a.    The line functions of the organizations

b.    The entity

c.    The employer-employee relationship which exists for other employees in the organization

d.    All of the above

39.      Internal auditors cannot be independent

a.    Since they do not possess the CPA license.

b.    Because they don’t audit financial statements.

c.    Unless their immediate supervisor is a CPA.

d.    As long as an employer-employee relationship exists.

40.      To provide for the greatest degree of independence in performing internal auditing functions, an internal auditor most likely should report to

a.   Board of Directors.                                                  c.   Corporate Controller.

b.   Vice-President for Finance.                                     d.   Corporate Stockholders.

41.      Which statement is correct regarding the relationship between internal auditing and the external auditor?

a.    Some judgments relating to the audit of the financial statements are those of the internal auditor.

b.    The external audit function's objectives vary according to management's requirements.

c.    Certain aspects of internal auditing may be useful in determining the nature, timing and extent of external audit procedures.

d.    The external auditor is responsible for the audit opinion expressed, however that responsibility may be reduced by any use made of internal auditing.

42.  Which of the following statements is not a distinction between independent auditing and internal auditing?

a. Independent auditors represent third party users external to the auditee entity, whereas internal auditors report directly to management.

b. Although independent auditors strive for both validity and relevance of evidence, internal auditors are concerned almost exclusively with validity.

c. Internal auditors are employees of the auditee, whereas independent auditors are independent contractors.

d. The internal auditor's span of coverage goes beyond financial auditing to encompass operational and performance auditing.

43.  Which of the following is a correct qualification of the Chairman and Two Commissioners of the Commission on Audit?

a. A citizen of the Philippines.

b. At least 40 years of age upon appointment.

c. CPA’s with no less than 5 years of auditing experience or members of Philippine bar who have been engaged in law practice for at least 5 years.

d. Must not have been candidates for any elective position preceding appointment.

44.      The 1986 Constitution provides that the Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on Audit shall be

a.All Certified Public Accountants

b.All lawyers

c.   One or two lawyers and one or two CPAs for a total of three

d.Two lawyers and one CPA

45.      Which of the following is not one of the duties of the Commission on Audit

a.    Define the scope of its audit and examination

b.    Assume fiscal responsibility for the government and its instrumentalities

c.    Keep the general accounts of the government

d.    Promulgate accounting rules and regulations

46.      A governmental audit may extend beyond an examination leading to the expression of an opinion on the fairness of financial presentation to include

Program results          Compliance                 Economy and efficiency

a.            Yes                         Yes                                   No

b.            Yes                         Yes                                   Yes

c.                        No                          Yes                                   Yes

d.            No                          No                                                Yes

47.      An audit designed to determine the extent to which the desired results of an activity established by the legislative or other authorizing body are being achieved is a (an)

a.   Economy audit                                                         c.   Program audit

b.   Efficiency audit                                                        d.   Financial related audit

48.      A government auditor evaluates a disbursement to determine if it is necessary, excessive or extravagant in accordance with existing rules and regulations.  What kind of audit is he conducting?

Compliance audit                    Economy audit

a.            Yes                                          No

b.            No                                           Yes

c.                        Yes                                          Yes

d.            No                                           No