Which of the following procedures the auditor will least likely perform in order to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence?

SAS No. 70 Audit Evidence—Specific Considerations for Selected Items

Status

Issued by Auditing Standards Committee in Taiwan on 25 September, 2018

Summary

This statement deals with specific considerations by the auditor in obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence, in accordance with SAS No.49 and 53; and other relevant SAS, with respect to certain aspects of inventory, litigation and claims involving the entity, and segment information in an audit of financial statements. The objective of the auditor is to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the:

(a)  Existence and condition of inventory;

(b)  Completeness of litigation and claims involving the entity; and

(c) Presentation and disclosure of segment information in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

If inventory is material to the financial statements, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of inventory by:

(a)  Attendance at physical inventory counting, unless impracticable, to:

1. (i) Evaluate management’s instructions and procedures for recording and controlling the results of the entity’s physical inventory counting;

   (ii) Observe the performance of management’s count procedures;

   (iii) Inspect the inventory; and

         (iv) Perform test counts; and

(b)  Performing audit procedures over the entity’s final inventory records to determine whether they accurately reflect actual inventory count results.

If physical inventory counting is conducted at a date other than the date of the financial statements, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required above, perform audit procedures to obtain audit evidence about whether changes in inventory between the count date and the date of the financial statements are properly recorded.

If the auditor is unable to attend physical inventory counting due to unforeseen circumstances, the auditor shall make or observe some physical counts on an alternative date, and perform audit procedures on intervening transactions.

If attendance at physical inventory counting is impracticable, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of inventory. If it is not possible to do so, the auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report in accordance with SAS No.59.

If inventory under the custody and control of a third party is material to the financial statements, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of that inventory by performing one or both of the following:

(a)  Request confirmation from the third party as to the quantities and condition of inventory held on behalf of the entity.

(b)  Perform inspection or other audit procedures appropriate in the circumstances.

(a) Inquiry of management and, where applicable, others within the entity, including in-house legal counsel;

(b) Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and correspondence between the entity and its external legal counsel; and

(c)   Reviewing legal expense accounts.

If the auditor assesses a risk of material misstatement regarding litigation or claims that have been identified, or when audit procedures performed indicate that other material litigation or claims may exist, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required by other SASs, seek direct communication with the entity’s external legal counsel. The auditor shall do so through a letter of inquiry, prepared by management and sent by the auditor, requesting the entity’s external legal counsel to communicate directly with the auditor.

If:

(a)  management refuses to give the auditor permission to communicate or meet with the entity’s external legal counsel, or the entity’s external legal counsel refuses to respond appropriately to the letter of inquiry, or is prohibited from responding; and

(b) the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing alternative audit procedures,

the auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report in accordance with ISA 705 (Revised).

The auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the presentation and disclosure of segment information in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework by:

(a)  Obtaining an understanding of the methods used by management in determining segment information, and:

1. (i) Evaluating whether such methods are likely to result in disclosure in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework; and

   (ii) Where appropriate, testing the application of such methods; and

(b)  Performing analytical procedures or other audit procedures appropriate in the circumstances.

Effective date

This Statement is effective from 1 November, 2018. Earlier application is permitted.

What should an auditor do if sufficient appropriate evidence is not obtained?

What are the audit procedures for obtaining audit evidence?

How would an auditor normally obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of inventory?

How does an auditor determine when sufficient evidence has been obtained?