4 (a) The purpose of ISA 510 ‘Initial Engagements – Opening Balances’ is to establish standards and provide guidance

regarding opening balances when the financial statements are audited for the first time or when the financial

statements for the prior period were audited by another auditor.

Required:

Explain the auditor’s reporting responsibilities that are specific to initial engagements. (5 marks)

(ii) Can we entertain our clients as a gesture of goodwill or is corporate hospitality ruled out? (3 marks)

Required:

For EACH of the three FAQs, explain the threats to objectivity that may arise and the safeguards that should

be available to manage them to an acceptable level.

NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three questions.

(b) Describe the principal matters that should be included in your firm’s submission to provide internal audit

services to RBG. (10 marks)

(c) Explain the possible impact of RBG outsourcing its internal audit services on the audit of the financial

statements by Grey & Co. (4 marks)

(iii) Can audit teams cross sell services to their clients? (4 marks)

Required:

For EACH of the three FAQs, explain the threats to objectivity that may arise and the safeguards that should

be available to manage them to an acceptable level.

NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three questions.

(b) You are the audit manager of Johnston Co, a private company. The draft consolidated financial statements for

the year ended 31 March 2006 show profit before taxation of $10·5 million (2005 – $9·4 million) and total

assets of $55·2 million (2005 – $50·7 million).

Your firm was appointed auditor of Tiltman Co when Johnston Co acquired all the shares of Tiltman Co in March

2006. Tiltman’s draft financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2006 show profit before taxation of

$0·7 million (2005 – $1·7 million) and total assets of $16·1 million (2005 – $16·6 million). The auditor’s

report on the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2005 was unmodified.

You are currently reviewing two matters that have been left for your attention on the audit working paper files for

the year ended 31 March 2006:

(i) In December 2004 Tiltman installed a new computer system that properly quantified an overvaluation of

inventory amounting to $2·7 million. This is being written off over three years.

(ii) In May 2006, Tiltman’s head office was relocated to Johnston’s premises as part of a restructuring.

Provisions for the resulting redundancies and non-cancellable lease payments amounting to $2·3 million

have been made in the financial statements of Tiltman for the year ended 31 March 2006.

Required:

Identify and comment on the implications of these two matters for your auditor’s reports on the financial

statements of Johnston Co and Tiltman Co for the year ended 31 March 2006. (10 marks)

6 Certain practices have developed that threaten to damage the integrity and objectivity of professional accountants and

the reputation of the accounting profession.

Required:

Explain the following practices and associated ethical risks and discuss whether current ethical guidance is

sufficient:

(a) ‘lowballing’; (5 marks)

3 You are the manager responsible for the audit of Seymour Co. The company offers information, proprietary foods and

medical innovations designed to improve the quality of life. (Proprietary foods are marketed under and protected by

registered names.) The draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2006 show revenue

of $74·4 million (2005 – $69·2 million), profit before taxation of $13·2 million (2005 – $15·8 million) and total

assets of $53·3 million (2005 – $40·5 million).

The following issues arising during the final audit have been noted on a schedule of points for your attention:

(a) In 2001, Seymour had been awarded a 20-year patent on a new drug, Tournose, that was also approved for

food use. The drug had been developed at a cost of $4 million which is being amortised over the life of the

patent. The patent cost $11,600. In September 2006 a competitor announced the successful completion of

preliminary trials on an alternative drug with the same beneficial properties as Tournose. The alternative drug is

expected to be readily available in two years time. (7 marks)

Required:

For each of the above issues:

(i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

(ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Seymour Co for the year ended

30 September 2006.

NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.

5 You are an audit manager in Fox & Steeple, a firm of Chartered Certified Accountants, responsible for allocating staff

to the following three audits of financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2006:

(a) Blythe Co is a new audit client. This private company is a local manufacturer and distributor of sportswear. The

company’s finance director, Peter, sees little value in the audit and put it out to tender last year as a cost-cutting

exercise. In accordance with the requirements of the invitation to tender your firm indicated that there would not

be an interim audit.

(b) Huggins Co, a long-standing client, operates a national supermarket chain. Your firm provided Huggins Co with

corporate financial advice on obtaining a listing on a recognised stock exchange in 2005. Senior management

expects a thorough examination of the company’s computerised systems, and are also seeking assurance that

the annual report will not attract adverse criticism.

(c) Gray Co has been an audit client since 1999 after your firm advised management on a successful buyout. Gray

provides communication services and software solutions. Your firm provides Gray with technical advice on

financial reporting and tax services. Most recently you have been asked to conduct due diligence reviews on

potential acquisitions.

Required:

For these assignments, compare and contrast:

(i) the threats to independence;

(ii) the other professional and practical matters that arise; and

(iii) the implications for allocating staff.

(15 marks)

(b) Seymour offers health-related information services through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Aragon Co. Goodwill of

$1·8 million recognised on the purchase of Aragon in October 2004 is not amortised but included at cost in the

consolidated balance sheet. At 30 September 2006 Seymour’s investment in Aragon is shown at cost,

$4·5 million, in its separate financial statements.

Aragon’s draft financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2006 show a loss before taxation of

$0·6 million (2005 – $0·5 million loss) and total assets of $4·9 million (2005 – $5·7 million). The notes to

Aragon’s financial statements disclose that they have been prepared on a going concern basis that assumes that

Seymour will continue to provide financial support. (7 marks)

Required:

For each of the above issues:

(i) comment on the matters that you should consider; and

(ii) state the audit evidence that you should expect to find,

in undertaking your review of the audit working papers and financial statements of Seymour Co for the year ended

30 September 2006.

NOTE: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three issues.