(b) Identify the most appropriate approved share option scheme for Happy Home Ltd. Outline the scheme
requirements and the tax benefits of using it compared to the current unapproved scheme. (6 marks)
1月18日，自营出口销售一批家俱（出口退税率为13%），以离岸价结算的产品销售收入为400000元，开具“出口货物销售统一发票”，并于当日办妥信用证的结汇手续。
(b) Criticise the internal control and internal audit arrangements at Gluck and Goodman as described in the case
scenario. (10 marks)
(b) Distinguish between strategic and operational risks, and explain why the secrecy option would be a source
of strategic risk. (10 marks)
(iii) A statement on the importance of confidentiality in the financing of the early stage working capital needs
and an explanation of how this conflicts with the duty of transparency in matters of corporate
governance. (6 marks)
Professional marks for layout, logical flow and persuasiveness of the statement. (4 marks)
(e) Internal controls are very important in a complex civil engineering project such as the Giant Dam Project.
Required:
Describe the difficulties of maintaining sound internal controls in the Giant Dam Project created by working
through sub-contractors. (4 marks)
(b) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act contains provisions for the attestation (verification) and reporting to shareholders of
internal controls over financial reporting.
Required:
Describe the typical contents of an external report on internal controls. (8 marks)
2 It was the final day of a two-week-long audit of Van Buren Company, a longstanding client of Fillmore Pierce Auditors.
In the afternoon, Anne Hayes, a recently qualified accountant and member of the audit team, was following an audit
trail on some cash payments when she discovered what she described to the audit partner, Zachary Lincoln, as an
‘irregularity’. A large and material cash payment had been recorded with no recipient named. The corresponding
invoice was handwritten on a scrap of paper and the signature was illegible.
Zachary, the audit partner, was under pressure to finish the audit that afternoon. He advised Anne to seek an
explanation from Frank Monroe, the client’s finance director. Zachary told her that Van Buren was a longstanding client
of Fillmore Pierce and he would be surprised if there was anything unethical or illegal about the payment. He said
that he had personally been involved in the Van Buren audit for the last eight years and that it had always been
without incident. He also said that Frank Monroe was an old friend of his from university days and that he was certain
that he wouldn’t approve anything unethical or illegal. Zachary said that Fillmore Pierce had also done some
consultancy for Van Buren so it was a very important client that he didn’t want Anne to upset with unwelcome and
uncomfortable questioning.
When Anne sought an explanation from Mr Monroe, she was told that nobody could remember what the payment
was for but that she had to recognise that ‘real’ audits were sometimes a bit messy and that not all audit trails would
end as she might like them to. He also reminded her that it was the final day and both he and the audit firm were
under time pressure to conclude business and get the audit signed off.
When Anne told Zachary what Frank had said, Zachary agreed not to get the audit signed off without Anne’s support,
but warned her that she should be very certain that the irregularity was worth delaying the signoff for. It was therefore
now Anne’s decision whether to extend the audit or have it signed off by the end of Friday afternoon.
Required:
(a) Explain why ‘auditor independence’ is necessary in auditor-client relationships and describe THREE threats
to auditor independence in the case. (9 marks)
(b) Anne is experiencing some tension due to the conflict between her duties and responsibilities as an employee of
Fillmore Pierce and as a qualified professional accountant.
Required:
(i) Compare and contrast her duties and responsibilities in the two roles of employee and professional
accountant. (6 marks)
(c) Construct the arguments in favour of Professor Leroi’s remark that external reporting requirements on internal
controls were ‘too ambitious’ for small and medium companies. (4 marks)
Required:
(iii) A firm of consultants has offered to undertake a study on behalf of Envico Ltd which will provide perfect
information regarding seminar attendance during the forthcoming year.
Advise the management of Envico Ltd with regard to the maximum amount that they should pay to
consultants for perfect information regarding seminar attendance and comment briefly on the use of
perfect information in such decisions. (5 marks)