Standards on Auditing

CHAPTER I AUDITING STANDARDS IN INDIA: As the trade and commerce grew extensively globally, the involvement of public money therein also increased manifolds. This in turn created a demand from the investors to have the accounts of the business ventures examined by a person independent of the owners and management of the business to ensure that they were correct and reliable. Such a demand laid down the foundation for the profession of auditing. The extent of reliance placed by the public on the auditors has increased so much with time that it is, unreasonably of course, felt by the public that nothing can go wrong with an organization which has been audited. Though the fact that an audit has been carried out is not a guarantee as to the future viability of an enterprise, it is extremely important that the auditors carry out their assignments with utmost professional care and sincerity, to uphold the faith posed by the public in them. International Response to Auditing Needs as a response to the above needs, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) was established in 1977 with the objective of strengthen worldwide accountancy profession in the public interest by developing high quality international standards and supporting their adoption and use; facilitating collaboration and cooperation among its member bodies; collaborating and cooperating with other international organizations; and serving as the international spokesperson for the accountancy profession. The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), earlier known as the International Auditing Practices Committee, of the IFAC was established to serve the public interest by setting high-quality Auditing and Assurance Standards and by facilitating the convergence of international and national standards, thereby enhancing the quality and uniformity of practice throughout the world and strengthening public confidence in the global auditing and assurance profession. India’s Response to Auditing Needs “The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India” was set up in 1949 to regulate the profession of chartered accountancy in India. It is committed to the goal of enabling the accountancy profession in India to provide services of high quality in the public interest and which are accepted worldwide. To further this goal, the ICAI develops and promulgates technical Standards and other professional literature. Since its establishment, the Institute has taken numerous steps to ensure that its members discharge their duties with due professional care, competence and sincerity. One of the steps is the establishment of the Auditing and Assurance Standard Board (AASB), earlier known as Auditing Practices Committee, in September, 1982. The main 1

objective of the Board is to review the existing and emerging auditing practices worldwide and to formulate Engagement Standards, Standards on Quality Control, General Clarifications, Statements on Auditing and Guidance Note so that these may be issued under the authority of the Council of the Institute.

Engagement Standards: The following Standards are collectively known as the Engagement Standards. Standards on Auditing (SAs), to be applied in the audit of historical financial information. 

Standards on Review Engagements (SREs), to be applied in the review of historical



financial information. Standards on Assurance Engagements (SAEs), to be applied in assurance



engagements, dealing with subject matters other than historical financial information. Standards on Related Services (SRSs), to be applied to engagements involving application of agreed-upon procedures to information, compilation engagements, and other related services engagements, as may be specified by the ICAI. Standards on Quality Control 2 Standard on Quality Control (SQC) 1 establishes standards and provides guidance regarding a firm’s responsibilities for its system of quality control for audits and reviews of historical financial information, and for other assurance and related services engagements. Standard on Quality Control is applicable for all types of engagement, i.e. audit, review, assurance engagements and other related services engagements.

Rationale of Engagement and Quality Control Standards: In the simplest terms, Auditing Standards represent a codification of the best practices in the field of auditing. Auditing Standards are the performance benchmarks for the auditors. Auditing standards contain guidance for the professionals on how they should carry out their professional engagements, enshrined as the basic principles and essential procedures to apply those basic principles that relates to judgment or behavior. Auditing Standards are framed to ensure probity, integrity and quality in the professionals’ work, essential for ensuring the confidence of the society in the financial information being reported by the business enterprises.

2

CHAPTER II Working procedure of Auditing and Assurance Standards Board: The working procedure of Auditing and Assurance Standards Board, in formulating the Standards, is as follows: 1. The engagement standards would be applicable for all the engagements performed on or after 1st April, 2008. 2. The SQC 1 would be applicable for all engagements relating to accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2008 but to keep the same recommendatory for one year and make it mandatory for all engagements relating to accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2009. 3. Reference may be made to the Revised Preface to the Standards on Quality control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Service for detailed working procedure of Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. a. The Auditing and Assurance Standards Board identifies project proposal on the basis of international and national developments, input from members of the Council of the ICAI, AASB members, members of other committees of the ICAI and/or recommendations received from other interested parties, such as regulators or professional accountants and determine their priority. b. In the preparation of the Standard/General Clarification/Statement, the Board is normally, assisted by the study groups and AASB appoint one of the professional accountant as convener and the convener in consultation with the Chairman, AASB nominate other members of the Study Group. c. The Preliminary Draft given by the Study Group along with issue papers is sent to the Chairman, AASB for approval and approved draft is hosted on the website of the AASB. d. The AASB, at its

meeting,

considers

the

Preliminary

Draft

of

Standard/General Clarification/Statement prepared by Study Group. e. The draft of the proposed Standard/General Clarification/Statement, as modified in the light of the deliberation of the Board, is issued as an Exposure Draft in the Institute’s Journal and also hosted on the website of the ICAI, for public comments. f. The comments and suggestions received within the exposure period are considered by the AASB and the AASB’s deliberations on the significant issues raised in the comments letters received together with the AASB’s 3

decision thereon are recorded in the minutes of the relevant AASB meeting and also hosted on the website of the AASB. g. Such part of the AASB meetings where at the Exposure Draft of proposed Standard/Statement and the comments thereon are to be discussed is open for public and the members of the public, at their own expenditure, can attend the said part of the meeting(s) but do not have the right to participate in the discussions at the meeting. h. After taking into consideration, the comments received, the draft of the proposed Standard is finalized by the Board and submitted to the Council of the Institute. i. The Council considers the final draft of the proposed Auditing Standard and, if necessary, modifies the same in consultation with the Board. The Standard is then issued under the authority of the Council of the Institute.

4

CHAPTER III Harmonisation with International Engagement and Quality Control Standards: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a founder member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). It is one of the membership obligations of the Institute to actively propagate the pronouncements of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) of the IFAC to contribute towards global harmonisation and acceptance of the Standards issued by the IAASB. Accordingly, while formulating Engagement and Quality Control Standards, the AASB takes into consideration the corresponding Standards, if any, issued by the IAASB. In addition, the AASB also takes into consideration the applicable laws, customs, usages and business environment prevailing in India within the parameters of the July 2006 Policy Paper, A Guide for National Standard Setters that Adopt IAASB’s International Standards but Find it Necessary to Make Limited Modifications, issued by the IAASB. The AASB has also decided to re-categorise and renumber the existing Auditing and Assurance Standards on the lines as followed by the IAASB, which shall be effective form 1st April, 2008. The details of re-categorisation and renumbering pattern of the Standards is given as Annexure-I. Further, for the implementation of this approach, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India issued the revised: 

Preface to the Standards on Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and



Related Services. Framework for Assurance Engagements.

The Council of the ICAI, in the light of the revised Preface, has also revised the Due Process of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board. IAASB’s Clarity Project: The IAASB embarked upon its Clarity Project, which was aimed at improving the understanding of the International Standards. As a part of its Clarity Project, an International Standard on Auditing is now presented in a new format. As per the new format, the Standard is divided into two sections, one the Requirements part containing the fundamental principles of the Standard and second, the Application Guidance and Appendices, detailing the implementation aspects of the principles. The IAASB is also revising and/or redrafting all its existing International Standards on Auditing in line with the said presentation. Till date, the

5

IAASB of the IFAC has issued thirty-nine Engagement Standards, comprising one Standard on Quality control (ISQC), thirty two International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), two International Standards on Review Engagements (ISREs), two International Standards on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs) and two International Standards on Related Services (ISRSs). ICAI’s Response to IAASB’s Standards and Clarity Project: The AASB has also decided to adopt the IAASB’s approach for writing Standards in future as per the clarity format. The ICAI has issued a number of Engagement Standards, a mother Standard on Quality Control (SQC), and four Standards on Auditing (SAs) issued pursuant to the Clarity Project, one Standard on Review Engagements (ISREs), one Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAEs) and two Standards on Related Services (ISRSs). The Comparative position of International Standards on Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services, issued by IFAC vis-a-vis Auditing and Assurance Standards (AASs)/Standards on Auditing (SAs) issued by ICAI is given as Annexure II and the Reconciliation of the International Standards on Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services, issued by the International Federation of Accountants with the Auditing and Assurance Standards, issued by ICAI is given as Annexure III. Accordingly, the AASB has issued the Exposure Draft of the following Standards on Auditing (SAs) in the clarity format: 1. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 500, “Considering the Relevance and Reliability of Audit Evidence”. 2. Standard on Auditing (SA) 265,” Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control”. 3. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 600, Special Considerations ― Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors). 4. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 530, Audit Sampling. 5. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 250, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements. 6. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 570, Going Concern. 7. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 580, Written Representations. 8. Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 260, Communication with Those Charged with Governance has been finalised by the Board for placing the same before the Council of the Institute. Other ED’s under Finalisation:

6

1. Proposed Exposure Draft of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 540, “Auditing Accounting Estimates, Including Fair Value Accounting Estimates, and Related Disclosures”. 2. Proposed Exposure Draft of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 550,”Related Parties”. 3. Proposed Exposure Draft of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 402,”Audit Considerations Relating to an Entity Using a Third Party Service Organization”. Compliance with Engagement and Quality Control Standards: While discharging their attest functions, it is the duty of the members of the Institute to ensure that the Standards/Statements/General Clarifications are followed in the engagements undertaken by them, otherwise, he would be held guilty of the professional misconduct under Clause 5 &7 of Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, and if for any reason, he is unable to perform an engagement procedure in accordance with any Standard/Statement/General Clarification then he is required to document the alternative procedures performed and, unless otherwise clear, the reasons for the departure from the original engagement procedures. Further, Clause 9 of Part I of the Second Schedule to the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 holds a member guilty of professional misconduct if he fails to invite attention to material departure from the generally accepted procedures of audit applicable to the circumstances.

SA 200 OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR AND THE CONDUCT OF AN AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS ON AUDITING: EFFECTIVE DATE: This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010. INTRODUCTION: This Standard on Auditing (SA) establishes the independent auditor’s overall responsibilities when conducting an audit of financial statements in accordance with SAs. Specifically, it sets out the overall objectives of the independent auditor, and explains the nature and scope of an audit designed to enable the independent auditor to meet those objectives. It also explains the scope, authority and structure of the SAs, and includes requirements establishing the general 7

responsibilities of the independent auditor applicable in all audits, including the obligation to comply with the SAs. The independent auditor is referred to as “the auditor” hereafter. SAs are written in the context of an audit of financial statements by an auditor. They are to be adapted as necessary in the circumstances when applied to audits of other historical financial information. OBJECTIVES OF THE AUDITOR : In conducting an audit of financial statements, the overall objectives of the auditor are: (a) To obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, thereby enabling the auditor to express an opinion on whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework; and (b) To report on the financial statements, and communicate as required by the SAs, in Accordance with the auditor’s findings. In all cases when reasonable assurance cannot be obtained and a qualified opinion in the auditor’s report is insufficient in the circumstances for purposes of reporting to the intended users of the financial statements, the SAs require that the auditor disclaim an opinion or withdraw from the engagement, where withdrawal is legally permitted. SCOPE of SA200: 1. This Standard on Auditing (SA) establishes the independent auditor’s overall responsibilities when conducting an audit of financial statements in accordance with SAs. Specifically, it sets out the overall objectives of the independent auditor, and explains the nature and scope of an audit designed to enable the independent auditor to meet those objectives. It also explains the scope, authority and structure of the SAs, and includes requirements establishing the general responsibilities of the independent auditor applicable in all audits, including the obligation to comply with the SAs. The independent auditor is referred to as “the auditor” hereafter. 2. SAs are written in the context of an audit of financial statements by an auditor. They are to be adapted as necessary in the circumstances when applied to audits of other historical financial information. The purpose of an audit is to enhance the degree of confidence of 8

intended users in the financial statements. This is achieved by the expression of an opinion by the auditor on whether the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an applicable financial reporting framework. In the case of most general purpose frameworks, that opinion is on whether the financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, or give a true and fair view in accordance with the framework. An audit conducted in accordance with SAs and relevant ethical requirements enables the auditor to form that opinion. 4. The financial statements subject to audit are those of the entity, prepared and presented by management of the entity with oversight from those charged with governance. SAs do not impose responsibilities on management or those charged with governance and do not override laws and regulations that govern their responsibilities. However, an audit in accordance with SAs is conducted on the premise that management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance have responsibilities that are fundamental to the conduct of the audit. The audit of the financial statements does not relieve management or those charged with governance of those responsibilities. 5. As the basis for the auditor’s opinion, SAs require the auditor to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance. It is obtained when the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk (i.e., the risk that the audit or expresses an inappropriate opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated) to an acceptably low level. However, reasonable assurance is not an absolute level of assurance, because there are inherent limitations of an audit which result in most of the audit evidence on which the auditor draws conclusions and bases the auditor’s opinion being persuasive rather than conclusive. 6. The concept of materiality is applied by the auditor both in planning and forming the audit, and in evaluating the effect of identified misstatements on the audit and of uncorrected misstatements, if any, on the financial statements1. In general, misstatements, including omissions, are considered to be material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. Judgments about materiality are made in the light of surrounding circumstances, and are affected by the auditor’s perception of the financial information needs of users of the financial statements, and by the size or nature of a misstatement, or a 9

combination of both. The auditor’s opinion deals with the financial statements as a whole and therefore the auditor is not responsible for the detection of is statements that are not material to the financial statements as a whole. 7. The SAs contain objectives, requirements and application and other explanatory material that are designed to support the auditor in obtaining reasonable assurance. The SAs require that the auditor exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the planning and performance of the audit and, among other things:  Identify and assess risks of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, based on an understanding of the entity and its environment, including the entity’s internal control.  Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about whether material is statements exist, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to the assessed risks.  Form an opinion on the financial statements based on conclusions drawn from the audit evidence obtained. 8. The form of opinion expressed by the auditor will depend upon the applicable financial reporting framework and any applicable laws or regulations.

9. The auditor may also have certain other communication and reporting responsibilities to users, management, those charged with governance, or parties outside the entity, in relation to matters arising from the audit. These may be established by the SAs or by applicable laws or regulations. DEFINATION & MEANING of SA200: (a) Applicable financial reporting framework – The financial reporting framework adopted by management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance in the preparation and presentation of the financial statements that is acceptable in view of the nature of the entity and the objective of the financial statements, or that is required by law or regulation. The term “fair presentation framework” is used to refer to a financial reporting framework that requires compliance with the requirements of the framework and:

10

(i) Acknowledges explicitly or implicitly that, to achieve fair presentation of the financial statements, it may be necessary for management to provide disclosures beyond those specifically required by the framework; or (ii) Acknowledges explicitly that it may be necessary for management to depart from a requirement of the framework to achieve fair presentation of the financial statements. Such departures are expected to be necessary only in extremely rare circumstances. The term “compliance framework” is used to refer to a financial reporting framework that requires compliance with the requirements of the framework, but does not contain the acknowledgements in (i) or (ii) above. (b) Audit evidence – Information used by the auditor in arriving at the conclusions on which the auditor’s opinion is based. Audit evidence includes both information contained in the accounting records underlying the financial statements and other information. For purposes of the SAs: (i) Sufficiency of audit evidence is the measure of the quantity of audit evidence. The quantity of the audit evidence needed is affected by the auditor’s assessment of the risks of material misstatement and also by the quality of such audit evidence. (ii) Appropriateness of audit evidence is the measure of the quality of audit evidence; that is, its relevance and its reliability in providing support for the conclusions on which the auditor’s opinion is based. (c) Audit risk – The risk that the auditor expresses an inappropriate audit opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated. Audit risk is a function of the risks of material misstatement and detection risk. (d) Auditor – “Auditor” is used to refer to the person or persons conducting the audit, usually the engagement partner or other members of the engagement team, or, as applicable, the firm. Where an SA expressly intends that a requirement or responsibility be fulfilled by the engagement partner, the term “engagement partner” rather than “auditor” is used. “Engagement partner” and “firm” are to be read as referring to their public sector equivalents where relevant.

11

(e) Detection risk – The risk that the procedures performed by the auditor to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level will not detect a misstatement that exists and that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other misstatements. (f) Financial statements – A structured representation of historical financial information, including related notes, intended to communicate an entity’s economic resources or obligations at a point in time or the changes therein for a period of time in accordance with a financial reporting framework. The related notes ordinarily comprise a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information. The term “financial statements” ordinarily refers to a complete set of financial statements as determined by the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework, but can also refer to a single financial statement. (g) Historical financial information – Information expressed in financial terms in relation to a particular entity, derived primarily from that entity’s accounting system, about economic events occurring in past time periods or about economic conditions or circumstances at points in time in the past. (h) Management – The person(s) with executive responsibility for the conduct of the entity’s operations. For some entities in some jurisdictions, management includes some or all of those charged with governance, for example, executive members of a governance board, or an owner-manager. (i) Misstatement – A difference between the amount, classification, presentation, or disclosure of a reported financial statement item and the amount, classification, presentation, or disclosure that is required for the item to be in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. Misstatements can arise from error or fraud. When the auditor expresses an opinion on whether the financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, or give a true and fair view, misstatements also include those adjustments of amounts, classifications, presentation, or disclosures that, in the auditor’s judgment, are necessary for the financial statements to be presented fairly, in all material respects, or to give a true and fair view. (j) Premise, relating to the responsibilities of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, on which an audit is conducted – That management and, where

12

appropriate, those charged with governance have the following responsibilities that are fundamental to the conduct of an audit in accordance with SAs. That is, REQUIREMENTS: Ethical Requirements Relating to an Audit of Financial Statements The auditor shall comply with relevant ethical requirements, including those pertaining to independence, relating to financial statement audit engagements. Professional Skepticism The auditor shall plan and perform an audit with professional skepticism recognising that circumstances may exist that cause the financial statements to be materially misstated. Professional Judgment The auditor shall exercise professional judgment in planning and performing an audit of financial statements. Sufficient Appropriate Audit Evidence and Audit Risk To obtain reasonable assurance, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level and thereby enable the auditor to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion. Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with SAs Complying with SAs Relevant to the Audit The auditor shall comply with all SAs relevant to the audit. An SA is relevant to the audit when the SA is in effect and the circumstances addressed by the SA exist. The auditor shall have an understanding of the entire text of an SA, including its application and other explanatory material, to understand its objectives and to apply its requirements properly. The auditor shall not represent compliance with SAs in the auditor’s report unless the auditor has complied with the requirements of this SA and all other SAs relevant to the audit. To achieve the overall objectives of the auditor, the auditor shall use the objectives stated in relevant SAs in planning and performing the audit, having regard to the interrelationships among the SAs.

13

(a) Determine whether any audit procedures in addition to those required by the SAs are necessary in pursuance of the objectives stated in the SAs; (b) Evaluate whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained. Complying with Relevant Requirements The auditor shall comply with each requirement of an SA unless, in the circumstances of the audit: (a) The entire SA is not relevant; or (b) The requirement is not relevant because it is conditional and the condition does not exist. In exceptional circumstances, the auditor may judge it necessary to depart from a relevant requirement in an SA. In such circumstances, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures to achieve the aim of that requirement. The need for the auditor to depart from a relevant requirement is expected to arise only where the requirement is for a specific procedure to be performed and, in the specific circumstances of the audit, that procedure would be ineffective in achieving the aim of the requirement . Failure to Achieve an Objective If an objective in a relevant SA cannot be achieved, the auditor shall evaluate whether this prevents the auditor from achieving the overall objectives of the auditor and thereby requires the auditor, in accordance with the SAs, to modify the auditor’s opinion or withdraw from the engagement. Failure to achieve an objective represents a significant matter requiring documentation in accordance with SA 230. AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY: (i) For the preparation and presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and (ii) To provide the auditor with: a. All information, such as records and documentation, and other matters that are relevant to the preparation and presentation of the financial statements; 14

b. Any additional information that the auditor may request from management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance; and c. Unrestricted access to those within the entity from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit evidence. In the case of a fair presentation framework, the responsibility is for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the financial reporting framework; or the preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with the financial reporting framework. This applies to all references to “preparation and presentation of the financial statements” in the SAs. The “premise, relating to the responsibilities of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, on which an audit is conducted” may also be referred to as the “premise”. (l) Professional skepticism – An attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions which may indicate possible misstatement due to error or fraud, and a critical assessment of audit evidence. (m) Reasonable assurance – In the context of an audit of financial statements, a high, but not absolute, level of assurance. (n) Risk of material misstatement – The risk that the financial statements are materially misstated prior to audit. This consists of two components, described as follows at the assertion level: (i) Inherent risk – The susceptibility of an assertion about a class of transaction, account balance or disclosure to a misstatement that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other misstatements, before consideration of any related controls. (ii) Control risk – The risk that a misstatement that could occur in an assertion about a class of transaction, account balance or disclosure and that could be material, either individually or when aggregated with other misstatements, will not be prevented, or detected and corrected, on a timely basis by the entity’s internal control. SA 300 PLANNING AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: EFFECTIVE DATE:

15

This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after 1st April, 2008 INTRODUCTION to SA300: This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s responsibility to plan an audit of financial statements. This SA is framed in the context of recurring audits. Additional considerations in initial audit engagements are separately identified. Standard on Auditing (SA) 300, "Planning an Audit of Financial Statements" should be read in the context of the "Preface to the Standards on Quality Control, Auditing, Review, Other Assurance and Related Services2," which sets out the authority of Standards on Auditing (SAs). SCOPE of SA300: This Standard deals with the auditor’s responsibility to plan an audit of financial statement s. This standard is framed with reference to recurring audits. OBJECTIVE of SA300: The objective of the auditor is to plan the audit so that it will be performed in an effective manner. REQUIREMENTS: Requirements of Involvement of Key Engagement Team Members of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 300 : The engagement partner and other key members of the engagement team shall be involved in planning the audit, including planning and participating in the discussion among engagement team members. Preliminary Engagement Activities : The auditor shall undertake the following activities at the beginning of the current audit engagement: a. Performing procedures required by SA 2203, "Quality Control for Audit Work" regarding the continuance of the client relationship and the specific audit engagement; b. Evaluating compliance with ethical requirements, including independence, as required by A 220; and

16

c. Establishing an understanding of the terms of the engagement, as required by SA 2104, "Terms of Audit Engagements". Planning Activities : The auditor shall establish an overall audit strategy that sets the scope, timing and direction of the audit, and that guides the development of the audit plan. In establishing the overall audit strategy, the auditor shall: Identify the characteristics of the engagement that define its scope; Ascertain the reporting objectives of the engagement to plan the timing of the audit and the nature of the communications required; Consider the factors that, in the auditor's professional judgment, are significant in directing the engagement team's efforts; Consider the results of preliminary engagement activities and, where applicable, whether knowledge gained on other engagements performed by the engagement partner for the entity is relevant; and Ascertain the nature, timing and extent The auditor shall develop an audit plan that shall include a description of The nature, timing and extent of planned risk assessment procedures, as determined under SA 315, "Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment". The nature, timing and extent of planned further audit procedures at the assertion level, as determined under SA 3306, "The Auditor's Responses to Assessed Risks". Other planned audit procedures that are required to be carried out so that the engagement complies with SAs. The auditor shall update and change the overall audit strategy and the audit plan as necessary during the course of the audit. The auditor shall plan the nature, timing and extent of direction and supervision of engagement team members and the review of their work. Documentation : The auditor shall document: a. The overall audit strategy; b. The audit plan; and c. Any significant changes made during the audit engagement to the overall audit strategy or the audit plan, and the reasons for such changes.

17

Additional consideration in Initial Audit Engagements : The auditor shall undertake the following activities prior to starting an initial audit: a. Performing procedures required by SA 220 regarding the acceptance of the client relationship and the specific audit engagement; and b. Communicating with the predecessor auditor, where there has been a change of auditors, in compliance with relevant ethical requirements. Application and Other Explanatory Material The Role and Timings of Planning : A1. Planning an audit involves establishing the overall audit strategy for the engagement and developing an audit plan. Adequate planning benefits the audit of financial statements in several ways, including the following: • Helping the auditor to devote appropriate attention to important areas of the audit. • Helping the auditor identify and resolve potential problems on a timely basis. • Helping the auditor properly organise and manage the audit engagement so that it is performed in an effective and efficient manner. • Assisting in the selection of engagement team members with appropriate levels of capabilities and competence to respond to anticipated risks, and the proper assignment of work to them. • Facilitating the direction and supervision of engagement team members and the review of their work. • Assisting, where applicable, in coordination of work done by auditors of components7 and experts. A2. The nature and extent of planning activities will vary according to the size and complexity of the entity, the key engagement team members' previous experience with the entity, and changes in circumstances that occur during the audit engagement. A3. Planning is not a discrete phase of an audit, but rather a continual and iterative process that often begins shortly after (or in connection with) the completion of the previous audit and continues until the completion of the current audit engagement. Planning, however, includes consideration of the timing of certain activities and audit procedures that need to be completed prior to the performance of further audit procedures. For example, planning includes the need to consider, prior to the auditor's identification and assessment of the risks of material is statement, such matters as: • The analytical procedures to be applied as risk assessment procedures. • Obtaining a general understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the 18

entity and how the entity is complying with that framework. • The determination of materiality. • The involvement of experts. • The performance of other risk assessment procedures. A4. The auditor may decide to discuss elements of planning with the entity's management to facilitate the conduct and management of the audit engagement (for example, to coordinate some of the planned audit procedures with the work of the entity's personnel). Although these discussions often occur, the overall audit strategy and the audit plan remain the auditor's responsibility. When discussing matters included in the overall audit strategy or audit plan, care is required in order not to compromise the effectiveness of the audit. For example, discussing the nature and timing of detailed audit procedures with management may compromise the effectiveness of the audit by making the audit procedures too predictable.

SA210 AGREEING THE TERMS OF THE AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS: INTRODUCTION SA210: This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s responsibilities in agreeing the terms of the audit engagement with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance. This includes establishing that certain preconditions for an audit, responsibility for which rests with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, are present. Proposed SA 220 (Revised) deals with those aspects of engagement acceptance that are within the control of the auditor. EFFECTIVE DATE: This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010. OBJECTIVES of SA210: The objective of the auditor is to accept or continue an audit engagement only when the basis upon which it is to be performed has been agreed, through: a Establishing whether the preconditions for an audit are present; and b. Confirming that there is a common understanding between the auditor and management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance of the terms of the audit engagement.

19

PRECONDITIONS FOR AN AUDIT : The use by management of an acceptable financial reporting framework in the preparation of the financial statements and the agreement of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance to the premise5 on which an audit is conducted. For the purposes of this SA, references to “management” should be read hereafter as “management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance Requirements of Preconditions for an Audit : In order to establish whether the preconditions for an audit are present, the auditor shall: a. Determine whether the financial reporting framework to be applied in the preparation of the financial statements is acceptable; and b. Obtain the agreement of management that it acknowledges and understands its responsibility (i) For the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework, including where relevant their fair presentation (ii) For such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and (iii) To provide the auditor with: a. Access to all information of which management is aware that is relevant to the preparation of the financial statements such as records, documentation and other matters; b. Additional information that the auditor may request from management for the purpose of the audit; and c. Unrestricted access to persons within the entity from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit evidence. Limitation on Scope Prior to Audit Engagement Acceptance : If management or those charged with governance impose a limitation on the scope of the auditor’s work in the terms of a proposed audit engagement such that the auditor believes the limitation will result in the auditor disclaiming an opinion on the financial statements, the auditor shall not accept such a limited engagement as an audit engagement, unless required by law or regulation to do so.

20

Agreement on Audit Engagement Terms : The auditor shall agree the terms of the audit engagement with management or those charged with governance, as appropriate. The agreed terms of the audit engagement shall be recorded in an audit engagement letter or other suitable form of written agreement and shall include a. The objective and scope of the audit of the financial statements; b. The responsibilities of the auditor; c. The responsibilities of management; d. Identification of the applicable financial reporting framework for the preparation of the financial statements; and e. Reference to the expected form and content of any reports to be issued by the auditor and a statement that there may be circumstances in which a report may differ from its expected form and content. The auditor may determine that the law or regulation includes responsibilities that, in the auditor’s judgment, are equivalent in effect to those set out in that paragraph. For such responsibilities that are equivalent, the auditor may use the wording of the law or regulation to describe them in the written agreement. For those responsibilities that are not prescribed by law or regulation such that their effect is equivalent.

SA-220 QUALITY CONTROL FOR AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: EFFECTIVE DATE : Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010. INTRODUCTION : SCOPE : This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the specific responsibilities of the auditor regarding quality control procedures for an audit of financial statements. It also addresses, where applicable, the responsibilities of the engagement quality control reviewer. This SA is to be read in conjunction with relevant ethical requirements OBJECTIVE :

21

The objective of the auditor is to implement quality control procedures at the engagement level that provide the auditor with reasonable assurance that: (a) The audit complies with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements; and (b) The auditor’s report issued is appropriate in the circumstances. System of Quality Control and Role of Engagement Teams : Quality control systems, policies and procedures are the responsibility of the audit firm. Under SQC 1, the firm has an obligation to establish and maintain a system of quality control to provide it with reasonable assurance that: (a) The firm and its personnel comply with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements; and (b) The reports issued by the firm or engagement partners are appropriate in the circumstances2. This SA is premised on the basis that the firm is subject to SQC 1. Within the context of the firm’s system of quality control, engagement teams have a responsibility to implement quality control procedures that are applicable to the audit engagement and provide the firm with relevant information to enable the functioning of that part of the firm’s system of quality control relating to independence. Engagement teams are entitled to rely on the firm’s system of quality control, unless information provided by the firm or other parties suggests otherwise. DEFINATION & MEANING : Engagement partner : The partner or other person in the firm who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and is in full time practice and is responsible for the engagement and its performance, and for the report that is issued on behalf of the firm, and who, where required, has the appropriate authority from a professional, legal or regulatory body. Engagement quality control reviewer : A partner, other person3 in the firm, suitably qualified external person, or a team made up of such individuals, with sufficient and appropriate experience and authority to objectively evaluate, before the report is issued, the significant judgments the engagement team made

22

and the conclusions they reached in formulating the report. However, in case the review is done by a team of individuals, such team should be headed by a member of the Institute. Engagement team : All personnel performing an engagement, including any experts contracted by the firm in connection with that engagement. Firm : A sole practitioner/proprietor, partnership, or any such entity of professional accountants, as may be permitted by law. REQUIREMENTS : Leadership Responsibilities for Quality on Audits The engagement partner shall take responsibility for the overall quality on each audit engagement to which that partner is assigned. Relevant Ethical Requirements Throughout the audit engagement, the engagement partner shall remain alert, through observation and making inquiries as necessary, for evidence of non-compliance with relevant ethical requirements by members of the engagement team. If matters come to the engagement partner’s attention through the firm’s system of quality control or otherwise that indicate that members of the engagement team have not complied with relevant ethical requirements, the engagement partner, in consultation with others in the firm, shall determine the appropriate action. Independence The engagement partner shall form a conclusion on compliance with independence requirements that apply to the audit engagement. In doing so, the engagement partner shall: (a) Obtain relevant information from the firm and, where applicable, network firms, to identify and evaluate circumstances and relationships that create threats to independence; (b) Evaluate information on identified breaches, if any, of the firm’s independence policies and procedures to determine whether they create a threat to independence for the audit engagement; and 23

(c) Take appropriate action to eliminate such threats or reduce them to an acceptable level by applying safeguards, or, if considered appropriate, to withdraw from the audit engagement, where withdrawal is permitted by law or regulation. The engagement partner shall promptly report to the firm any inability to resolve the matter for appropriate action. Acceptance and Continuance of Client Relationships and Audit Engagements The engagement partner shall be satisfied that appropriate procedures regarding the acceptance and continuance of client relationships and audit engagements have been followed, and shall determine that conclusions reached in this regard are appropriate. If the engagement partner obtains information that would have caused the firm to decline the audit engagement had that information been available earlier, the engagement partner shall communicate that information promptly to the firm, so that the firm and the engagement partner can take the necessary action. Assignment of Engagement Teams The engagement partner shall be satisfied that the engagement team, and any auditor’s experts who are not part of the engagement team, collectively have the appropriate competence and capabilities to: (a) Perform the audit engagement in accordance with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements; and (b) Enable an auditor’s report that is appropriate in the circumstances to be issued. Engagement Performance The engagement partner shall take responsibility for:(a) The direction, supervision and performance of the audit engagement in compliance with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements;(b) The auditor’s report being appropriate in the circumstances. Reviews The engagement partner shall take responsibility for reviews being performed in accordance with the firm’s review policies and procedures. On or before the date of the auditor’s report, the engagement partner shall, through a review of the audit documentation and discussion

24

with the engagement team, be satisfied that sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained to support the conclusions reached and for the auditor’s report to be issued. Consultation The engagement partner shall: (a) Take responsibility for the engagement team undertaking appropriate consultation on difficult or contentious matters; (b) Be satisfied that members of the engagement team have undertaken appropriate consultation during the course of the engagement, both within the engagement team and between the engagement team and others at the appropriate level within or outside the firm; (c) Be satisfied that the nature and scope of, and conclusions resulting from, such consultations are agreed with the party consulted; and (d) Determine that conclusions resulting from such consultations have been implemented. Documentation The auditor shall document: (a) Issues identified with respect to compliance with relevant ethical requirements and how they were resolved. (b) Conclusions on compliance with independence requirements that apply to the audit engagement, and any relevant discussions with the firm that support these conclusions. (c) Conclusions reached regarding the acceptance and continuance of client relationships and audit engagements. (d) The nature and scope of, and conclusions resulting from, consultations undertaken during the course of the audit engagement. The engagement quality control reviewer shall document, for the audit engagement reviewed, that: (a) The procedures required by the firm’s policies on engagement quality control review have been performed; 25

(b) The engagement quality control review has been completed on or before the date of the auditor’s report; and (c) The reviewer is not aware of any unresolved matters that would cause the reviewer to believe that the significant judgments the engagement team made and the conclusions they reached were not appropriate.

SA-230 AUDIT DOCUMENTATION: EFFECTIVE DATE: This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2009. SCOPE: 1. This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s responsibility to prepare audit documentation for an audit of financial statements. It is to be adapted as necessary in the circumstances when applied to audits of other historical financial information. The specific documentation requirements of other SAs do not limit the application of this SA. Laws or regulations may establish additional documentation requirement Nature and Purposes of Audit Documentation: Audit documentation that meets the requirements of this SA and the specific documentation requirements of other relevant SAs provides: (a) Evidence of the auditor’s basis for a conclusion about the achievement of the overall objective of the auditor; and (b) Evidence that the audit was planned and performed in accordance with SAs and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Audit documentation serves a number of additional purposes, including the following:  Assisting the engagement team to plan and perform the audit.  Assisting members of the engagement team responsible for supervision to direct and supervise the audit work, and to discharge their review responsibilities in accordance with Proposed SA 220 (Revised).  Enabling the engagement team to be accountable for its work. 26

 Retaining a record of matters of continuing significance to future audits.  Enabling the conduct of quality control reviews and inspections in accordance with SQC 1.  Enabling the conduct of external inspections in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory or other requirements. OBJECTIVE : The objective of the auditor is to prepare documentation that provides: (a) A sufficient and appropriate record of the basis for the auditor’s report; and (b) Evidence that the audit was planned and performed in accordance with SAs and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. DEFINATION & MEANING : Audit documentation : The record of audit procedures performed, relevant audit evidence obtained, and conclusions the auditor reached (terms such as “working papers” or “workpapers” are also sometimes used) Audit file : One or more folders or other storage media, in physical or electronic form, containing the records that comprise the audit documentation for a specific engagement. REQUIREMENTS : Timely Preparation of Audit Documentation The auditor shall prepare audit documentation on a timely basis. Documentation of the Audit Procedures Performed and Audit Evidence Obtained Form, Content and Extent of Audit Documentation : The auditor shall prepare audit documentation that is sufficient to enable an experienced auditor, having no previous connection with the audit, to understand: (a) The nature, timing, and extent of the audit procedures performed to comply with the SAs and applicable legal and regulatory requirements; (b) The results of the audit procedures performed, and the audit evidence obtained; and (c) Significant matters arising during the audit, the conclusions reached thereon, and significant professional judgments made in reaching those conclusions.

27

In documenting the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures performed, the auditor shall record: (a) The identifying characteristics of the specific items or matters tested; (b) Who performed the audit work and the date such work was completed; and (c) Who reviewed the audit work performed and the date and extent of such review. The auditor shall document discussions of significant matters with management, those charged with governance, and others, including the nature of the significant matters discussed and when and with whom the discussions took place. If the auditor identified information that is inconsistent with the auditor’s final conclusion regarding a significant matter, the auditor shall document how the auditor addressed the inconsistency. SA-240 THE AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER FRAUD AND ERROR IN AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for audits relating to accounting period beginning on or after 1st April, 2009. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this Auditing and Assurance Standard (AAS) is to establish standards on the auditor's responsibility to consider fraud and error in an audit of financial statements. While this AAS focuses on the auditor's responsibilities with respect to fraud and error, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud and error rests with both those charged with governance and the management of an entity. In this Standard, the term 'financial information' encompasses 'financial statements'. In some circumstances, specific legislations and regulations may require the auditor to undertake procedures additional to those set out in this AAS. When planning and performing audit procedures and evaluating and reporting the results thereof, the auditor should consider the risk of material misstatements in the financial statements resulting from fraud or error. SCOPE: This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s responsibilities relating to fraud in an audit of financial statements. Specifically, it expands on how SA 315, “Identifying and 28

Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement Through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment,” and SA 330, “The Auditor’s Responses to Assessed Risks,” are to be applied in relation to risks of material misstatement due to fraud. OBJECTIVES : The objectives of the auditor are : (a) To identify and assess the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements due to fraud; (b) To obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses; and (c) To respond appropriately to identified or suspected fraud. DEFINITIONS & MEANING : For purposes of the SAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) Fraud - An intentional act by one or more individuals among management, those charged with governance, employees, or third parties, involving the use of deception to obtain an unjust or illegal advantage. (b) Fraud risk factors - Events or conditions that indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud.

REQUIREMENTS : Professional Skepticism In accordance with SA 200, the auditor shall maintain an attitude of professional skepticism throughout the audit, recognizing the possibility that a material misstatement due to fraud could exist, notwithstanding the auditor’s past experience of the honesty and integrity of the entity’s management and those charged with governance. Unless the auditor has reason to believe the contrary, the auditor may accept records and documents as genuine. If conditions identified during the audit cause the auditor to believe that a document may not be authentic or that terms in a document have been modified but not disclosed to the auditor, the auditor 29

shall investigate further. Where responses to inquiries of management or those charged with governance are inconsistent, the auditor shall investigate the inconsistencies. Discussion Among the Engagement Team SA 315 requires a discussion among the engagement team members and a determination by the engagement partner of matters which are to be communicated to those team members not involved in the discussion. This discussion shall place particular emphasis on how and where the entity’s financial statements may be susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud, including how fraud might occur. The discussion shall occur notwithstanding the engagement team members’ beliefs that management and those charged with governance are honest and have integrity. Risk Assessment Procedures and Related Activities When performing risk assessment procedures and related activities to obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment, including the entity’s internal control, required by SA 3155. the risks of material misstatement due to frau Evaluation of Fraud Risk Factors The auditor shall evaluate whether the information obtained from the other risk assessment procedures and related activities performed indicates that one or more fraud risk factors are present. While fraud risk factors may not necessarily indicate the existence of fraud, they have often been present in circumstances where frauds have occurred and therefore may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. Evaluation of Audit Evidence The auditor shall evaluate whether analytical procedures that are Identification and Assessment of the Risks of Material Misstatement Due to Fraud In accordance with SA 315, the auditor shall identify and assess the risks of material misstatement due to fraud at the financial statement level, and at the assertion level for classes of transactions, account balances and disclosures When identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement due to fraud, the auditor shall, based on a presumption that there are risks of fraud in revenue recognition, evaluate which types of revenue, revenue transactions or assertions give rise to such risks. presumption is not applicable in the circumstances of the engagement and, accordingly, has not identified revenue recognition as a risk of material misstatement due to fraud. The auditor shall treat those assessed risks of 30

material misstatement due to fraud as significant risks and accordingly, to the extent not already done so, the auditor shall obtain an understanding of the entity’s related controls, including control activities, relevant to such risks Responses to the Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement Due to Fraud Overall Responses In accordance with SA 330, the auditor shall determine overall responses to address the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud at the financial statement level. In determining overall responses to address the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud at the financial statement level, the auditor shall: (a) Assign and supervise personnel taking account of the knowledge, skill and ability of the individuals to be given significant engagement responsibilities and the auditor’s assessment of the risks of material misstatement due to fraud for the engagement; (b) Evaluate whether the selection and application of accounting policies by the entity, particularly those related to subjective measurements and complex transactions, may be indicative of fraudulent financial reporting resulting from management’s effort to manage earnings; and (c) Incorporate an element of unpredictability in the selection of the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures. Audit Procedures Responsive to Assessed Risks of Material Misstatement Due to Fraud at the Assertion Level . In accordance with SA 330, the auditor shall design and perform further audit procedures whose nature, timing and extent are responsive to the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud at the assertion level Audit Procedures Responsive to Risks Related to Management Override of Controls. Management is in a unique position to perpetrate fraud because of management’s ability to manipulate accounting records and prepare fraudulent financial statements by overriding controls that otherwise appear to be operating effectively. Although the level of risk of management override of controls will vary from entity to entity, the risk is nevertheless present in all entities. Due to the unpredictable way in which such override could occur, it is a risk of material misstatement due to fraud and thus a significant risk. 31

SA-500 - AUDIT EVIDENCE: INTRODUCTION & SCOPE OF STANDARD ON AUDITING (SA) 500 This Standard on Auditing (SA) explains what constitutes audit evidence in an audit of financial statements, and deals with the auditor’s responsibility to design and perform audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion. This SA is applicable to all the audit evidence obtained during the course of the audit. Other SAs deal with specific aspects of the audit (for example, SA 3152), the audit evidence to be obtained in relation to a particular topic (for example, SA 570 (Revised)3), specific procedures to obtain audit evidence (for example, Proposed SA 520 (Revised)4), and the evaluation of whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained (Proposed SA 200 (Revised)5 and SA 3306). EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2009. OBECTIVE : Objective of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 500 Audit Evidence The objective of the auditor is to design and perform audit procedures in such a way as to enable the auditor to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to be able to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion. DEFINATION & MEANING : For purposes of the SAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: a. Accounting records – The records of initial accounting entries and supporting records, such as checks and records of electronic fund transfers; invoices; contracts; the general and subsidiary ledgers, journal entries and other adjustments to the financial statements that are not reflected in journal entries; and records such as work sheets and spreadsheets supporting cost allocations, computations, reconciliations and disclosures. b. Appropriateness (of audit evidence) – The measure of the quality of audit evidence; that is, its relevance and its reliability in providing support for the conclusions on which the auditor’s 32

opinion is based. c. Audit evidence – Information used by the auditor in arriving at the conclusions on which the auditor’s opinion is based. Audit evidence includes both information contained in the accounting records underlying the financial statements and other information. d. Management’s expert – An individual or organisation possessing expertise in a field other than accounting or auditing, whose work in that field is used by the entity to assist the entity in reparing the financial statements. e. Sufficiency (of audit evidence) – The measure of the quantity of audit evidence. The quantity of the audit evidence needed is affected by the auditor’s assessment of the risks of material misstatement and also by the quality of such audit evidence. Requirements of Sufficient Appropriate Audit Evidence of Revised Standard on Auditing (SA) 500 The auditor shall design and perform audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances for the purpose of obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence. Information to Be Used as Audit Evidence When designing and performing audit procedures, the auditor shall consider the relevance and reliability of the information to be used as audit evidence. When information to be used as audit evidence has been prepared using the work of a management’s expert, the auditor shall, to the extent necessary, having regard to the significance of that expert’s work for the auditor’s purposes, a. Evaluate the competence, capabilities and objectivity of that expert; b. Obtain an understanding of the work of that expert; and c. Evaluate the appropriateness of that expert’s work as audit evidence for the relevant assertion. When using information produced by the entity, the auditor shall evaluate whether the information is sufficiently reliable for the auditor’s purposes, including as necessary in the circumstances: a. Obtaining audit evidence about the accuracy and completeness of the information; and b. Evaluating whether the information is sufficiently precise and detailed for the auditor’s purposes.

33

Selecting Items for Testing to Obtain Audit Evidence When designing tests of controls and tests of details, the auditor shall determine means of selecting items for testing that are effective in meeting the purpose of the audit procedure. Sufficient Appropriate Audit Evidence A1. Audit evidence is necessary to support the auditor’s opinion and report. It is cumulative in nature and is primarily obtained from audit procedures performed during the course of the audit. It may, however, also include information obtained from other sources such as previous audits provided the auditor has determined whether changes have occurred since the previous audit that may affect its relevance to the current audit)7 or a firm’s quality control procedures for client acceptance and continuance. In addition to other sources inside and outside the entity, the entity’s accounting records are an important source of audit evidence. Also, information that may be used as audit evidence may have been prepared using the work of a management’s expert. Audit evidence comprises both information that supports and corroborates management’s assertions, and any information that contradicts such assertions. In addition, in some cases the absence of information (for example, management’s refusal to provide a requested representation) is used by the auditor, and therefore, also constitutes audit evidence. A2. Most of the auditor’s work in forming the auditor’s opinion consists of obtaining and evaluating audit evidence. Audit procedures to obtain audit evidence can include inspection, observation, confirmation, recalculation, re performance and analytical procedures, often in some combination, in addition to inquiry. Although inquiry may provide important audit evidence, and may even produce evidence of a misstatement, inquiry alone ordinarily does not provide sufficient audit evidence of the absence of a material misstatement at the assertion level A3. As explained in Proposed SA 200 (Revised),8 reasonable assurance is obtained when the auditor has obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk (i.e., the risk that the auditor expresses an inappropriate opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated) to an acceptably low level. A4. The sufficiency and appropriateness of audit evidence are interrelated. Sufficiency is the measure of the quantity of audit evidence. The quantity of audit evidence needed is affected by the auditor’s assessment of the risks of misstatement (the higher the assessed risks, the 34

more audit evidence is likely to be required) and also by the quality of such audit evidence (the higher the quality, the less may be required). Obtaining more audit evidence, however, may not compensate for its poor quality. A5. Appropriateness is the measure of the quality of audit evidence; that is, its relevance and its reliability in providing support for the conclusions on which the auditor’s opinion is based. The reliability of evidence is influenced by its source and by its nature, and is dependent on the individual circumstances under which it is obtained. A6. SA 330 requires the auditor to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained.9 Whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level, and thereby enable the auditor to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion, is a matter of professional judgment. SA 200 (Revised) contains discussion of such matters as the nature of audit procedures, the timeliness of financial reporting, and the balance between benefit and cost, which are relevant factors when the auditor exercises professional judgment regarding whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained. Sources of Audit Evidence : A7. Some audit evidence is obtained by performing audit procedures to test the accounting records, for example, through analysis and review, re performing procedures followed in the financial reporting process, and reconciling related types and applications of the same information. Through the performance of such audit procedures, the auditor may determine that the accounting records are internally consistent and agree to the financial statements. A8. More assurance is ordinarily obtained from consistent audit evidence obtained from different sources or of a different nature than from items of audit evidence considered individually. For example, corroborating information obtained from a source independent of the entity may increase the assurance the auditor obtains from audit evidence that is generated internally, such as evidence existing within the accounting records, minutes of meetings, or a management representation. A9. Information from sources independent of the entity that the auditor may use as audit evidence may include confirmations from third parties, analysts’ reports, and comparable data about competitors (benchmarking data).

35

Audit Procedures for Obtaining Audit Evidence : As required by, and explained further in, SA 315 and SA 330, audit evidence to draw reasonable conclusions on which to base the auditor’s opinion is obtained by performing: (a) Risk assessment procedures; and (b) Further audit procedures, which comprise: i. Tests of controls, when required by the SAs or when the auditor has chosen to do so; and ii. Substantive procedures, including tests of details and substantive analytical procedures. A11. The audit procedures described in paragraphs A14-A25 below may be used as risk assessment procedures, tests of controls or substantive procedures, depending on the context in which they are applied by the auditor. As explained in SA 330, audit evidence obtained from previous audits may, in certain circumstances, provide appropriate audit evidence where the auditor performs audit procedures to establish its continuing relevance. A12. The nature and timing of the audit procedures to be used may be affected by the fact that some of the accounting data and other information may be available only in electronic form or only at certain points or periods in time. For example, source documents, such as purchase orders and invoices, may exist only in electronic form when an entity uses electronic commerce, or may be discarded after scanning when an entity uses image processing systems to facilitate storage and reference. A13. Certain electronic information may not be retrievable after a specified period of time, for example, if files are changed and if backup files do not exist. Accordingly, the auditor may find it necessary as a result of an entity’s data retention policies to request retention of some information for the auditor’s review or to perform audit procedures at a time when the information is available. Inspection : A14. Inspection involves examining records or documents, whether internal or external, in paper form, electronic form, or other media, or a physical examination of an asset. Inspection of records and documents provides audit evidence of varying degrees of reliability, depending on their nature and source and, in the case of internal records and documents, on the effectiveness of the controls over their production. An example of inspection used as a test of controls is inspection of records for evidence of authorisation.

36

A15. Some documents represent direct audit evidence of the existence of an asset, for example, a document constituting a financial instrument such as a stock or bond. Inspection of such documents may not necessarily provide audit evidence about ownership or value. In addition, inspecting an executed contract may provide audit evidence relevant to the entity’s application of accounting policies, such as revenue recognition. A16. Inspection of tangible assets may provide reliable audit evidence with respect to their existence, but not necessarily about the entity’s rights and obligations or the valuation of the assets. Inspection of individual inventory items may accompany the observation of inventory counting. Observation A17. Observation consists of looking at a process or procedure being performed by others, for example, the auditor’s observation of inventory counting by the entity’s personnel, or of the performance of control activities. Observation provides audit evidence about the performance of a process or procedure, but is limited to the point in time at which the observation takes place, and by the fact that the act of being observed may affect how the process or procedure is performed. See Proposed SA 501 (Revised) for further guidance on observation of the counting of inventory.

External Confirmation : A18. An external confirmation represents audit evidence obtained by the auditor as a direct written response to the auditor from a third party (the confirming party), in paper form, or by electronic or other medium. External confirmation procedures frequently are relevant when addressing assertions associated with certain account balances and their elements. However, external confirmations need not be restricted to account balances only. For example, the auditor may request confirmation of the terms of agreements or transactions an entity has with third parties; the confirmation request may be designed to ask if any modifications have been made to the agreement and, if so, what the relevant details are. External confirmation procedures also are used to obtain audit evidence about the absence of certain conditions, for example, the absence of a “side agreement” that may influence revenue recognition. See Proposed SA 505 (Revised) for further guidance.

37

Reperformance : A20. Reperformance involves the auditor’s independent execution of procedures or controls that were originally performed as part of the entity’s internal control. Analytical Procedures: A21. Analytical procedures consist of evaluations of financial information made by a study of plausible relationships among both financial and non-financial data. Analytical procedures also encompass the investigation of identified fluctuations and relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information or deviate significantly from predicted amounts. See Proposed SA 520 (Revised) for further guidance. Inquiry : A22. Inquiry consists of seeking information of knowledgeable persons, both financial and nonfinancial, within the entity or outside the entity. Inquiry is used extensively throughout the audit in addition to other audit procedures. Inquiries may range from formal written inquiries to informal oral inquiries. Evaluating responses to inquiries is an integral part of the inquiry process. A23. Responses to inquiries may provide the auditor with information not previously possessed or with corroborative audit evidence. Alternatively, responses might provide information that differs significantly from other information that the auditor has obtained, for example, information regarding the possibility of management override of controls. In some cases, responses to inquiries provide a basis for the auditor to modify or perform additional audit procedures. A24. Although corroboration of evidence obtained through inquiry is often of particular importance, in the case of inquiries about management intent, the information available to support management’s intent may be limited. In these cases, understanding management’s past history of carrying out its stated intentions, management’s stated reasons for choosing a particular course of action, and management’s ability to pursue a specific course of action may provide relevant information to corroborate the evidence obtained through inquiry. A25. In respect of some matters, the auditor may consider it necessary to obtain written representations from management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance to confirm responses to oral inquiries. See SA 580 (Revised) for further guidance. SA 501AUDIT EVIDENCE-PECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTED ITEMS 38

EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010. INTRODUCTON : SCOPE : This SA deals with specific considerations by the auditor in obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence with respect to certain aspects of inventory, litigation and claims involving the entity, and segment information in an audit of financial statements. OBJECTIVE : 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. REQUIREMENTS : Inventory 1.When inventory is material to the financial statements, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existence and condition of inventory. Management ordinarily establishes procedures under which inventory is physically counted at least once a year to serve as a basis for the preparation of the financial statements and, if applicable, to ascertain the reliability of the entity’s perpetual inventory system. 2. Attendance at physical inventory counting involves: (i)Evaluate management’s instructions and procedures for recording and controlling the result s of the entity’s physical inventory counting; (ii) Observe the performance of management’s count procedures; (iii) Inspect the inventory; and

39

(iv) Perform test counts; 3.If physical inventory counting is conducted at a date other than the date of the financial stat ements, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures specified above, perform audit proced ures to obtain audit evidence about whether hanges in inventory between the count date and the date of the financial statement are properl y recorded. 4.If the auditor is unable to attend physical inventory counting due to unforeseen circumstanc es, the auditor shall make or observe some physical counts on an alternative date, and perfor m audit procedures on intervening transactions. 5.If attendance at physical inventory counting is impracticable, the auditor shall perform alter native audit procedures to Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the existenc e 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 SA 705 . 6.When inventory under the custody and control of a third party is material to the financial st atements, the auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate auditevidence regarding the existence and condition of that inventory by performing external confirmation from the third party as to the quantities and condition of inventory held on behalf of the entity. Litigation and Claims 1.The auditor shall design and perform audit procedures in order to identify litigation and clai ms involving the entity which may give rise to a risk of material misstatement, including (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 be tween the entity and its external legal counsel; and (c) Reviewing legal expense accounts. 2.If the auditor assesses a risk of material misstatement regarding litigation or claims that hav e been identified, or when audit procedures performed indicate that other material litigation o r claims may exist, the auditor shall, in addition to the procedures required by other SAs, seek direct communication with the entity’s external legal counsel. The auditor shall do so through 40

a letter of inquiry, prepared by management and sent by the auditor, requesting the entity’s ex ternal legal counsel to communicate directly with the auditor. If law, regulation or the respecti ve legal professional body prohibits the entity’s external legal counsel from communicating directly with the auditor, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures. 3.If: (a) management refuses to give the auditor permission to communicate or meet with th e entity’s external legal counsel, or the entity’s external legal counsel refuses to respond appr opriately to the letter of inquiry, or is prohibited from responding; and (b) The auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence by performing altern ative audit procedures, the auditor shall modify the opinion in the auditor’s report in accordan ce with SA 705. 4. The auditor shall request management and, where appropriate, those charged with govern ance to provide written representations that all known actual or possible litigation and claims whose effects should be considered when preparing the financial statements have been disclo sed to the auditor and appropriately accounted for and disclosed in accordance with the applic able financial reporting framework Segment Information The auditor shall obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the presentation and d isclosure of segment information in accordance with the applicable financial reporting frame work by(a) Obtaining an understanding of the methods used by management in determining segment information, and: (i)

Evaluating whether such methods are likely to result in disclosure in accordance with the

applicable FRF and (ii)

Where appropriate, testing the application of such methods; and

(b) Performing analytical procedures or other audit procedures appropriate in the circumstan ces. SA 505 EXTERNAL CONFIRMATIONS EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for audits releating to accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010. 41

INTRODUCTION : SCOPE : This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s use of external confirmation procedu res to obtain audit evidence. It does not address inquiries regarding litigation and claims since SA 501 (Revised) deals with such inquiries. OBJECTIVE : The objective of the auditor, when using external confirmation procedures, is to design and p erform such procedures to obtain relevant and reliable audit evidence. DEFINITIONS & MEANING : For purposes of the SAs, the following terms have the meanings given below: a) External confirmation – Audit evidence obtained as a direct written response to the audi tor from a third party (the confirming party), in paper form, or by electronic or other medium. b) Positive confirmation request – A request that the confirming party respond directly to the auditor indicating whether the con firming party agrees or disagrees with the information in the request, or providing the request ed information. c) Negative confirmation request – A request that the confirming party respond directly to the auditor only if the confirming part y disagrees with the information provided in the request. d) Non‐response – A failure of the confirming party to respond, or fully respond, to a positive confirmation requ est, or a confirmation request returned undelivered. e) Exception- A response that indicates a difference between information requested to be co nfirmed, or contained in the entity’s records, and information provided by the confirming party. REQUIREMENTS : 42

I. External Confirmation Procedures When using external confirmation procedures, the auditor shall maintain control over external confirmation requests, including: (a) Determining the information to be confirmed or requested (b) Selecting the appropriate confirming party (c) Designing the confirmation requests, including determining that requests are properly addressed; and (d) Sending the requests, including follow‐up requests when applicable, to the confirming pa rty. II. Management’s Refusal to Allow the Auditor to Send a Confirmation Request 1. If management refuses to allow the auditor to send a confirmation request, the auditor shal l: (a) Inquire as to management’s reasons for the refusal, and seek audit evidence as to their va lidity and reasonableness and will also evaluate this while assessing the risk of material misst atement and also on his audit procedures. (b) Perform alternative audit procedures designed to obtain relevant and reliable audit evidence. 2.If the auditor concludes that management’s refusal to allow the auditor to send a confirmati on request isunreasonable, or the auditor is unable to obtain relevant and reliable audit eviden ce from alternative audit procedures, the auditor shall communicate with TCWG in The audit or also shall determine the implications for the audit and the auditor’s pinion in accordance w ith SA 705. III. Results of the External Confirmation Procedures 1. Reliability of Responses to Confirmation Requests 1. If the auditor identifies factors that give rise to doubts about the reliability of the response t o a confirmation request, the auditor shall obtain further audit evidence to resolve those doubts. 43

2. If the auditor determines that a response to a confirmation request is not reliable, the auditor shall evaluate the implications on the assessment of the relevant risks of material misstatement and on the related nature, timing and extent of other audit procedure s. 2. Non‐Responses In the case of each non‐response, the auditor shall perform alternative audit procedures to obt ain relevant and reliable audit evidence. 3. Exceptions The auditor shall investigate exceptions to determine whether or not they are indicative of mi sstatements. IV. Negative Confirmations Negative confirmations provide less persuasive audit evidence than positive confirmations. Accrdingly, the auditor shall not use negative confirmationrequests as the sole substantive au dit procedure to address an assessed risk of material misstatement at the assertion level unless all of the following are present (a) The auditor has assessed the risk of material misstatement as low and has obtained suffici ent appropriate audit evidence regarding the operating effectiveness of controls relevant to th e assertion; (b) The population of items subject to negative confirmation procedures comprises a large nu mber of small, homogeneous, account balances, transactions or conditions; (c) A very low exception rate is expected; and (d) The auditor is not aware of circumstances or conditions that would cause recipients of negative confirmation requests to disregard such requests V. Evaluating the Evidence Obtained The auditor shall evaluate whether the results of the external confirmation procedures provide relevant and reliable audit evidence, or whether performing further audit procedures is neces sary. 44

SA 510 INITIAL AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS OPENING BALANCES EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for audit of financial statement for period beginning on or after April 1,2010. INTRODUCTION : SCOPE : The purpose of this Standard on Auditing (SA) is to establish standards regarding audit of opening balances in case of initial engagements, i.e.when the financial statements are audited for the first time or when the financial statements for the preceding period were audited by another auditor. This Standard would also be considered by the auditor so that he may become aware of contingencies and commitments existing at the beginning of the current period. “Opening balances” means those account balances which exist at the beginning of the period. Opening balances are the closing balances of the preceding period brought forward to the current period and reflect the effect of: (a) transactions and other events of the preceding periods; and (b) accounting policies applied in the preceding period. For initial audit engagements, the auditor should obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence that: (a) the closing balances of the preceding period have been correctly brought forward to the current period; (b) the opening balances do not contain misstatements that materially affect the financial statements for the current period; and (c) appropriate accounting policies are consistently applied. In an initial audit engagement, the auditor will not have previously obtained audit evidence supporting the opening balances.

DEFINITIONS & MEANING : 45

For the purposes of the SAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) Initial audit engagement – An engagement in which either: (i) The financial statements for the prior period were not audited; or (ii) The financial statements for the prior period were audited by a predecessor auditor. (b) Opening balances – Those account balances that exist at the beginning of the period. Opening balances are based upon the closing balances of the prior period and reflect the effects of transactions and events of prior periods and accounting policies applied in the prior period. Opening balances also include matters requiring disclosure that existed at the beginning of the period, such as contingencies and commitments. (c) Predecessor auditor – The auditor from a different audit firm, who audited the financial statements of an entity in the prior period and who has been replaced by the current auditor.

REQUIREMENTS : Audit Procedures For the purpose of this Statement, the sufficiency and appropriateness of the audit evidence, the auditor will need to obtain regarding opening balances, would depend on the following matters: 

The accounting policies followed by the entity.



Whether the auditor’s report contained an unqualified opinion, a qualified opinion, adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion where the financial statements for the preceding period were audited.



The nature of the opening balances, including the risk of their misstatement in the financial statements for the current period.



The materiality of the opening balances relative to the financial statements for the current period.

46

The auditor will need to consider whether the accounting policies followed in the preceding period, as per which the opening balances have been arrived at, were appropriate and that those policies are consistently applied in the financial statements for the current period and where such accounting policies are inappropriate, the same have been changed in the current period and adequately disclosed. 

The nature of the opening balances, including the risk of their misstatement in the financial statements for the current period.



The materiality of the opening balances relative to the financial statements for the current period.

The auditor will need to consider whether the accounting policies followed in the preceding period, as per which the opening balances have been arrived at, were appropriate and that those policies are consistently applied in the financial statements for the current period and where such accounting policies are inappropriate, the same have been changed in the current period and adequately disclosed. When the financial statements for the preceding period were audited by another auditor, the current auditor may be able to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding opening balances by perusing the copies of the audited financial statements. Ordinarily, the current auditor can place reliance on the closing balances contained in the financial statements for the preceding period, except when during the performance of audit procedures for the current period the possibility of misstatements in opening balances is indicated. When the financial statements of the preceding period were not audited or the auditor is not satisfied by using the procedures .For current assets and liabilities, some audit evidence can ordinarily be obtained as part of the audit procedures performed during the current period. For example, the collection/payment of opening accounts receivable/ accounts payable during the current period will provide some audit evidence as to their existence, rights and obligations, completeness and valuation at the beginning of the period. Audit Conclusions and Reporting If, after performing procedures including those set out above, the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence concerning opening balances, the auditor should, as appropriate, express:

47

(a) a qualified opinion, or (b) a disclaimer of opinion. The auditor may also express an opinion which is qualified or disclaimed regarding the profit or loss and unqualified regarding state of affairs, as appropriate. If the opening balances contain misstatements which materially affect the financial statements for the current period and the effect of the same is not properly accounted for and adequately disclosed, the auditor should express a qualified opinion or an adverse opinion, as appropriate. SA 520 ANALYTICAL REVIEW PROCEDURES: EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for all audits relating to accounting periods beginning on or after April 1,2010. INTRODUCTION : 1. The purpose of this Standard on Auditing (SA) is to establish standards on the application of analytical procedures during an audit. 2. The auditor should apply analytical procedures at the planning and overall review stages of the audit. Analytical procedures may also be applied at other stages. 3. “Analytical procedures” means the analysis of significant ratios and trends, including the resulting investigation of fluctuations and relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information or which deviate from predicted amounts. Nature and Purpose of Analytical Procedures. SCOPE : This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s use of analytical procedures as substantive procedures (“substantive analytical procedures”), and as procedures near the end of the audit that assist the auditor when forming an overall conclusion on the financial statements. The use of analytical procedures as risk assessment procedures is dealt with in SA 3153 . SA 330 includes requirements and guidance regarding the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures in response to assessed risks; these audit procedures may include substantive analytical procedures.

48

OBJECTIVES : The objectives of the auditor are: (a) To obtain relevant and reliable audit evidence when using substantive analytical procedures; and (b) To design and perform analytical procedures near the end of the audit that assist the auditor when forming an overall conclusion as to whether the financial statements are consistent with the auditor’s understanding of the entity DEFINITION & MEANING : For the purposes of the SAs, the term “analytical procedures” means evaluations of financial information through analysis of plausible relationships among both financial and nonfinancial data. Analytical procedures also encompass such investigation as is necessary of identified fluctuations or relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information or that differ from expected values by a significant amount. The auditor’s choice of procedures, methods and level of application is a matter of professional judgement.

REQUIREMENTS : Substantive Analytical Procedures : When designing and performing substantive analytical procedures, either alone or in combination with tests of details, as substantive procedures in accordance with SA 3305, the auditor shall: (a) Determine the suitability of particular substantive analytical procedures for given assertions, taking account of the assessed risks of material misstatement and tests of details, if any, for these assertions; (b) Evaluate the reliability of data from which the auditor’s expectation of recorded amounts or ratios is developed, taking account of source, comparability, and nature and relevance of information available, and controls over preparation; (c) Develop an expectation of recorded amounts or ratios and evaluate whether the expectation is sufficiently precise to identify a misstatement that, individually or when

49

aggregated with other misstatements, may cause the financial statements to be materially misstated; and (d) Determine the amount of any difference of recorded amounts from expected values that is acceptable without further investigation Analytical Procedures that Assist When Forming an Overall Conclusion The auditor shall design and perform analytical procedures near the end of the audit that assist the auditor when forming an overall conclusion as to whether the financial statements are consistent with the auditor’s understanding of the entity. Investigating Results of Analytical Procedures If analytical procedures performed in accordance with this SA identify fluctuations or relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information or that differ from expected values by a significant amount, the auditor shall investigate such differences by: (a) Inquiring of management and obtaining appropriate audit evidence relevant to management’s responses; and (b) Performing other audit procedures as necessary in the circumstances.

Application and Other Explanatory Materia :  Nature and Purpose of Analytical Procedures : Analytical procedures include the consideration of comparisons of the entity's financial information with, for example: 

Comparable information for prior periods.



Anticipated results of the entity, such as budgets or forecasts.



Predictive estimates prepared by the auditor, such as an estimation of depreciation charge for

the year.

50



Similar industry information, such as a comparison of the entity's ratio of sales to trade debtors with industry averages, or with other entities of comparable size in the same industry

Analytical procedures also include consideration of relationships: 

Among elements of financial information that would be expected to conform to a predictable pattern based on the entity's experience, such as gross margin percentages.



Between financial information and relevant non-financial information, such as payroll costs to number of employees.

 Various methods may be used in performing the above procedures. These range from simple comparisons to complex analyses using advanced statistical techniques. Analytical procedures may be applied to consolidated financial statements, financial statements of components (such as subsidiaries, divisions or segments) and individual elements of financial information. The auditor's choice of procedures, methods and level of application is a matter of professional judgement. Analytical procedures are used for the following purposes:(a) to assist the auditor in planning the nature, timing and extent of other audit procedures;(b) as substantive procedures when their use can be more effective or efficient than tests of details in reducing detection risk for specific financial statement assertions; and(c) as an overall review of the financial statements in the final review stage of the audit.

SA 610 USING THE WORTK OF INTERNAL AUDITORS: EFFECTIVE DATE : This SA is effective for all audits relating to accounting periods beginning on or after April 1,2010. INTRODUCTION : SCOPE :

51

1. This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the external auditor’s responsibilities regarding the work of internal auditors when the external auditor has determined, in accordance with SA 315,3 that the internal audit function is likely to be relevant to the audit. 2. This SA does not deal with instances when individual internal auditors provide direct assistance to the external auditor in carrying out audit procedures or where, in terms of the applicable legal and regulatory framework, it is not permissible for the internal auditor to provide access to his working papers to the third parties Relationship between the Internal Audit Function and the External Auditor 3. The role and objectives of the internal audit function are determined by management and, where applicable, those charged with governance. While the objectives of the internal audit function and the external auditor are different, some of the ways in which the internal audit function and the external auditor achieve their respective objectives may be similar. OBJECTIVES : The objectives of the external auditor, where the entity has an internal audit function that the external auditor has determined is likely to be relevant to the audit, are to determine: (a) Whether, and to what extent, to use specific work of the internal auditors; and (b) If so, whether such work is adequate for the purposes of the audit. DEFINITIONS & MEANING : For purposes of the SAs, the following terms have the meanings attributed below: (a) Internal audit function – An appraisal activity established or provided as a service to the entity. Its functions include, amongst other things, examining, evaluating and monitoring the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control. The Preface to the Standards on Internal Audit, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, issued in November 2004 describes internal audit as “an independent management function, which involves a continuous and critical appraisal of the functioning of an entity with a view to suggest improvements thereto and add value to and strengthen the overall governance mechanism of the entity, including the entity’s strategic risk management and internal control system. Internal audit, therefore, provides assurance that there is transparency in reporting, as a part of good governance.” 52

(b) Internal auditors – Those individuals who perform the activities of the internal audit function. Internal auditors may belong to an internal audit department or equivalent function. REQUIREMENTS: Determining Whether and to What Extent to Use the Work of the Internal AuditorsThe external auditor shall determine: (a) Whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be adequate for purposes of the audit; and, (b) If so, the planned effect of the work of the internal auditors on the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures. In determining whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be adequate for purposes of the audit, the external auditor shall evaluate: (a) The objectivity of the internal audit function; (b) The technical competence of the internal auditors; (c) Whether the work of the internal auditors is likely to be carried out with due professional care; and (d) Whether there is likely to be effective communication between the internal auditors and the external auditor. In determining the planned effect of the work of the internal auditors on the nature, timing or extent of the external auditor’s procedures, the external auditor shall consider: (a) The nature and scope of specific work performed, or to be performed, by the internal auditors; (b) The assessed risks of material misstatement at the assertion level for particular classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosures; and (c) The degree of subjectivity involved in the evaluation of the audit evidence gathered by the internal auditors in support of the relevant assertions. Using Specific Work of the Internal Auditors

53

In order for the external auditor to use specific work of the internal auditors, the external auditor shall evaluate and perform audit procedures on that work to determine its adequacy for the external auditor’s purposes. To determine the adequacy of specific work performed by the internal auditors for the external auditor’s purposes, the external auditor shall evaluate whether: (a) The work was performed by internal auditors having adequate technical training and proficiency; (b) The work was properly supervised, reviewed and documented; (c) Adequate audit evidence has been obtained to enable the internal auditors to draw reasonable conclusions; (d) Conclusions reached are appropriate in the circumstances and any reports prepared by the internal auditors are consistent with the results of the work performed; and (e) Any exceptions or unusual matters disclosed by the internal auditors are properly resolved. Documentation When the external auditor uses specific work of the internal auditors, the external auditor shall document conclusions regarding the evaluation of the adequacy of the work of the internal auditors, and the audit procedures performed by the external auditor on that work.

54

CHAPTER IV Audit Report: The auditor's report is a formal opinion, or disclaimer thereof, issued by either an internal auditor or an independent external auditor as a result of an internal or external audit or evaluation performed on a legal entity or subdivision thereof (called an "auditee"). The report is subsequently provided to a "user" (such as an individual, a group of persons, a company, a government, or even the general public, among others) as an assurance service in order for the user to make decisions based on the results of the audit. An auditor's report is considered an essential tool when reporting financial information to users, particularly in business. Since many third-party users prefer, or even require financial information to be certified by an independent external auditor, many auditees rely on auditor reports to certify their information in order to attract investors, obtain loans, and improve public appearance. Some have even stated that financial information without an auditor's report is "essentially worthless" for investing purposes. Financial audit It is important to note that auditor's reports on financial statements are neither evaluations nor any other similar determination used to evaluate entities in order to make a decision. The report is only an opinion on whether the information presented is correct and free from material misstatements, whereas all other determinations are left for the user to decide. There are four common types of auditor's reports, each one presenting a different situation encountered during the auditor's work. The four reports are as follows: Unqualified Opinion: An opinion is said to be unqualified when the Auditor concludes that the Financial Statements give a true and fair view in accordance with the financial reporting framework used for the preparation and presentation of the Financial Statements. An Auditor gives a Clean opinion or Unqualified Opinion when he or she does not have any significant reservation in respect of matters contained in the Financial Statements. The most frequent type of report is referred to as the "Unqualified Opinion", and is regarded by many as the equivalent of a "clean bill of health" to a patient, which has led many to call it the "Clean Opinion", but in reality it is not a clean bill of health, because the Auditor can only provide reasonable assurance regarding the

55

Financial Statements, not the health of the company itself, or the integrity of company records not part of the foundation of the Financial Statements. This type of report is issued by an auditor when the financial statements presented are free of material misstatements and are represented fairly in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which in other words means that the company's financial condition, position, and operations are fairly presented in the financial statements. It is the best type of report an auditee may receive from an external auditor. An Unqualified Opinion indicates the following(1) The Financial Statements have been prepared using the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles which have been consistently applied; (2) The Financial Statements comply with relevant statutory requirements and regulations; (3) There is adequate disclosure of all material matters relevant to the proper presentation of the financial information subject to statutory requirements, where applicable; (4) Any changes in the accounting principles or in the method of their application and the effects thereof have been properly determined and disclosed in the Financial Statements. The report consists of a title and header, a main body, the auditor's signature and address, and the report's issuance date. Auditing standards require that the title includes "independent" to convey to the user that the report was unbiased in all respects. Traditionally, the main body of the unqualified report consists of three main paragraphs, each with distinct standard wording and individual purpose. Nonetheless, certain auditors (including PricewaterhouseCoopers) have since modified the arrangement of the main body (but not the wording) in order to differentiate themselves from other audit firms, even though such modification is contrary to the clarified US AICPA standards on auditing. The first paragraph (commonly referred to as the introductory paragraph) states the audit work performed and identifies the responsibilities of the auditor and the auditee in relation to the financial statements. The second paragraph (commonly referred to as the scope paragraph) details the scope of audit work, provides a general description of the nature of the work, examples of procedures performed, and any limitations the audit faced based on the nature of the work. This paragraph also states that the audit was performed in accordance with the country's prevailing generally accepted auditing standards and regulations. The third paragraph (commonly referred to as the opinion paragraph) simply states the auditor's opinion on the financial statements and whether they are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Qualified Opinion report 56

Qualified report is given by the auditor in either of these two cases: When the financial statements are materially misstated due to misstatement in one particular account balance, class of transaction or disclosure that does not have pervasive effect on the financial statements. When the auditor is unable to obtain audit evidence regarding particular account balance, class of transaction or disclosure that does not have pervasive effect on the financial statements. The report is mostly like a Clear Opinion Report and only includes a paragraph viz. Basis for Qualification after Scope paragraph and before Opinion paragraph. Opinion paragraph in addition to its standard wording includes “except for the matter described in Basis for Qualification paragraph the financial statements give true and fair view.”

57

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION: As the trade and commerce grew extensively globally, the involvement of public money therein also increased manifolds. This in turn created a demand from the investors to have the accounts of the business ventures examined by a person independent of the owners and management of the business to ensure that they were correct and reliable. Such a demand laid down the foundation for the profession of auditing. The extent of reliance placed by the public on the auditors has increased so much with time that it is, unreasonably of course, felt by the public that nothing can go wrong with an organization which has been audited. Though the fact that an audit has been carried out is not a guarantee as to the future viability of an enterprise, it is extremely important that the auditors carry out their assignments with utmost professional care and sincerity, to uphold the faith posed by the public in them.

58

BIBLIOGRAPHY: www.wikipedia.org www.icai.org www.caclubindia.com

59