ACCAF4法律的三种分类五种特征!

发布时间:2019-07-20


ACCA作为财会界的黄金证书,一直是很多小伙伴向往的考取的证书,但是因为其考试科目多,考试难度大的问题难倒了很多小伙伴,为此小编特地整理了关于ACCAF4的考试备考内容,具体内容如下。

一、三种分类方式

判例法(case law)指可作为先例据以决案的法院判决,是法官造法,也就是我们说的司法者造法,这点通常与成文法 (statute law) 相对,成文法是由议会制定法律。判例法和成文法都是英国法系法律的两个重要渊源 (source of law) ,也是重要的法律类型之一(types of law)。此时这种分类是按照法律制定的主体来区分的。

根据判例法制度,某一判决中的法律规则不仅适用于该案,而且往往作为一种先例(precedent)而适用于以后该法院或下级法院所管辖的案件。只要案件的基本事实相同或相似,就必须以判例所定规则处理。这就是所谓“遵循先例” (stare decisis) 原则。

此外,我们又可以通过法律规范的主体是否平等,将法律分为私法 (private law) 和公法(public law)

私法 (private law) 主要是指调整普通公民,组织之间关系的法律,在社会层面上双方当事人的法律地位平等,私法关键在于调整公民个人的权利义务关系(right and obligation)

公法(public law)主要是指调整国家与普通公民、组织之间关系的法律,从定义中可以看出双方当事人中必须至少有一方是公权力机关。在我们生活中的tax lawconstituition law都是属于公法范畴的。

最后我们还可以依据法律规范的内容不同,将法律分为刑法(criminal law)和民法 (civil law)。民法属于私法的范畴,重点在于双方当事人之间权利与义务的分配,刑法属于公法的范畴,重点在于确定什么样的行为是犯罪行为,和对于犯罪行为给与怎么样的处罚(punishment),所以可以归纳为三个字罪与罚。考试中时常会考到两者的区别,需要同学们对该块内容加以重视。

二、五大必会特征

1. Burden of proof 举证责任

举证责任的一般原则是谁主张,这举证。在民事案件中由我们的原告(claimant)进行举证,在刑事案件中由国家提起公诉,这里的检察官(prosecution)就是代表国家。

2. Standard of proof 举证的标准

在民法中,举证的标准是看原告和被告谁的证据更占优势,即谁的证词可能性越高(balance of probabilities),谁胜诉的概率就越高。

在刑事案件中,举证的标准会明显提高,需要排除一切合理的怀疑(beyond reasonable doubt)。这是由于刑事案件的两方在法律地位上是不平等的,且刑事案件的判决结果对于被告人更为严重,所以公诉人想要胜诉,必须承担更高的举证标准,来证明被告有罪。

3. Decision 判决结果

在民事案件中,判决结果是被告是否有责任(liable / not liable),而在刑事案件中,判决结果往往是被告人是否有罪(guilty / not guilty)

4. Aim 法律目的

民法的目的是provide compensatory remedies,具有补偿性质,而并非惩罚。但在刑事案件中,法院对国家不允许或者不赞成的行为,给与惩罚(punishment)

5. Remedies 救济方式

在民事案件中,被告如果有责任,一般给到原告赔偿金(damages)作为救济方式,但是在刑事案件中,被告人如果有罪,就会受到收监关押(prinson)和罚金(fines)的惩罚。

综合以上就是关于ACCAF4的备考内容,希望对各位小伙伴有用,小编将持续更新相关内容。


下面小编为大家准备了 ACCA考试 的相关考题,供大家学习参考。

(c) non-consolidated entities under common control. (4 marks)

正确答案:
(c) Non-consolidated entities under common control
■ Horizontal groups of entities under common control were a significant feature of the Enron and Parmalat business
empires.
■ Such business empires increase audit risk as fraud is often disguised through labyrinthine group structures. Hence
auditors need to understand and confirm the economic purpose of entities within business empires (as well as special
purpose entities (SPEs) and non-trading entities).
■ Horizontal groups fall outside the requirement for the preparation of group accounts. It is not only finance that is offbalance
sheet when controlled entities are excluded from consolidated financial statements.
■ In the absence of consolidated financial statements, users of accounts of entities in horizontal groups have to rely on the
disclosure of related party transactions and control relationships for information about transactions and arrangements
with other group entities. Difficulties faced by auditors include:
? failing to detect related party transactions and control relationships;
? not understanding the substance of transactions with entities under common control;
? excessively creative tax planning;
? the implications of transfer pricing (e.g. failure to recognise profits unrealised at the business empire level);
? a lack of access to relevant confidential information held by others;
? relying on representations made in good faith by those whom the auditors believe manage the company when
control rests elsewhere.
■ Audit work is inevitably increased if an auditor is put upon inquiry to investigate dubious transactions and arrangements.
However, the complexity of business empires across multiple jurisdictions with different auditors may deter auditors from
liaising with other auditors (especially where legal or professional confidentiality considerations prevent this).

(a) Contrast the role of internal and external auditors. (8 marks)

(b) Conoy Co designs and manufactures luxury motor vehicles. The company employs 2,500 staff and consistently makes a net profit of between 10% and 15% of sales. Conoy Co is not listed; its shares are held by 15 individuals, most of them from the same family. The maximum shareholding is 15% of the share capital.

The executive directors are drawn mainly from the shareholders. There are no non-executive directors because the company legislation in Conoy Co’s jurisdiction does not require any. The executive directors are very successful in running Conoy Co, partly from their training in production and management techniques, and partly from their ‘hands-on’ approach providing motivation to employees.

The board are considering a significant expansion of the company. However, the company’s bankers are

concerned with the standard of financial reporting as the financial director (FD) has recently left Conoy Co. The board are delaying provision of additional financial information until a new FD is appointed.

Conoy Co does have an internal audit department, although the chief internal auditor frequently comments that the board of Conoy Co do not understand his reports or provide sufficient support for his department or the internal control systems within Conoy Co. The board of Conoy Co concur with this view. Anders & Co, the external auditors have also expressed concern in this area and the fact that the internal audit department focuses work on control systems, not financial reporting. Anders & Co are appointed by and report to the board of Conoy Co.

The board of Conoy Co are considering a proposal from the chief internal auditor to establish an audit committee.

The committee would consist of one executive director, the chief internal auditor as well as three new appointees.

One appointee would have a non-executive seat on the board of directors.

Required:

Discuss the benefits to Conoy Co of forming an audit committee. (12 marks)

正确答案:
(a)Roleofinternalandexternalauditors–differencesObjectivesThemainobjectiveofinternalauditistoimproveacompany’soperations,primarilyintermsofvalidatingtheefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheinternalcontrolsystemsofacompany.Themainobjectiveoftheexternalauditoristoexpressanopiniononthetruthandfairnessofthefinancialstatements,andotherjurisdictionspecificrequirementssuchasconfirmingthatthefinancialstatementscomplywiththereportingrequirementsincludedinlegislation.ReportingInternalauditreportsarenormallyaddressedtotheboardofdirectors,orotherpeoplechargedwithgovernancesuchastheauditcommittee.Thosereportsarenotpubliclyavailable,beingconfidentialbetweentheinternalauditorandtherecipient.Externalauditreportsareprovidedtotheshareholdersofacompany.Thereportisattachedtotheannualfinancialstatementsofthecompanyandisthereforepubliclyavailabletotheshareholdersandanyreaderofthefinancialstatements.ScopeofworkTheworkoftheinternalauditornormallyrelatestotheoperationsoftheorganisation,includingthetransactionprocessingsystemsandthesystemstoproducetheannualfinancialstatements.Theinternalauditormayalsoprovideotherreportstomanagement,suchasvalueformoneyauditswhichexternalauditorsrarelybecomeinvolvedwith.Theworkoftheexternalauditorrelatesonlytothefinancialstatementsoftheorganisation.However,theinternalcontrolsystemsoftheorganisationwillbetestedastheseprovideevidenceonthecompletenessandaccuracyofthefinancialstatements.RelationshipwithcompanyInmostorganisations,theinternalauditorisanemployeeoftheorganisation,whichmayhaveanimpactontheauditor’sindependence.However,insomeorganisationstheinternalauditfunctionisoutsourced.Theexternalauditorisappointedbytheshareholdersofanorganisation,providingsomedegreeofindependencefromthecompanyandmanagement.(b)BenefitsofauditcommitteeinConoyCoAssistancewithfinancialreporting(nofinanceexpertise)TheexecutivedirectorsofConoyCodonotappeartohaveanyspecificfinancialskills–asthefinancialdirectorhasrecentlyleftthecompanyandhasnotyetbeenreplaced.ThismaymeanthatfinancialreportinginConoyCoislimitedorthattheothernon-financialdirectorsspendasignificantamountoftimekeepinguptodateonfinancialreportingissues.AnauditcommitteewillassistConoyCobyprovidingspecialistknowledgeoffinancialreportingonatemporarybasis–atleastoneofthenewappointeesshouldhaverelevantandrecentfinancialreportingexperienceundercodesofcorporategovernance.ThiswillallowtheexecutivedirectorstofocusonrunningConoyCo.EnhanceinternalcontrolsystemsTheboardofConoyCodonotnecessarilyunderstandtheworkoftheinternalauditor,ortheneedforcontrolsystems.ThismeansthatinternalcontrolwithinConoyComaybeinadequateorthatemployeesmaynotrecognisetheimportanceofinternalcontrolsystemswithinanorganisation.TheauditcommitteecanraiseawarenessoftheneedforgoodinternalcontrolsystemssimplybybeingpresentinConoyCoandbyeducatingtheboardontheneedforsoundcontrols.Improvingtheinternalcontrol‘climate’willensuretheneedforinternalcontrolsisunderstoodandreducecontrolerrors.RelianceonexternalauditorsConoyCo’sinternalauditorscurrentlyreporttotheboardofConoyCo.Aspreviouslynoted,thelackoffinancialandcontrolexpertiseontheboardwillmeanthatexternalauditorreportsandadvicewillnotnecessarilybeunderstood–andtheboardmayrelytoomuchonexternalauditorsIfConoyCoreporttoanauditcommitteethiswilldecreasethedependenceoftheboardontheexternalauditors.Theauditcommitteecantaketimetounderstandtheexternalauditor’scomments,andthenviathenon-executivedirector,ensurethattheboardtakeactiononthosecomments.AppointmentofexternalauditorsAtpresent,theboardofConoyCoappointtheexternalauditors.Thisraisesissuesofindependenceastheboardmaybecometoofamiliarwiththeexternalauditorsandsoappointonthisfriendshipratherthanmerit.Ifanauditcommitteeisestablished,thenthiscommitteecanrecommendtheappointmentoftheexternalauditors.Thecommitteewillhavethetimeandexpertisetoreviewthequalityofserviceprovidedbytheexternalauditors,removingtheindependenceissue.Corporategovernancerequirements–bestpracticeConoyCodonotneedtofollowcorporategovernancerequirements(thecompanyisnotlisted).However,notfollowingthoserequirementsmaystarttohaveadverseeffectsonConoy.Forexample,ConoyCo’sbankisalreadyconcernedaboutthelackoftransparencyinreporting.EstablishinganauditcommitteewillshowthattheboardofConoyCoarecommittedtomaintainingappropriateinternalsystemsinthecompanyandprovidingthestandardofreportingexpectedbylargecompanies.Obtainingthenewbankloanshouldalsobeeasierasthebankwillbesatisfiedwithfinancialreportingstandards.Givennonon-executives–independentadvicetoboardCurrentlyConoyCodoesnothaveanynon-executivedirectors.Thismeansthatthedecisionsoftheexecutivedirectorsarenotbeingchallengedbyotherdirectorsindependentofthecompanyandwithlittleornofinancialinterestinthecompany.Theappointmentofanauditcommitteewithonenon-executivedirectorontheboardofConoyCowillstarttoprovidesomenon-executiveinputtoboardmeetings.Whilenotsufficientintermsofcorporategovernancerequirements(aboutequalnumbersofexecutiveandnon-executivedirectorsareexpected)itdoesshowtheboardofConoyCoareattemptingtoestablishappropriategovernancesystems.AdviceonriskmanagementFinally,thereareothergeneralareaswhereConoyCowouldbenefitfromanauditcommittee.Forexample,lackofcorporategovernancestructuresprobablymeansConoyCodoesnothaveariskmanagementcommittee.Theauditcommitteecanalsoprovideadviceonriskmanagement,helpingtodecreasetheriskexposureofthecompany.

3 Damian is the finance director of Linden Limited, a medium sized, unquoted, UK trading company, with a 31 July

year end. Damian personally owns 10% of the ordinary issued share capital of Linden Limited, for which he paid

£10,000 in June 1998. He estimates that the current market value of Linden Limited is £9 million and that the

company will make taxable profits of £1·4 million in the forthcoming year to 31 July 2007.

(a) Damian believes that Linden Limited should conduct its activities in a socially responsible manner and to this

end has proposed that in future all cars purchased by the company should be low emission vehicles. The sales

director has stated that several of his staff, who are the main recipients of company cars, other than the directors,

are extremely unhappy with this proposal, perceiving it as downgrading their value and status.

The cars currently provided to the sales staff have a list price of £19,600, on which Linden Limited receives a

bulk purchase discount of 6% from the dealer, and a CO2 emission rate of 168 grams/kilometre. The company

pays for up to £400 of accessories, of the salesmen’s own choice to be fitted to the cars and all of the running

costs, including private petrol. The cars are replaced every three years and the ‘old’ cars are sold at auction,

because they are high mileage vehicles.

The low emission cars it is proposed to purchase will have the same list price as the current cars, but the dealer

is only prepared to offer a bulk discount of 5% on these vehicles. Damian does not propose to make any other

changes to Linden Limited’s company car policy or practice.

Required:

(i) Explain the tax consequences of the proposed move to low emission vehicles for both the individual

salesmen and Linden Limited, illustrating your answer by means of relevant calculations of the tax and

national insurance (NIC) savings arising. (9 marks)

正确答案:
(a) (i) Individual salesmen
The taxable benefit is determined by the list price of the vehicle plus the cost of the accessories (£20,000) and the CO2
emission rate. The current vehicles have a CO2 emission rate of 168 grams/kilometre, so the benefit will be calculated
at the rate of 20% ((168 – 140)/5 + 15), resulting in a total annual car and car fuel benefit charge of £6,880 (20,000
x 20% + 14,400 x 20%). The low emission vehicles will be chargeable at the basic percentage rate of 15% resulting
in a total annual car and fuel benefit charge of £5,160 (20,000 x 15% + 14,400 x 15%). The salesmen will thus
make an annual income tax saving at their marginal rate of tax, i.e. £378 (1,720 x 22%) if they are basic rate taxpayers
and £688 (1,720 x 40%) if they are higher rate taxpayers.
Linden Limited
The current vehicles will be classed as ‘expensive’ cars based on the discounted list price plus the cost of the accessories
of £18,824 (19,600 x 94% + 400). The annual writing down allowances will thus be restricted to £3,000 throughout
the period of ownership, but there will be no restriction of the balancing allowance available on disposal. The low
emission vehicles will be eligible for a 100% first year allowance of £19,020 (19,600 x 95% + 400), but there will
also be a balancing charge on disposal equivalent to the sales proceeds. Therefore, the total of the allowances available
over the life of the cars will be effectively the same in both cases. As a single company with taxable profits of
£1·4 million, Linden Limited will pay corporation tax at the small companies marginal rate of 32·75% in the year to
31 July 2007, giving a tax benefit in that year of £5,247 for each low emission car purchased ((19,020 – 3,000) x
32·75%).
The company will also make an annual saving in terms of the Class 1A national insurance contributions payable on the
salesmen’s benefits of £220 ((6,880 – 5,160) x 12·8%). But, as these Class 1A contributions are deductible for
corporation tax, the net saving will only be £205 (220 x (100 – 32·75)%).
As the VAT liability payable on the provision of private fuel is based on engine capacity (not the CO2 emission rate) this
will not necessarily be affected.

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