2020年ACCA考试笔试阶段考试当天的几大注意事项

正确答案：
(a) Importance of independence
The auditor must be materially independent of the client for the following reasons:
To increase credibility and to underpin confidence in the process. In an external audit, this will primarily be for the benefit of
the shareholders and in an internal audit, it will often be for the audit committee that is, in turn, the recipient of the internal
audit report.
To ensure the reliability of the audit report. Any evidence of lack of independence (or ‘capture’) has the potential to undermine
all or part of the audit report thus rendering the exercise flawed.
To ensure the effectiveness of the investigation of the process being audited. An audit, by definition, is only effective as a
means of interrogation if the parties are independent of each other.
Three threats to independence
There are three threats to independence described in the case.
The same audit partner (Zachary) was assigned to Van Buren in eight consecutive years. This is an association threat and is
a contravention of some corporate governance codes. Both Sarbanes-Oxley and the Smith Guidance (contained in the UK
Combined Code), for example, specify auditor rotation to avoid association threat.
Fillmore Pierce provides more than one service to the same client. One of the threats to independence identified between
Arthur Andersen and Enron after the Enron collapse was an over-dependence on Enron by Andersen arising from the provision
of several services to the same client. Good practice is not to offer additional services to audit clients to avoid the appearance
of compromised independence. Some corporate governance codes formally prohibit this.
The audit partner (Zachary) is an old friend of the financial director of Van Buren (Frank). This ‘familiarity’ threat should be
declared to Fillmore Pierce at the outset and it may disqualify Zachary from acting as audit partner on the Van Buren account.

正确答案：
(ii) Control weakness
ISA 260 contains guidance on the type of issues that should be communicated. One of the matters identified is a control
weakness in the capital expenditure transaction cycle. The assets for which no authorisation was obtained amount to
0·3% of total assets (225,000/78 million x 100%), which is clearly immaterial. However, regardless of materiality, the
auditor should ensure that the weakness is brought to the attention of the management, with a clear indication of the
implication of the weakness, and recommendations as to how the control weakness should be eliminated.
The auditor is providing information to help those charged with governance improve the internal systems and controls
and ultimately reduce business risk. In this case there is a high risk of fraud, as the lack of authorisation for purchase
of office equipment could allow expenditure on assets not used for bona fide business purposes.
Disagreement with accounting treatment of brand
Audit procedures have revealed a breach of IAS 38 Intangible Assets, in which internally generated brand names are
specifically prohibited from being recognised. Blod Co has recognised an internally generated brand name which is
material to the statement of financial position (balance sheet) as it represents 12·8% of total assets (10/78 x 100%).
The statement of financial position (balance sheet) therefore contains a material misstatement.
The report to those charged with governance should clearly explain the rules on recognition of internally generated brand
names, to ensure that the management has all relevant technical facts available. In the report the auditors should
request that the financial statements be corrected, and clarify that if the brand is not derecognised, then the audit opinion
will be qualified on the grounds of a material disagreement – an ‘except for’ opinion would be provided. Once the breach
of IAS 38 is made clear to the management in the report, they then have the opportunity to discuss the matter and
decide whether to amend the financial statements, thereby avoiding a qualified audit opinion.
Audit inefficiencies
Documentation relating to inventories was not always made readily available to the auditors. This seems to be due to
poor administration by the client rather than a deliberate attempt to conceal information. The report should contain a
brief description of the problems encountered by the audit team. The management should be made aware that
significant delay to the receipt of necessary paperwork can cause inefficiencies in the audit process. This may seem a
relatively trivial issue, but it could lead to an increase in audit fee. Management should react to these comments by
ensuring as far as possible that all requested documentation is made available to the auditors in a timely fashion.

正确答案：
(c) Matthew has set ambitious growth goals for the 2005–7 period in his quest to become ‘unquestioned leader’ in their region
and to roll out the model nationally. Clearly there are choices to be made in terms of implementing the strategy and much of
the success of the strategy will depend on the extent to which appropriate resources, structure and systems are in place to
facilitate growth. Many alternative models consider how strategy is implemented, but one of the most popular is the McKinsey
7S model in which the 7S’s are strategy, structure, systems (the so called ‘hard’ or tangible variables) and staff, style, skills
and shared values (the ‘soft’ or less tangible variables). The 7S model has a number of key assumptions built into it. Normally
we tend to think of strategy being the first variable in the strategic management process, with all other variables dependent
on the chosen strategy. However, Peters and Waterman argue that the assertion, for instance, that a firm’s structure follows
from its strategy ignores the fact that a particular structure may equally influence the strategy chosen. If we have a simple
functional structure, this may severely limit the ability of the firm to move or diversify into other areas of business. Equally
important is to understand the linkages between the variables, just as with the value chain, recognising if you change one of
the variables you then have to see the consequences for each of the other variables.
Our earlier analysis will have provided us with an understanding of the strategy being pursued by Universal. It is now looking
to offer its service to other parts of the country and become a national provider. In strategy terms, this is a process of growth
by way of market development, with the same service in different regions or markets. Universal’s experience is dominated by
operating in one region and the consequences of moving into new regions should not be underestimated. There are interesting
examples of companies having conspicuous success in their home territory but finding competition and customer relationships
very different outside their home market, even in the same country.
Matthew has already recognised the need to create a new structure to handle the growth strategy. This is ‘growth by
geographic expansion’ and while it may be the most simple growth strategy to control and co-ordinate, the creation of regional
centres managing the sales and installations in the region will add an additional level of administration and complexity.
This structural change will have significant implications for the systems employed by the company. Development of a national
operation will necessitate new methods of communication and reporting. Customer service levels depend on the management
information systems available. There is an opportunity for the new regions to benchmark themselves against the home region.
Efficient systems lie at the heart of Universal’s ability to offer a higher value added service to the customer. Standardised
processes have allowed a ‘no surprises’ policy to be successfully implemented. The extent to which the same business models
can be simply repeated in region after region will have to be tested. There is little mention of IT systems, but the pace of
expansion should be closely linked to the system’s ability to cope with increased demands.
Staff – reference has been made earlier to Universal being a people business, able to deliver a better quality of service to the
customer. The heavy reliance on self-employed staff means that a very active recruitment and training process will have to
be in place as Universal moves into different regions. New layers and levels of management will have implications for the
recruitment and development of both managers and staff reporting to them. The degrees of autonomy given to each of the
regions will materially affect the way they operate. Reward systems clearly link both staff and systems dimensions and there
is need to ensure that the right number and calibre of staff are recruited to expand the market coverage. Does Universal have
a staffing model that is easily ‘rolled’ out into other regions?
Equally important are any changes to the skill set needed by staff to operate nationally. Matthew feels that the model is
relatively lowly skilled with staff controlled through standardised systems. However, change is inevitable and the recruitment
and retention of staff in a labour intensive service will be key to success.
Universal is very much a family business dominated by the two founding brothers. Even with expansion being entirely within
their local region the rate of growth to a ￡6 million turnover business predicted to treble in size over the next three years, will
necessitate changes in the style. of management. Time management issues amongst the owner-managers have already begun
to emerge and a move from involvement with day-to-day management to a more strategic role is needed. Certainly growth to
date has been more emergent than planned, but vision and planning will be equally necessary as the firm operates nationally.
There are tensions for Matthew in making sure that his change in role and responsibilities does not result in him becoming
remote from his management and staff. Communication of the core values of the company will become even more necessary
and communication is key to managing the growth process.
The 7S’s is not the only model that will be useful in understanding the problems of implementing the growth strategy.
Greiner’s growth model has merit in drawing attention to the stages a growing business following an organic growth strategy
can expect to go through. Johnson and Scholes now refer to strategic implementation as ‘strategy in action’ made up of three
key activities, structuring an organisation to support successful performance. Universal’s move from a regional to a national
company will call for different structures and relationships. Enabling links the particular strengths and competences, built
round separate resource areas, to be combined to support the strategy – which in turn recognises and builds on identified
strengths. Finally, growth strategies will involve change and the management of the change process. They argue that change
will involve the need to change day-to-day routines and cultural aspects of the firm, together with overcoming resistance to
change.
All too often, a company grows at a rate which exceeds the capacity to implement the necessary change. This can expose
the firm to high levels of risk. Growth pressures can stimulate positive change and innovation, but in companies such as
Universal where considerable stress is placed on performance, targets and quality may be a casualty. Equally concerning is
if the rate of growth exceeds the capacity to invest in more people and technology. Growing the people and the systems isalmost a prerequisite to growing the business.

正确答案：
4 HEGAS
(a) Auditor’s responsibilities for ‘other information’
■ The auditor has a professional responsibility to read other information to identify material inconsistencies with the
audited financial statements (ISA 720 ‘Other Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements’).
■ A ‘material inconsistency’ arises when other information contradicts that which is contained in the audited financial
statements. It may give rise to doubts about:
– the auditor’s conclusions drawn from audit evidence; and
– the basis for the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements.
■ In certain circumstances, the auditor may have a statutory obligation (under national legislation) to report on other
information (e.g. Management Report).
■ Even where there is no such obligation (e.g. chairman’s statement), the auditor should consider it, as the credibility of
the financial statements may be undermined by any inconsistency.
■ The auditor must arrange to have access to the other information on a timely basis prior to dating the auditor’s report.
Material inconsistency
■ If a material inconsistency is identified, the auditor should determine whether it is the audited financial statements or
the other information which needs amending.
■ If an amendment to the audited financial statements is required but not made, there will be disagreement, resulting in
the expression of a qualified or adverse opinion. (Such a situation would be extremely rare.)
■ Where an amendment to other information is necessary, but refused, the auditor’s report may include an emphasis of
matter paragraph (since the audit opinion cannot be other than unqualified with respect to this matter).
Material misstatement of fact
■ A material misstatement of fact in other information exists when information which is not related to matters appearing
in the audited financial statements is incorrectly stated or presented in a misleading manner.
■ If management do not act on advice to correct a material misstatement the auditors should document their concerns to
those charged with corporate governance and obtain legal advice.
Tutorial note: Marks would be awarded here for the implications for the auditor’s report. However, such marks, which are
for the restatement of knowledge would NOT be awarded again if repeated in answers to (b).