2020年ACCA考试《财务会计》备考考点(2)

发布时间:2020-10-18


距离ACCA考试还有45天的时间,各位小伙伴备考的如何了啊,今日51题库考试学习网为大家分享“2020ACCA考试《财务会计》备考考点(2)”的相关知识点,一起过来复习巩固一下吧。

THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT OF A COMPANY (四)

Four Management’s philosophy and operating style

A company’s board of directors will comprise of individuals each with a different mind – set as to philosophy and operating style, manifested in characteristics such as their:

Approach to taking and managing business risk

Attitudes and actions toward financial reporting

Attitudes toward information processing and accounting and functions personnel.

Each of the above characteristics underlie a company’s control environment and it is crucial for an auditor to have an understanding of them. Dealing with each in turn:

Approach to taking and managing business risk. Business risk is the risk inherent in a company because of its day-to-day operations and it comprises several components. The first of these is financial risk – for example, the risk that the company may have insufficient cash flow to continue in operation. The second component is operational risk – for example, the risk that the company’s product lines may decline in popularity leading to a sharp decline in sales and profitability. The final component of business risk is compliance risk – for example, the risk that the company may be in breach of health and safety regulations, leading to the possibility of hefty fines or even the closedown of operational activity. Candidates should be aware that a risk-based approach to an audit requires the identification and assessment of inherent risk factors and then of the control risk pertaining to these, in order to determine the risk of material misstatement, prior to carrying out substantive procedures. By adopting a top-down approach to the audit and first identifying business risks, auditors should be able to identify the associated inherent risks arising. They can then progress through the audit using the audit risk model (audit risk = the risk of material misstatement x detection risk) to determine the amount of detailed testing required in each area of the financial statements. To illustrate this approach, referring to the compliance risk example above, an inherent risk arising from the risk of a breach of health and safety regulations. Therefore, there is a risk that the company’s liabilities may be understated due to the omission of a provision required in the financial statements, in respect of a fine for a non-compliance.

The directors’ approach to taking and managing business risk has obvious ramifications on a company’s financial statements, and the auditor should be aware of the various factors that influence directors in this area, and of applicable controls in place. It is often the case that a newly established company with young entrepreneurial directors and a flat management structure will have a more liberal approach to taking and managing business risk than a well-established company will with more experienced directors, and a steep hierarchical management structure.

Consequently, it is likely that there would be a lower level of a risk of material misstatement in the financial statements of the latter company. Attitude and actions toward financial reporting. Financial Reporting Standards exist to help facilitate fairness, consistency and transparency of financial reporting. However, some determinants of profitability such as the measure of depreciation, the valuation of inventory or the amount of a provision remain open to the subjective judgment of management. Consequently, the auditor needs to gain an understanding of directors’ attitudes and actions to financial reporting issues and then make a judgment as to the extent of reliance that can be placed upon these. It may be that a company that is struggling in a faltering economy, and in another driven by a culture to report increasing profits, there is a tendency to adopt aggressive (as opposed to conservative) accounting principles, in order to meet profit expectations. Clearly, on such audit engagements it is important for the auditor to remain resolute in exercising appropriate levels of professional sceptics throughout.

以上就是51题库考试学习网带给大家的全部内容,相信小伙伴们都了解清楚。预祝大家在ACCA考试中取得满意的成绩,如果想要了解更多关于ACCA考试的资讯,敬请关注51题库考试学习网!


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。

(b) Explain the principal audit procedures to be performed during the final audit in respect of the estimated

warranty provision in the balance sheet of Island Co as at 30 November 2007. (5 marks)

正确答案:
(b) ISA 540 Audit of Accounting Estimates requires that auditors should obtain sufficient audit evidence as to whether an
accounting estimate, such as a warranty provision, is reasonable given the entity’s circumstances, and that disclosure is
appropriate. One, or a combination of the following approaches should be used:
Review and test the process used by management to develop the estimate
– Review contracts or orders for the terms of the warranty to gain an understanding of the obligation of Island Co
– Review correspondence with customers during the year to gain an understanding of claims already in progress at the
year end
– Perform. analytical procedures to compare the level of warranty provision year on year, and compare actual to budgeted
provisions. If possible disaggregate the data, for example, compare provision for specific types of machinery or customer
by customer
– Re-calculate the warranty provision
– Agree the percentage applied in the calculation to the stated accounting policy of Island Co
– Review board minutes for discussion of on-going warranty claims, and for approval of the amount provided
– Use management accounts to ascertain normal level of warranty rectification costs during the year
– Discuss with Kate Shannon the assumptions she used to determine the percentage used in her calculations
– Consider whether assumptions used are consistent with the auditors’ understanding of the business
– Compare prior year provision with actual expenditure on warranty claims in the accounting period
– Compare the current year provision with prior year and discuss any fluctuation with Kate Shannon.
Review subsequent events which confirm the estimate made
– Review any work carried out post year end on specific faults that have been provided for. Agree that all costs are included
in the year end provision.
– Agree cash expended on rectification work in the post balance sheet period to the cash book
– Agree cash expended on rectification work post year end to suppliers’ invoices, or to internal cost ledgers if work carried
out by employees of Island Co
– Read customer correspondence received post year end for any claims received since the year end.

(c) What changes to Churchill’s existing marketing mix will be needed to achieve the three strategic goals?

(15 marks)

正确答案:
(c) Each of the strategic goals will have a profound impact on the marketing mix as it currently exists. As each goal affects the
market position of Churchill developing an appropriate marketing mix will be the key to successful implementation of the
overall growth strategy. The product, the brand and the reputation it creates are at the heart of the company’s marketing
strategy. Their focus on the premium segment of the market seems a sensible one and one which allows a small family-owned
business to survive and grow slowly. Evidence suggests this is a luxury indulgence market reflecting changing consumer tastes
and lifestyles. Managing the product range will be a major marketing activity. While the core products may develop an almost
timeless quality there will be a need to respond to the product innovations introduced by its much larger competitors. The
company’s emphasis on the quality of its products resulting from the quality of its ingredients is at the heart of its competitive
advantage. Growing the product range will also bring the danger of under performing products and a consequent need to
divest such products. Packaging is likely to be a key part of the products’ appeal and will be an area where constant innovation
is important.
Pricing raises a number of issues. Why is Churchill’s core product priced at £1 less than its immediate competition? What is
the basis on which Churchill prices this product? Each of the methods of pricing has its advantages and disadvantages. Using
cost plus may create an illusion of security in that all costs are covered, but at the same time raises issues as to whether
relevant costs have been included and allocated. Should the company price in anticipation of cost reductions as volume
increases? Should the basis for pricing be what your competitors are charging? As a luxury product one would assume that
its demand is relatively price inelastic: a significant increase in price e.g. £1 would lead to only a small reduction in quantity
demanded. Certainly, profit margins would be enhanced to help provide the financial resources the company needs if it is to
grow. One interesting issue on pricing is the extent to which it is pursuing a price skimming or price penetration policy –
evidence from the scenario suggests more of a price skimming policy in line with the luxury nature of the product.

Place is an equally important issue – the vertical integration strategy of the company has led to company-owned shops being
the main way customers can buy the product. At the same time, this distribution strategy has led to Churchill’s sales being
largely confined to one region in the UK – although it is the most populous. If Churchill has a desire to grow, does it do this
through expanding the number of company owned and franchised outlets or look for other channels of distribution in
particular the increasingly dominant supermarket chains? Each distribution strategy will have significant implications for other
elements in the marketing mix and for the resources and capabilities required in the company.
Finally, promotion is an interesting issue for the company. The relatively recent appointment of a sales and marketing director
perhaps reflects a need to balance the previous dominance of the manufacturing side of the business. Certainly there is
evidence to suggest that John Churchill is not convinced of the need to advertise. There are some real concerns about how
the brand is developed and promoted. Certainly sponsorship is now seen as a key part of the firm’s promotional strategy. The
company has a good reputation but customer access to the product is fairly limited. Overall there is scope for the company
to critically review its marketing mix and implement a very different mix if it wants to grow.
The four Ps above are very much the ‘hard’ elements in the marketing mix and Churchill in its desire to grow will need toensure that the ‘softer’ elements of people, physical evidence and processes are aligned to its ambitious strategy.

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

Required:

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

be available to manage them to an acceptable level.

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

正确答案:
(iii) Cross selling services
The practice of cross selling is intended to give incentives to members of audit teams to concentrate their efforts on the
selling of non-audit services to audit clients.
It is not inappropriate for an audit firm to cross sell or for members of the audit team to recognise on an ongoing basis
the need of a client to have non audit services. However it should not be an aim of the audit team member to seek out
such opportunities.
Boleyn should have policies and procedures to ensure that, in relation to each audit client:
■ the objectives of the members of the audit team do not include selling of non-audit services to the audit client;
■ the criteria for evaluating the performance of members of the audit team do not include success in selling nonaudit
services to the audit client;
■ no specific element of remuneration of a member of the audit team and no decision concerning promotion within
the audit firm is based on his or her success in selling non-audit services to the audit client; and
■ the ethics partner being available for consultation when needed.
Therefore objectives such as the following are inappropriate:
■ to meet a quota of opportunities;
■ to specifically make time to discuss with clients which non-audit services they should consider;
■ to develop identified selling opportunities.
An audit engagement partner’s performance should be judged on the quality and integrity of the audit only. There are
no restrictions on normal partnership profit-sharing arrangements.

声明:本文内容由互联网用户自发贡献自行上传,本网站不拥有所有权,未作人工编辑处理,也不承担相关法律责任。如果您发现有涉嫌版权的内容,欢迎发送邮件至:contact@51tk.com 进行举报,并提供相关证据,工作人员会在5个工作日内联系你,一经查实,本站将立刻删除涉嫌侵权内容。