ACCA考试F7考试模拟试题(2020-08-19)

正确答案：
(b) Recruitment service
IFAC’s Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants does not prohibit firms from offering a recruitment service to client
companies. However several ethical problems could arise if the service were offered. The severity of these problems would
depend on the exact nature of the service provided, and the role of the person recruited into the client’s organisation.
Specific ethical threats could include:
Self-interest – clearly the motive for Becker & Co to offer this service is to generate income from audit clients, thereby creating
a financial self-interest threat. The amount received for the recruitment service depends on the magnitude of the salary of the
person employed. The more senior the person recruited, the higher their salary is likely to be, and therefore the higher the
fee to be paid to Becker & Co.
In addition, the firm could be tempted to advise positively on the recruitment of an individual merely to receive the relevant
recruitment fee, without properly considering the suitability of the person for the role.
Familiarity – when performing the audit, the auditors may be less likely to criticise or challenge the work performed by a
person they helped to recruit, as any significant problems discovered may make the recruitment appear ill-advised.
Management involvement – there is also a threat that the audit firm could be perceived to be making management decisions
by selecting employees. The firm could offer services such as reviewing the professional qualifications of a number of
applicants, and providing advice on the applicant’s suitability for the post. In addition the firm could draw up a shortlist of
candidates for interview, using criteria specified by the client. However in all cases, the final decision as to whom to hire must
be made by the client, as the audit firm should not make, or be perceived to be making, management decisions.
The threats discussed above would increase in significance if the recruitee took on a role in key management pertaining to
the finance function, such as finance director or financial controller. The threats would be less severe if the audit firm advised
on the recruitment of a junior member of the client’s finance function.
If these threats could not be reduced to a level less than clearly insignificant, then the recruitment service should not be
offered.
Commercial evaluation
The firm should consider whether there is likely to be much demand for the potential service before developing such a
resource. Some form. of market research is essential.
Offering this type of service represents a significant departure from normal audit services. The firm should consider whether
there is sufficient knowledge and expertise to offer a recruitment service. Ingrid Sharapova seems to have some experience,
but her skills may be out of date, and may not be specifically relevant to the recruitment of finance professionals. It may be
that considerable training and possibly the attainment of a new professional qualification relevant to recruitment may be
necessary for a credible service to be offered to clients.
If the recruitment service proved successful, then Ingrid could be faced with too much work as she is the only person with
relevant experience, and has no one to delegate to. If the firm decides to offer this service, then one other person should
receive appropriate training, to cover for Ingrid’s holidays and any sick leave, and to provide someone for Ingrid to delegate
to. The financial cost of such training should be considered.
Finally, Becker & Co should consider the potential damage to the firm’s reputation if the service offered is not of a high quality.
If the partners decide to pursue this business opportunity, they may wish to consider setting it up as a separate entity, so that
if the business fails or its reputation is questioned, the damage to Becker & Co would be minimised.

正确答案：
(c) Software Supply Co
Here it seems that Smith & Co has referred the provision of bespoke accounting software to an external provider – Software
Supply Co, and that a commission is being paid to Smith & Co for these referrals. It is common for audit firms to recommend
other providers to their audit clients.
This could be perceived as an objectivity and self-interest threat, as the audit firm is benefiting financially through
recommending clients to a particular provider of goods and services. However, if appropriate safeguards are in place, the
referrals and receipt of commissions can continue.
Action to be taken:
– Verification from all personnel involved with the audit of clients to whom Software Supply Co has provided a service that
they have no financial or personal interest in Software Supply Co.
– Smith & Co must ensure that:
For each client where a referral is made, full disclosure has been made to the client regarding the arrangement
Written acknowledgement that Smith & Co is to receive a referral fee should be obtained from the client.
– Procedures must be put into place to monitor the quality of goods and services provided by Software Supply Co to audit
clients.

正确答案：
(b) An illustration of the features detailed above, framed in the context of a University as an organisation in the not-for-profit sector
might be as follows:
The Overall objective might well be stated in the mission statement of a University. An example of such a mission statement
might be as follows:
‘To provide a quality educational environment in a range of undergraduate and post-graduate disciplines and a quality
educational focus for students and the business community.’
More specifically, objectives may be seen as the achievement of ‘value for money’ thereby ensuring effectiveness in areas such
as:
– The provision of high added value to students;
– The establishment of a reputation for recognised expertise in specific areas of research work within the wider community;
and
– The provision of a high quality service to industry and commerce.
Strategies may focus on aspects such as:
– The recruitment and retention of high quality academic staff;
– The development of IT equipment and skills within the institution;
– The mentoring of students in order to ensure high added value and low drop-out rates in intermediate years of study;
and
– The close liaison with employers as to qualities in graduate/post-graduate employees that they will value highly.
The determinants used to measure the results of strategies might include:
– Competitiveness – cost per graduate compared to other institutions; growth in student numbers; number of staff holding
a PhD qualification;
– Financial performance – average cost per graduate; income generation from consultancy work;
– Quality – range of awards (percentages of 1st class degrees); employer responses; measures of quality of delivery of
education, advice to students, etc;
– Flexibility – variable entry and exit points to courses; modular structure; the variety of full-time, part-time and distance
learning modes;
– Resource Utilisation – staff:student ratios; quotas met by each course; accommodation filled;
– Innovation – latest IT provision in linking lecture theatres to information databases; increased provision of flexilearning/
mixed mode course provision.
The application of business change techniques might include the following:
BPR with a focus on IT developments, flexible-learning or mixed mode course provision.
JIT with a focus on moves towards student-centred uptake of educational opportunities e.g. via intranet availability of lecture
and tutorial material linked to more flexible access to staff rather than a ‘push’ system of pre-structured times of
lectures/tutorials.
TQM with a focus on moves to improve quality in all aspects of the learning environment including delivery of lectures, access
to staff and pastoral care issues.
ABM with a focus on activities on a per student basis (both planned and actual) with a view to eliminating activities that do
not add value e.g. cost per lecture per student.

正确答案：
(c) Due diligence review
(i) Inquiries
Tutorial note: These should be focussed on uncovering facts that may not be revealed by the audited financial
statements (e.g. off balance sheet finance, contingencies, commitments and contracts) especially where knowledge
may be confined to management.
■ Do any members of MCM’s senior/executive management have contractual terms that will result in significant
payouts to them (e.g. on change of ownership of the company or their being made redundant)?
■ What contracts with clients, if any, will lapse or be made void in the event that MCM is purchased from Frontiers?
■ What synergy or inter-company trading, if any, currently exists between MCM and Frontiers? For example, Frontiers
may publish MCM’s training materials.
■ Are there any major clients who are likely to be lost if MCM is purchased by Plaza (e.g. any competitor food
retailers)?
■ What are the principal terms of the operating leases relating to the International business’s premises?
■ What penalties should be expected to be incurred if operating leases and/or contracts with training consultants are
terminated?
■ Has MCM entered into any purchase commitments since 31 December 2004 (e.g. to buy or lease further
premises)?
■ Who are the best trainers that Plaza should seek to retain after the purchase of MCM?
■ What events since the audited financial statements to 31 December 2004 were published have made a significant
impact on MCM’s assets, liabilities, operating capability and/or cash flows? (For example, storm damage to
premises, major clients defaulting on payments, significant interest/foreign-exchange rate fluctuations, etc.)
■ Are there any unresolved tax issues which have not been provided for in full?
■ What effect will the purchase have on loan covenants? For example, term loans may be rendered repayable on a
change of ownership.