ISA 200: Overall objectives of the independent auditor & the conduct of an audit in accordance with international standards on auditing.
To obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
To report on the financial statements, and communicate as required by the ISA's, in accordance with the auditor's findings.
Key requirements for the auditor to obtain reasonable assurance and to express an opinion are:-
ETHICS:- Comply with relevant ethical requirements
PROFESSIONAL SKEPTICISM:- Exercise professional judgement in planning & performing an audit
SUFFICIENT APPROPRIATE AUDIT EVIDENCE & AUDIT RISK:- Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level.
ISA 300: Planning an audit of financial statements
Objective is to plan the audit so that it will be performed in an effective manner
OVERALL AUDIT STRATEGY
Characteristics of the engagement
Reporting objectives, timing of the audit and nature of communications
Significant factors, preliminary engagement activities & knowledge gained on other engagements
Nature, timing & extent of resources
AUDIT PLAN
Specific procedures to be carried out to implement the strategy and complete the audit
ISA 315: Identifying & assessing the risks of material misstatement through understanding the entity & its environement
Understand the entity in order to.....
Identify & assess risks of material misstatement
Design & perform audit procedures
Provide a frame of reference for judgements
WHAT do we need to get an understanding of?
Industry, regulatory & other external factors
Nature of the entity
Selection, application & reasons for changes of accounting policies
1) Identify Risks
2) Assess whether the identified risks relate more pervasively to the financial statements as a whole
3) Relate the risks to what can go wrong at the assertion level
4) Consider whether the risks are of a magnitude that could result in a material misstatement
Some risks identified may be SIGNIFICANT risks
Risk of fraud
The degree of SUBJECTIVITY in the financial statements
Unusual transactions
Significant transactions with a related party
COMPLEXITY of the transactions
Objectives, strategies & related business risks
Measurement & review of the entity's financial performance
Internal Control
HOW do we get this understanding?
Inquiries of management
Analytical procedures
Observation & inspection
Audit team discussion of the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement
Prior period knowledge
ISA 330 The auditor's responses to assessed risks
Objective of the auditor is to 'obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence re the assessed risks of material misstatement, through designing & implementing appropriate responses to these risks
Overall responses
Emphasising to the audit team the need for professional skepticism
Assigning additional/ alternative staff to the audit
Using experts
Providing more supervision on the audit
Incorporating more unpredictability into the audit
The evaluation of the control environment will help the auditor determine whether they are going to take a SUBSTANTIVE approach or a COMBINED approach
Further audit procedures designed to address the assessed risks
MUST carry out substantive procedures on material items and also :-
Agreeing the financial statements to the underlying accounting records
Examining material journal entries
Examining other adjustments made in preparing the financial statements