ISA 240: The auditors responsibilities relating to fraud in an audit of financial statements
WHAT IS FRAUD
Is an INTENTIONAL act by one or more individuals among management,
those charges with governance, employees or third parties involving the
use of DECEPTION to obtain an UNJUST OR ILLEGAL advantage.
Auditor's main concern is with fraud that causes a MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT in financial statements.
FRAUDULENT FINANCIAL REPORTING
Manipulation, falsification or alteration of
accounting records/supporting documents
Misrepresentation of events, transactions or other information
in the financial statements
Intentional misapplication of accounting principles
MISAPPROPRIATION OF ASSETS
Theft of the entity's assets
ERROR:- caused by a mistake
RESPONSIBILITIES WITH REGARD TO FRAUD
Management and those charged with governance are PRIMARILY responsible for preventing & detecting fraud.
Auditors are responsible for carrying out an audit in accordance with international auditing standards - ISA 240
AUDITOR'S APPROACH TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FRAUD
GENERAL
Key responsibility of the auditor is obtaining reasonable assurance
that the financial statements taken as a whole are free from material
misstatement whether caused by fraud or error
1) Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement
2) Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence through designing and implementing appropriate responses.
3) Respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.
Discussion by members of the engagement team of the susceptibility of the entity's
financial statements to material misstatement due to fraud, including how fraud might
occur.
RISK ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Undertake risk assessment procedures as set out in ISA 315 which would
include assessing the risk of fraud
Inquiries of managemnt, consideration of when fraud risk factors are
present, consideration of results of analytical procedures,
consideration of any other relevant information
The size, complexity and ownership
characteristics of the entity have a significant
influence on the consideration of relevant fraud
risk factors.
Examples of fraud risk factors:-
Incentives/pressures
Opportunities
Attitudes/rationalisations
Identify fraud risks
Relates this to what could go wrong at a financial statement level.
Considers likely magnitude of potential misstatement.
RESPONDING TO ASSESSED RISKS
The auditor shall determine overall responses to address the assessed risks of
material misstatement due to fraud at the financial statement level.
Consider the assignment and
supervision of personnel
Consider the accounting policies
used by the entity
Incorporate an element of unpredictability in the
selection of the nature,timing and extent of audit
procedures.
The auditor shall design and perform further audit procedures whose nature, timing and
extent are responsive to the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud at the
assertion level.
EVALUATION OF AUDIT EVIDENCE
Ensure it is consistent and that it achieves its aim of answering the risks of fraud.
Analytical procedures and any misstatements found.
Reliability of written representations.
REPORTING
Has identified a fraud or has obtained information that indicates a fraud may exist.
Shall communicate these matters on a timely basis to the appropriate level of management.
If the auditor has identified or suspects fraud involving management or employees who have significant internal control
Shall communicate these matters to those charged with governance
May have a statutory duty to report fraudulent behaviour to REGULATORS outside the entity.
UNABLE TO CONTINUE
Consider the need to withdraw from the engagement if he uncovers
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES with regard to fraud.