Part 1

 

Question: ENPL2-0001

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 authorized creation of the

Answers

A: Auditing Standards Board.

B: Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

C: Financial Accounting Standards Center.

D: Corporate Governance Institute.

Answer Explanations

A.    Answer A is incorrect because the Auditing Standards Board has been involved with auditing standards for many years and was not established by the Act.

B.    Answer B is correct in that the Act authorized creation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

C.    Answer C is incorrect in that the Act did not establish a Financial Accounting Standards Center.

D.    Answer D is incorrect because while there are several “Corporate Governance Institutes,” none were established by the Act.

Hint

The Act increased governmental involvement.


Question: ENPL2-0002

Which of the following has the lowest authoritative status but may be useful in assisting the auditor in applying the SASs?

Answers

A: Statements on Auditing Standards.

B: Auditing Statements of Position.

C: Journal of Accountancy articles.

D: Auditing Interpretations.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect. SASs have the highest level of authority.

B.            Answer B is incorrect. Statements of Position have the authority of interpretative guidance.

C.            Answer C is correct. Journal of Accountancy articles have no authoritative status but may be useful in applying SASs.

D.            Answer D is incorrect. Auditing Interpretations have the status of interpretive guidance.

Hint

Which of the publications have no authoritative status?


Question: ENPL2-0003

Early appointment of the independent auditor will enable

 

Answers

A: A more thorough examination to be performed.

B: A proper consideration of internal control to be performed.

C: Sufficient competent evidential matter to be obtained.

D: A more efficient audit to be planned.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect because the overall scope of the audit must remain the same regardless of appointment date.

B.            Answer B is incorrect because a proper consideration of internal control may be performed even without early appointment.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because sufficient competent evidential matter must be obtained regardless of the appointment date.

D.            Answer D is correct because the early appointment of the independent auditor enables the auditor to plan his/her work so that it may be done expeditiously and to determine the extent to which it can be done before the balance sheet date. Such preliminary work by the auditor permits the audit to be performed in a more efficient manner and to be completed at an early date after the year-end.

Hint

Planning enhances efficiency.


Question: ENPL2-0004

When establishing an understanding with an audit client, that understanding should be documented

Answers

A: Through use of an engagement letter.

B: Through a written communication with the client.

C: Either orally or in writing with the client.

D: In a manner completely based on the auditor's seasoned professional judgment.

Answer Explanations

A.    Answer A is incorrect. While an engagement letter is frequently used, it is not required.

B.    Answer B is correct. The professional standards require a written communication.

C.    Answer C is incorrect. The understanding must be written not oral.

D.    Answer D is incorrect. The professional standards allow only limited auditor use of professional judgment here in that a written communication is required.

Hint

Only limited flexibility exists here.


Question: ENPL2-0005

An understanding with the client must include the objectives of the engagement, management’s responsibilities, and

The auditor’s responsibilities

Limitations

of the audit

A.

Yes

Yes

B.

Yes

No

C.

No

Yes

D.

No

No

 

Answers

A: A.

B: B.

C: C.

D: D.

Answer Explanations

A.  Answer A is correct. The professional standards require that both the auditor’s responsibilities and limitations of the audit be communicated.

B.    Answer B is incorrect. Limitations of the audit must be communicated.

C.    Answer C is incorrect. The auditor’s responsibilities must be communicated.

D.    Answer D is incorrect. Both the auditor’s responsibilities and limitations of the audit must be communicated.

Hint

What needs to be communicated to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings?


Question: ENPL2-0006

The primary responsibility for the adequacy of disclosure in the financial statements of a publicly held company rests with the

 

Answers

A: Partner assigned to the audit engagement.

B: Management of the company.

C: Auditor in charge of the fieldwork.

D: Securities and Exchange Commission.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect because his/her responsibility is limited to expressing an opinion as to the fairness of the financial statements.

B.            Answer B is correct because financial statements are the representations of management, and they have the responsibility for producing proper financial statements.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because his/her responsibility is to gather audit evidence regarding the fairness of the financial statements.

D.            Answer D is incorrect because its responsibility for enforcing disclosure requirements in financial statements of publicly held companies is secondary to management's primary responsibility for the representations included in the financial statements.

Hint

Who makes the representations in the financial statements?


Question: ENPL2-0007

Which of the following statements best describes the phrase "generally accepted auditing standards" as it relates to an audit of a nonpublic company?

 

Answers

A: They identify the policies and procedures for the conduct of the audit.

B: They define the nature and extent of the auditor’s responsibilities.

C: They provide guidance to the auditor with respect to planning the audit and writing the audit report.

D: They set forth a measure of the quality of the performance of audit procedures.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect because generally accepted auditing standards give only limited guidance as to specific policies and procedures for the conduct of the audit.

B.            Answer B is incorrect because generally accepted auditing standards give only limited guidance as to the nature and extent of the auditor's responsibilities.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because it only relates to the standard concerned with planning the audit and writing the audit report and not to the other standards.

D.            Answer D is correct because generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) deal with measures of the quality of the performance of audit procedures. Auditing standards relate not only to the auditor's professional qualities but also to the judgment exercised by the auditor in the performance of the audit.

Hint

GAAS is a measure of performance.


Question: ENPL2-0008

Which of the following underlies the application of generally accepted auditing standards, particularly the standards of fieldwork and reporting?

 

 

Answers

A: The elements of materiality and audit risk.

B: The element of internal control.

C: The element of corroborating evidence.

D: The element of reasonable assurance.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is correct because the elements of materiality and audit risk underlie the application of all the standards, particularly the standards of fieldwork and reporting.

B.            Answer B is incorrect because internal control does not underlie all GAAS but rather deals specifically with the second fieldwork standard.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because corroborating evidence is required to be gathered but does not underlie all GAAS. Corroborating evidence addresses the third fieldwork standard directly.

D.            Answer D is incorrect because reasonable assurance is a basic concept of internal control which recognizes that the cost of internal control should not exceed the benefits expected to be derived.

Hint

Which of the following do not underlie the application of all the standards?


Question: ENPL2-0009

Which of the following publications does not qualify as a source of generally accepted accounting principles?

 

 

Answers

A: Accounting interpretations issued by the FASB.

B: AICPA Concepts Statements.

C: AICPA Practice Bulletins.

D: Statements of Financial Standards issued by the FASB.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect because interpretations issued by the FASB are considered as sources of GAAP (AU 411).

B.            Answer B is correct because the AICPA has not issued concepts statements. The concepts statements issued by the FASB are considered "other accounting literatures" and are not sources of generally accepted accounting principles.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because Practice Bulletins are considered as sources of GAAP (AU 411).

D.            Answer D is incorrect because FASB statements are considered sources of GAAP (AU 411).

Hint

The AICPA has not issued concepts statements.


Question: ENPL2-0010

In developing an overall audit strategy, an auditor should consider

Answers

A: Whether the allowance for sampling risk exceeds the achieved upper precision limit.

B: Findings from substantive tests performed at interim dates.

C: Whether the inquiry of the client’s attorney identifies any litigation, claims, or assessments not disclosed in the financial statements.

D: Reporting objectives of the engagement.

Answer Explanations

A.    Answer A is incorrect. Any information on the achieved upper precision limit will generally be obtained after the overall audit strategy has been developed.

B.    Answer B is incorrect. Any information on interim substantive tests will generally be obtained after the overall audit strategy has been developed.

C.    Answer C is incorrect. Any information pertaining to attorney's letters will generally be obtained after the overall audit strategy has been developed.

D.    Answer D is correct. An overall audit strategy involves (1) determining the scope of the audit, (2) determining the reporting objectives, and (3) considering various other important factors.

Hint

The preliminary audit strategy occurs very early in the engagement.


Question: ENPL2-0011

Inherent risk and control risk differ from detection risk in that inherent risk and control risk are

 

 

Answers

A: Elements of audit risk while detection risk is not.

B: Changed at the auditor’s discretion while detection risk is not.

C: Considered at the individual account-balance level while detection risk is not.

D: Functions of the client and its environment while detection risk is not.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect. Inherent risk, control risk and detection risk are all components of audit risk.

B.            Answer B is incorrect. Detection risk, not inherent risk and control risk, may be changed at the auditor's discretion.

C.            Answer C is incorrect. Auditors consider all of the component risks at the account level.

D.            Answer D is correct. Inherent risk and control risk exist independently of the audit of financial statements as functions of the client and its environment, whereas detection risk relates to the auditor's procedures and can be changed at his or her discretion.

Hint

An auditor may change the level of detection risk.


Question: ENPL2-0012

As the acceptable level of detection risk decreases, the assurance directly provided from

 

 

Answers

A: Substantive procedures should increase.

B: Substantive procedures should decrease.

C: Tests of controls should increase.

D: Tests of controls should decrease.

Answer Explanations

A.    Answer A is correct. Detection risk is restricted by the auditor's substantive procedures. As the acceptable level of detection risk decreases, assurance provided by substantive procedures must increase. Increased assurance can be obtained by modifying the nature, timing and/or extent of the substantive procedures.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

C.    Answer C is incorrect. The acceptable level of detection risk is based largely on the assessed levels of control risk and inherent risk. Accordingly, any tests of controls will already have been performed.

D.    Answer D is incorrect. The acceptable level of detection risk is based largely on the assessed levels of control risk and inherent risk. Accordingly, any tests of controls will already have been performed.

Hint

There is an inverse relationship between detection risk and substantive procedures.


Question: ENPL2-0013

Holding all other factors constant, decreasing the extent of substantive audit procedures for accounts payable ordinarily has what effect on audit risk?

 

 

Answers

A: Increases.

B: Decreases.

C: No effect.

D: Indeterminate.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is correct because decreasing the extent of substantive audit procedures increases detection risk, and this will increase audit risk when all other factors remain constant.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

Hint

Identify the effect of decreasing the extent of substantive procedures on audit risk.


Question: ENPL2-0014

Which of the following audit risk components may be assessed in nonquantitative terms?

 

Inherent

risk         

Control

risk         

Detection

risk         

A.

Yes

Yes

No

B.

Yes

No

Yes

C.

No

Yes

Yes

D.

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

 

Answers

A: A.

B: B.

C: C.

D: D.

Answer Explanations

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

D.            Answer D is correct because all of these risks may be assessed in quantitative terms such as percentages. They may also be assessed in nonquantitative terms such as a range from a minimum to a maximum.

Hint

No tricks here.


Question: ENPL2-0015

Use the audit risk model to calculate audit risk (to the closest percent) in the following circumstance:

 

                                                Control risk             40%

                                                Inherent risk            40%

                                                Detection risk         40%

 

Answers

A: 1%.

B: 6%.

C: 13%.

D: 40%.

Answer Explanations

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

B.    Answer B is correct. The requirement is to use the audit risk model to mathematically calculate audit risk (to the nearest percent). AU 312 discusses the three components of the audit risk model presented in this problem which may be viewed as

 

Audit risk

=

Inherent risk x Control risk x Detection risk

in this problem

Audit risk

=

.40 x .40 x .40

=

6.4%

 

Note that a quantitative approach such as this is largely for demonstrative purposes and few would directly incorporate it into practice.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

Hint

AR = IR x DR x CR


Question: ENPL2-0016

The risk that an auditor will conclude, based on substantive procedures, that a material misstatement does not exist in an account balance when, in fact, such error does exist is referred to as

Answers

A: Sampling risk.

B: Detection risk.

C: Nonsampling risk.

D: Inherent risk.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect. Sampling risk arises from the possibility that, when a test of controls or a substantive test is restricted to a sample, the auditor's conclusions may be different from the conclusions he or she would reach if the procedures were applied in the same way to all items in the account balance or class of transactions.

B.            Answer B is correct. Detection risk is the risk that the auditor will not detect a material misstatement that exists in an assertion.

C.            Answer C is incorrect. Nonsampling risk includes only those aspects of audit risk that are not due to sampling.

D.            Answer D is incorrect. Inherent risk is the susceptibility of an assertion to a material misstatement, assuming that there are no related controls.

Hint

No tricks here.


Question: ENPL2-0017

As a lower acceptable level of materiality is established, the auditor should plan more work on individual accounts to

 

Answers

A: Find smaller misstatements.

B: Find larger misstatements.

C: Increase the tolerable misstatement in the accounts.

D: Decrease the risk of assessing control risk too low.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is correct. A decrease in acceptable levels of materiality requires the auditor to do one or more of the following: (1) select a more effective auditing procedure, (2) perform auditing procedures closer to the balance sheet date, or (3) increase the extent of a particular auditing procedure. By increasing the extent of a procedure concerning an individual account and/or selecting a more effective procedure, the auditor will find the smaller misstatements that in aggregate might exceed his preliminary judgments about materiality. The auditor, therefore, must plan to find smaller misstatements as a lower acceptable level of materiality is established.

B.            Answer B is incorrect. Larger misstatements must be discovered in any sampling plan regardless of materiality levels.

C.            Answer C is incorrect. A decrease in materiality will lead to a decrease in tolerable misstatement for an account, not an increase. Tolerable misstatement is a planning concept and is related to the auditor's preliminary estimates of materiality levels in such a way that tolerable misstatement combined for the entire audit plan, does not exceed those estimates.

D.            Answer D is incorrect. Lower levels of materiality do not require a reduction in the risk of assessing control risk too low. The risk of assessing control risk too low pertains to the planned reliance on specific internal control policies and procedures, not work on individual accounts.

Hint

As the level of materiality decreases, the amount of evidence needed increases.


Question: ENPL2-0018

Which of the following statements is not correct about materiality?

 

 

Answers

A: The concept of materiality recognizes that some matters are important for fair presentation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, while other matters are not important.

B: An auditor considers materiality for planning purposes in terms of the largest aggregate level of misstatements that could be material to any one of the financial statements.

C: Materiality judgments are made in light of surrounding circumstances and necessarily involve both quantitative and qualitative judgments.

D: An auditor’s consideration of materiality is influenced by the auditor’s perception of the needs of a reasonable person who will rely on the financial statements.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect. Materiality does recognize that some matters are important for fair presentation in conformity with GAAP.

B.            Answer B is correct because the auditor considers materiality for planning purposes in terms of the smallest, not the largest, aggregate amount of misstatement that could be material to any one of the financial statements.

C.            Answer C is incorrect as materiality is a judgment assessed in quantitative and qualitative terms.

D.            Answer D is incorrect because materiality is a function of the auditor's perception of user needs.

Hint

What is the definition of materiality?


Question: ENPL2-0019

In considering materiality for planning purposes, an auditor believes that misstatements aggregating $10,000 would have a material effect on an entity's income statement, but that misstatements would have to aggregate $20,000 to materially affect the balance sheet. Ordinarily, it would be appropriate to design auditing procedures that would be expected to detect misstatements that aggregate

 

 

Answers

A: $10,000

B: $15,000

C: $20,000

D: $30,000

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is correct because it will ordinarily be difficult to anticipate during the planning stage of an audit whether all misstatements will affect only one financial statement. The auditor therefore generally is required to use the lower financial statement figure for most portions of planning.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

This answer is incorrect. Refer to the correct answer explanation.

Hint

In the planning stage, the auditor typically makes a conservative assessment of materiality.


Question: ENPL2-0020

Following the Professional Standards which of the following is not one of the assertions made by management for account balances?

Answers

A: Completeness.

B: Existence.

C: Valuation and allocation.

D: Relevance and reliability.

Answer Explanations

A.    Answer A is incorrect. Completeness is an account balance assertion.

B.    Answer B is incorrect. Existence is an account balance assertion.

C.    Answer C is incorrect. Presentation and disclosure is an account balance assertion.

D.    Answer D is correct. Relevance and reliability is not included in the professional standards as an account balance assertion. AU 326 presents as assertions: (1) Existence, (2) Rights and obligations, (3) Completeness, and (4) Valuation and allocation.

Hint

No tricks here.


Question: ENPL2-0021

Which of the following, if material, would be fraud as defined in Statements on Auditing Standards?

 

Answers

A: Errors in the application of accounting principles.

B: Errors in the accounting data underlying the financial statements.

C: Misinterpretation of facts that existed when the financial statements were prepared.

D: Misappropriation of assets.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect because an error in the application of accounting principles is an example of "errors" as defined by Statements on Auditing Standards. An error refers to an unintentional mistake.

B.            Answer B is incorrect because an error in accounting data is an example of "errors" as defined by Statements on Auditing Standards. An error refers to an unintentional mistake.

C.            Answer C is incorrect because a misinterpretation of facts is an example of "errors" as defined by Statements on Auditing Standards. An error refers to an unintentional mistake.

D.            Answer D is correct because the term "fraud" refers to intentional distortions of financial statements such as deliberate misrepresentations.

Hint

Fraud is an intentional distortion of the financial statements.


Question: ENPL2-0022

Which of the following factors is most important concerning an auditor's responsibility to detect errors and fraud?

 

 

Answers

A: The susceptibility of the accounting records to intentional manipulations, alterations, and the misapplication of accounting principles.

B: The probability that unreasonable accounting estimates result from unintentional bias or intentional attempts to misstate the financial statements.

C: The possibility that management fraud, defalcations, and the misappropriation of assets may indicate the existence of illegal acts.

D: The risk that mistakes, falsifications, and omissions may cause the financial statements to contain material misstatements.

Answer Explanations

A.            Answer A is incorrect. The susceptibility of the accounting records to intentional manipulations, alterations, and the misapplication of accounting principles are examples of factors that may influence the auditor's consideration of risk of material misstatement. This answer is incorrect because it is incomplete.

B.            Answer B is incorrect. The probability that unreasonable accounting estimates result from unintentional bias or intentional attempts to misstate the financial statements is an example of a factor that may influence the auditor's consideration of risk of material misstatements in the financial statements. This answer is incorrect because it is incomplete.

C.            Answer C is incorrect. The possibility that management fraud, defalcations, and the misappropriation of assets indicating the existence of illegal acts is one factor the auditor can use to assess the risk of management misrepresentation in the financial statements. Answer C is incorrect because it is incomplete.

D.            Answer D is correct. The auditor should assess the risk that errors and fraud (which include mistakes, falsifications and omissions) may cause the financial statements to contain material misstatements.

Hint

Three of these answers are incorrect because they are incomplete. The correct answer is the broadest in scope.

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