Help on Auditing Assignment

Introduction and Background Information

BSF was incorporated in 1995 and is currently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The company is primarily engaged in carrying out extensive research for developing sustainable aquaculture feeds. The company has tested different plant-based, fish-based and bacteria-based methods for production of aquaculture feeds. The results of the first two types research failed to thrive so the company is now considering to invest heavily in the bacteria-based feeds which is likely to produce the expected yield.

The company is currently investing heavily in the research and development of patents which will allow it to reap the benefits from the sale of bacteria-based feed in the market after 2 years. The company has also received grants from the government for investing in research activities relating to alternative aquaculture feeds. Therefore, the company has also made commitments to comply with the grant terms and conditions. BSF also has a history of accusations from the environmentalists in the past that they have been diverting human-quality food crops into growing luxury fish for the higher upper class of the society.

The audit for the company would be conducted in the light of the above key information which provides guidance in defining the key risk areas and the likelihood of the existence of risk that the financial statements may be materially misstated.

 

 

Client Acceptance Procedures

ISQC 1 requires that before accepting an audit engagement, appropriate procedures shall be conducted and conclusions drawn regarding the acceptance and continuance of client relationships (paragraph 26). Accordingly, steps that are needed to be considered before proceeding to provide consent to conducting audit for BSF are as follows:

1. Engagement partner and other relevant persons have considered the integrity of the management and other key management personnel of BSF and are satisfied that they are not involved in unethical or other activities that might raise questions about their integrity.
2. Considered whether the firm is competent to perform the engagement as per law, and has all the necessary resources including time, skills and human resources to perform the audit (Paragraph A8, ISA 220).
3. Whether the firm can comply with the relevant ethical requirements, including independence requirements, and there are no conflicts of interest with the management of BSF. Relevant ethical requirements for conducting an audit are provided by the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Code of Ethics for Chartered Accountants.

 

 

Assessment of the Risk of Material Misstatement and the Overall Audit Risk

ISA 315 requires the auditor to perform risk assessment procedures to identify the risks which may cause financial statements to be materially misstated prior to the conduct of audit. Performance of such risk assessment procedure enable the auditor to identify the key risk areas and focus the audit efforts to those areas thereby enhancing the audit efficiency and effectiveness (…). Such assessment also enables the auditor the design further auditor procedures such as Test of Controls and Substantive Procedures to execute the audit fieldwork.

 

Risk of Material Misstatement exists at two levels:

• Overall financial statement level, e.g., when the integrity of management is doubtful or when there is a risk of fraud as per ISA 240.
• Assertion level – when the individual line items of the financial statement might be material misstated auditor assesses these risks and it helps in determining the nature, timing and extent of planning further audit procedures (Paragraph A34-A36, ISA 315).

 

The risk of material misstatement has two components:

1. Inherent Risk (IR)

This is the component of risk that cannot be avoided. It is inherent in the nature of transactions and although it can be reduced to some extent through implementing effective internal controls, it cannot be entirely eliminated. Some examples where inherent risk is high are:

• In complex transactions and those that involve high level of subjectivity on the part of management such as making accounting estimates that have inherent significant estimated uncertainty, say an outcome of the litigation.
• Business risks may also give rise to inherent risk. Since BSF operates in the industry where technological developments are very frequent, it might make their particular product obsolete when new technology is introduced in the market, thereby having significant audit consideration.
• Operational risks, such as lack of working capital, deteriorated market reputation, declining goodwill and customer base, shortage of cash etc (Paragraph A38, ISA 200).

 

2. Control Risk (CR)

Control risk is in itself a function of three factors that are totally dependent on the management of the entity.

• Design of internal controls
• Implementation of internal controls
• Maintenance of internal control

These three factors when combined decide how well entity is prepared in meeting the risks that threaten the achievement of its operations and financial reporting objectives (Paragraph A39, ISA 200).

ISA 315 explains the 5 components of internal controls. These combinely have an effect on the control risk facing the entity. These include:

1. Control Environment – This includes among other things the implementation of the culture of honesty, fair dealing and ethical behavior within the organization by the management. A good control environment that is well entrenched within the entity provides a solid foundation for designing and implementing internal controls.
2. Entity’s Risk Assessment Process – This includes how the management of the entity identifies those business risks that are relevant to their financial reporting objectives, the probability of their occurrence and deciding measures to deal with those risks in order to minimize, reduce or eliminate them to an acceptably low level.
3. Entity’s information system – This includes business processes including those requiring initiation, recording, storing, processing and reporting financial transactions.
4. Control Activities – those that are relevant to the financial reporting objectives and hence considered necessary by the auditor.
5. Monitoring of Controls – How frequently risks and related controls are checked and monitored and whether an entity has an internal audit function (Paragraph 14-24, ISA 315).

Whereas, the third component of the overall risk in the financial statement is the Detection Risk, which is dependent on the auditor.

 

Developing Audit Programme and Detailed Audit Plan

1. Developing Overall Audit Strategy

Audit strategy is made in the very initial stages after accepting the audit. Developing Audit strategy is more broad and guides the development of detailed audit program at a later stage. Audit strategy for BSF shall include the following:

• Defining the scope of the audit engagement and what is expected by the management of BSF.
• Ascertaining the reports required to be issued and other communications with the management of BSF that may be required.
• Considering significant factors that help in executing the audit and directing the efforts of the engagement team members
• Determining how the results of the client acceptance procedures and preliminary engagement activities can affect the conduct of the audit.
• Collecting and pooling the resources necessary for the conduct of audit.

 

2. Detailed Audit Plan

Detailed audit plan goes to a more extent in determining the risk assessment procedures, as well as the nature, timing and extent of planned further audit procedures. Following should be necessarily included in the audit program for BSF Limited.

 

Research and Development Transaction

BSF Ltd. is carrying out research for the use of bacteria to produce fish feeds from wood chips, sugar cane residue, or recaptured methane gas. The main idea behind this research for BSF is twofold – bring down the cost of production of fish feeds, conservation of the low value fish and other essential crops that can be used for other activities. The research is important not only for the company but will have significant impact on the industry as a whole, because it will help in decreasing the utilization of aquaculture feeds that are plant-based and fish-based in order to produce better quality fish in large amount with high yield value. Therefore, it will enhance the sustainability of the overall process as the plants and fish that are saved from being used as aqua-culture feed can be utilized in other edibles.

The accounting treatment of the research and development expense vary greatly depending on the stage of benefits from the resulting internally generated intangible assets that can be derived by BSF.

Accounting requirements relating to the recognition and measurement of internally generated intangible assets are dealt with in IAS 38. These requirements are particularly stringent because derivation of economic benefits from internally generated intangible assets such as brands, trademarks, customer bases, patents, secret design or formula is highly subjective and depend on the future outlook. In valuing such assets an entity makes some serious assumptions relating to the cash flows that can be derived from such assets as well as estimating the appropriate discount rate.

Likewise, an internally generated goodwill is never allowed to be recognized under IAS 38 as it fails to meet the definition of Asset as per Framework. It is not identifiable resource, and it may not be possible to fully control it (such as customer loyalty) and measure it accurately.

The accounting treatment of internally generated intangible assets other than goodwill differ based on the entity’s ability to prove that future economic benefits are probable and will be obtained. It is briefly discussed hereunder:

• Research phase – always expensed as per paragraph 54 or IAS 38.
• Development phase – an asset may be capitalized and recognized based on entity’s ability to prove future economic benefits are probable and if certain criteria defined in paragraph 57 of IAS 38 is well met.
• Production phase – Internally generated intangible asset must be amortized over its useful life.

As per IAS 36, an item of intangible asset that is internally generated is also required to be tested for impairment at least annually irrespective of whether there are indications for impairment.

These concerns should be addressed and checked that no cost of research should be capitalized and all research cost should be expensed as per paragraph 58 of IAS 38.

 

Considerations relating to the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the Patent

FMV should be naturalistic indicative of the economic benefits that are embodies within the patent and that are expected to be derived by the entity from its future use (that is its value in use) (Schwartz, 2013). If the fair value of the patent is miscalculated, it may be overvalued or undervalued (Russell, 2016). The calculation of the fair market value of the patent mainly depends upon the underlying assumptions taken by the entity for the calculation.

Data and calculations used to calculate FMV has been given below.

Expected market value per year for ten years: $200 million

Discount rate: 8.0%

Time till production: 2 years

 

The above calculations are based on the assumption that the BSF continues to derive the 200 annual income from patent. Reasonableness of this assumption should be tested and verified by all means.

Also consider the likelihood of the similar research being conducted by any other company and the likely impact it has on the fair market value of the patent. From our early research it appears that a Norwegian firm called The Aquaculture Protein Centre (APC) is engaged in the similar research over the past ten years. This is much longer than the 3 years period research of BSF. They might have more valuable research and might be able to develop the patent earlier than BSF. In this case the cash flows from the us eof BSF patent would be considerably reduced. (The Research Council of Norway, 2012).

 

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Auditor’s Responsibility in Relation to Sustainability Reports

When expressing opinion on the financial statements of BSF, our firm would not be required to express opinion on any statement contained in the report containing financial statement other than those defined in the audit report. However, the firm might be required to express opinion on BSF’s corporate social responsibility as per local regulations. In this case there is a need to evaluate the steps that need to be taken and the procedures that are necessary to perform, including obtaining representations from the management and certifications of the those charged with governance relating to their responsibilities in this regard, in the light of ISA 720 – the auditor’s responsibilities relating to other information in documents containing audited financial statements. Possible involvement of the work of expert also needs to be considered.

 

Assurance of Prospective Financial Information

The examination of prospective financial information is dealt with by International Standard On Assurance Engagements 3400. In this case, the auditor needs to consider and obtain evidence as regards the following:

• Best estimate assumptions of the management on the basis of which prospective financial information has been prepared.
• Whether the financial statements are reflective of these assumptions.
• Proper presentation of the prospective financial statement as per the required regulatory and local requirements
• Consistency in the preparation of prospective financial information using the accounting principles that are appropriate in the circumstances (Paragraph 2, ISAE 3400).

 

Conclusion

The audit planning memorandum discussed the major issues surrounding the BSF and their likely impact on the financial statements of the company. Special attention should be given to the R&D activities of the company and their accounting treatment as discussed in the detailed audit program, and the treatment of government grant to BSF. Please be advised that besides above there are also other items involving estimation and high subjectivity and that are inherent part of the financial reporting process. We hope the above guidance will help you in making informed decision regarding investment in Woolworths Limited.

 

References

IAASB. (2009). International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 220 – Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements. New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2009). ISA 200 – Overall Objectives of The Independent Auditor And The Conduct Of An Audit In Accordance With International Standards On Auditing. New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2009). ISA 240 – the Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating To Fraud In An Audit Of Financial Statements. New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2009). ISA 300 – Planning an Audit of Financial Statements. New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2009). ISQC 1 – Quality Control For Firms That Perform Audits And Reviews Of Financial Statements, And Other Assurance And Related Services Engagements  . New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2010). ISA 720 – The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating To Other Information In Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements. New York: IFAC.

IAASB. (2012). International Standard on Assurance Engagement (ISAE) 3400 – The Examination of Prospective Financial Information. New York: IFAC.

IESBA. (2016). Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants. New York: IFAC.

 Russell, M. (2016). The valuation of pharmaceutical intangibles. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 17(3).

Schwartz, E. (2013). The real options approach to valuation: Challenges and opportunities. Latin american journal of economics, 50(2), 163-177.

The Research Council of Norway. (2012). Fish feed for sustainable aquaculture. Retrieved on 14 September 2016, from: http://www.forskningsradet.no/prognett-sff/Nyheter/Fish_feed_for_sustainable_aquaculture/1253981797816&lang=en