AICPA CPA Auditing and Attestation Exam

Choice 'a' is correct. The auditor's report on compliance and on internal control over financial recording (based on an audit) must include the scope of testing of compliance and internal control.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. Material indications of illegal acts are not only reported to the members of the governing body of the audited entity and their senior staff officials but, in some circumstances, auditors should report illegal acts directly to external parties (such as the grantor agency).

Choice 'c' is incorrect. Although GAO standards require that the auditor communicate information regarding the nature, timing and extent of planned testing to officials of the audited entity and to individuals contracting for the audit, reporting of all changes is not required. (For example, immaterial changes to the audit program need not be reported.)

Choice 'd' is incorrect. Certain privileged or confidential information may be prohibited from general disclosure and should not be included in the audit report. The report should, however, disclose the nature of the information omitted and the requirement that makes an opinion necessary.

Choice 'a' is correct. In microcomputer audit applications, efficient and effective system usage requires:

(1) identification of the appropriate audit tasks and

(2) appropriate software to perform the selected audit tasks.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. Although microcomputer access to client data is desirable, it is not required.

Choice 'c' is incorrect. Although microcomputer access to client data is desirable, it is not required. Also, microcomputer audit applications need not be applicable to several clients to be efficient and effective.

Choice 'd' is incorrect. Microcomputer audit applications need not be applicable to several clients to be efficient and effective.

Choice 'd' is correct. When obtaining an understanding of an entity's internal control in a financial statement audit, an auditor is not obligated to search for significant deficiencies in the operation of internal control.

Choice 'a' is incorrect. In order to determine the nature, timing and extent of tests to be performed, an auditor must determine whether the control activities have been implemented.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. An auditor is required to perform procedures to confirm his/her understanding of the internal control systems' design, and to determine whether relevant controls have been implemented.

Choice 'c' is incorrect. An auditor is required to document his or her understanding of the entity's internal control components, even if he or she intends to use a substantive approach.

Choice 'c' is correct. Tolerable misstatement is the maximum monetary misstatement in an account balance that may exist without causing the financial statements to be materially misstateD. Tolerable misstatement is a planning concept related to the auditor's preliminary judgments about materiality levels.

Choice 'a' is incorrect. The auditor's overall business risk is not related to the tolerable misstatement used in planning a sample for a substantive test of details.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. The tolerable misstatement should be adjusted for both qualitative and quantitative factors.

Choice 'd' is incorrect. The auditor should modify his or her consideration of tolerable misstatement if, during the audit process, information used to determine the initial level of tolerable misstatement changes.

Choice 'a' is correct. The auditor's report on compliance and on internal control over financial recording (based on an audit) must include the scope of testing of compliance and internal control.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. Material indications of illegal acts are not only reported to the members of the governing body of the audited entity and their senior staff officials but, in some circumstances, auditors should report illegal acts directly to external parties (such as the grantor agency).

Choice 'c' is incorrect. Although GAO standards require that the auditor communicate information regarding the nature, timing and extent of planned testing to officials of the audited entity and to individuals contracting for the audit, reporting of all changes is not required. (For example, immaterial changes to the audit program need not be reported.)

Choice 'd' is incorrect. Certain privileged or confidential information may be prohibited from general disclosure and should not be included in the audit report. The report should, however, disclose the nature of the information omitted and the requirement that makes an opinion necessary.