AICPA CPA-Auditing Exam Questions

Choice 'c' is correct. If an auditor has doubts about a material assertion (such as the valuation of inventory), he/she should gather sufficient evidence to eliminate the doubt.

Choices 'a' and 'b' are incorrect. The auditor would not consult with the audit committee regarding the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained, as this is determined based on the auditor's own judgment. In addition, if the auditor is able to obtain additional evidence, it might be possible to issue an unqualified opinion. Finally, even if no additional evidence is available, the auditor will still need to decide whether a qualified opinion or a disclaimer of opinion is more appropriate, depending on materiality.

Choice 'd' is incorrect. Since management representations are in fact 'statements from management,' obtaining additional statements from management would not provide additional support.

Choice 'a' is correct. To determine the number of items to be selected for a particular sample for a test of controls, the auditor should consider the tolerable rate of deviation from the controls being tested, the likely rate of deviations (expected deviation rate), and the allowable risk of assessing control risk too low.

Choices 'b', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect, per the above Explanation: .

Choice 'c' is correct. Significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control should be communicated to management and those charged with governance because there is more than a remote likelihood that they will result in a financial statement misstatement that is more than inconsequential.

Choice 'a' is incorrect. Information that significantly contradicts the auditor's going concern assumption is not considered a significant deficiency.

Choice 'b' is incorrect. Fraud perpetrated by high-level managers should be reported to the audit committee / those charged with governance, but it does not necessarily represent a significant deficiency in internal control.

Choice 'd' is incorrect. Fraud should be reported to an appropriate level of management, and sometimes to the audit committee / those charged with governance, but it does not necessarily represent a significant deficiency in internal control.

Choice 'c' is correct. The adverse effects of events causing an auditor to believe there is a substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern would most likely be mitigated by evidence relating to the marketability of assets that management plans to sell. By providing evidence that there is a ready market for assets that could be converted to cash, management has demonstrated that the company could remain in operation for a longer period of time, thereby mitigating the need for an explanatory paragraph describing the matter.

Choices 'a', 'b', and 'd' are incorrect. Evidence regarding the ability to expand operations into new product lines in the future, the feasibility of plans to purchase leased equipment at less than market value, or committed arrangements to convert preferred stock to long-term debt would not be sufficient to mitigate doubts about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern, unless it could also be demonstrated that the events would provide adequate cash flow to fund operations for at least the next year.