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Which two procedures do external auditors use to gain confidence in the quality of a company's financial reporting processes?
Choose 2 answers.
The correct answers are A and C. External auditors gather audit evidence by examining accounting records and supporting documents and by obtaining evidence directly from third parties. PCAOB standards describe confirmation as a procedure for obtaining audit evidence from a knowledgeable external source, and this is commonly used for items such as cash, receivables, and certain terms of transactions.
Examining records to support balances and transactions is another core audit procedure. Auditors inspect invoices, contracts, bank statements, reconciliations, journals, and other documentation to determine whether reported balances are supported and fairly stated. These procedures directly relate to the reliability of financial reporting. In contrast, customer satisfaction surveys, marketing analysis, and public-image polling may be useful for business strategy or branding, but they are not standard external audit procedures used to support financial statement assertions. Audit work focuses on relevant, reliable evidence tied to existence, completeness, valuation, rights and obligations, and presentation. Therefore, the two valid procedures are examining records and obtaining third-party confirmations, making A and C the correct answers.