Psa 120
Psa 120
Psa 120
Purpose
- To describe the framework within which PSAs are issued in relation to the services which may be performed by
auditors
Financial Statements
- Are ordinarily prepared and presented annually and are directed toward the common information needs of a wide
range of users
o Many of the user rely on the financial statements as their major source of information because they do
not have the power to obtain additional information
- Need to be prepared in accordance with one, or a combination of:
a. Accounting standards generally accepted in the Philippines
b. International Accounting Standards
c. Another authoritative and comprehensive financial reporting framework which has been designed for use in
financial reporting and is identified in the financial statements
Factual finding of
Identification of
procedures
information
compiled
- Users of the
report assess for
Negative - Users of the
Positive assurance themselves the
Report provided assurance on compiled
on assertion(s) procedures and
assertion(s) information
findings reported
derive some
by the auditor and
benefit from the
draw their own
accountant’s
conclusions form
involvement
the auditor’s work
Assurance
- Refers to the auditor’s satisfaction as to the reliability of an assertion being made by one party for use by another
party
Related Services
A. Reviews
o Objective: To enable an auditor to state whether, on the basis of procedures which do not provide all the
evidence required in an audit, anything has come to the auditor’s attention that causes the auditor to
believe that the financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with an
identified financial reporting framework
o Comprises inquiry and analytical procedures which are designed to review the reliability of an assertion
that is the responsibility of one party for use by another party
Does not involve some procedures ordinarily performed during an audit
E.g. assessment of accounting and internal control systems, tests of records and of
responses to inquiries by obtaining corroborating evidence
o Level of assurance: less than an audit report
B. Agreed-upon Procedures
o Carries out procedures of an audit nature to which the auditor and the entity and any appropriate third
parties have agreed and to report on factual findings
Recipients form their own conclusions from the report
o Report is restricted to the parties that have agreed to the procedures to be performed
o Level of assurance: None
C. Compilations
o Accountant uses accounting expertise as opposed to auditing expertise to collect, classify and summarize
financial information
o Involves reducing detailed data to a manageable and understandable form without a requirement to test
the assertions underlying that information
o Level of assurance: None
PSA 200: Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of Audit in Accordance with
Philippine Standards on Auditing
Scope
- Establishes independent auditor’s overall responsibilities when conducting an audit of financial statements in
accordance with PSAs
Financial Statements
- A structured representation of historical financial information, including related notes, intended to communicate
an entity’s economic resources or obligation at a point in time or the changer for a period of time in accordance
with a financial reporting framework
o Related notes – comprise a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information
- Ordinarily refers to a complete set of financial statements, but can also refer to a single financial statement
- Purpose: To enhance the degree of confidence of intended users in the financial statements
o Expresses an opinion on whether financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, in accordance
with an applicable financial reporting framework
PSA requires the auditor to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
as a whole are free from material misstatement
Reasonable assurance – a high level of assurance obtained when the auditor has obtained
appropriate audit evidence to reduce audit risk to an acceptably low level
o Is not an absolute level of assurance because there are inherent limitations of an
audit which result in most of the audit evidence on which the auditor draws
conclusions and bases the auditor’s opinion being persuasive rather than
conclusive
Materiality
o Misstatements, including omissions, are considered to be material if, individually
or in the aggregate they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic
decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements
o Based on judgement of auditor and circumstances
Note: The auditor’s opinion does not assure the future viability of the entity nor the efficiency or
effectiveness with which management has conducted the affairs of the entity
However some laws may require auditors to provide opinions on other specific matters
(e.g. effectiveness of internal control, or consistency of a separate management report
with the financial statements)
o PSAs require auditors to:
Exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout the planning
and performance of the audit
Identify and assess risks of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, based on an
understanding of the entity and its environment, including the entity’s internal control
Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about whether material misstatements exist,
through designing and implementing appropriate responses to the assessed risks
Form an opinion on the financial statements based on conclusions drawn from the audit evidence
obtained
Form of the Auditor’s Opinion:
o For fair presentation framework – whether financial statements are presented
fairly, in all material respects
o For compliance framework – whether financial statements are prepared, in all
material respects, in accordance with the framework
a. To prepare and present financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework
o Includes design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and
presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement
o Applicable financial reporting framework – the financial reporting framework adopted by management or
those charged with governance in the preparation and presentation of financial statements that is
acceptable in the view of the nature of the entity and the objective of the financial statements, or that is
required by law or regulation
Fair presentation framework – a financial reporting framework requiring compliance with the
requirements of the framework and:
(i) Acknowledges explicitly and implicitly that, to achieve fair presentation of the financial
statements, it may be necessary for management to provide disclosures beyond those
specifically required by the framework
(ii) Acknowledges explicitly that it may be necessary for management to depart from a
requirement of the framework to achieve fair presentation of financial statements (but
only in extremely rare circumstances this can happen)
Compliance framework – refers to a financial reporting framework that requires compliance with
the requirements of the framework but does not contain the acknowledgements in (i) or (ii)
Sources of financial reporting standards:
Reporting standards established by an authorized or recognized standard setting
organization
Legislative or regulatory requirements
Other sources:
o Legal and ethical environment (including statures, regulations, court decisions,
and professional ethical obligations) in relation to accounting matters
o Published accounting interpretations of varying authority issued by standards
setting, professional or regulatory organizations
o Published views of varying authority on emerging accounting issues issued by
standards setting, professional or regulatory organizations
o General and industry practices widely recognized and prevalent
o Accounting literature
Note: In case of conflict of ideas from sources, the one with highest authority prevails
o Specific responsibilities of management:
1) The identification of applicable financial reporting framework, in the context of any relevant laws or
regulations
2) The preparation and presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the framework
3) An adequate description of that framework in the financial statements
o Financial statements may be prepared with a financial reporting framework designed to meet:
Common financial needs of a wide range of users – General purpose financial statements
Financial information needs of specific users – Special purpose financial statements
b. To provide the auditor with:
1) All information (e.g. records, documentations) and other matters relevant to the preparation and
presentation of financial statements
2) Any additional information that the auditor may requires from management, and, where appropriate, those
charged with governance
3) Unrestricted access to those within the entity from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit
evidence
Requirements:
- Smaller entity
o Refers to an entity which typically possesses qualitative characteristics such as:
a) Concentration of ownership and management in a small number of individuals
b) One or more of the following:
(i) Straightforward or uncomplicated transaction
(ii) Simple record-keeping
(iii) Few lines of business and few products within business lines
(iv) Few internal controls
(v) Few levels of management with responsibility for a broad range of controls
(vi) Few personnel, many having a wide range of duties
- Owner-manager – the proprietor of a smaller entity who is involved in running the entity on a day-to-day basis
PSA 220
Quality Control for Audits of Historical Financial Information
Purpose
- To establish standards and provide guidance on specific responsibilities of firm personnel regarding quality control
procedures for audits of historical financial information including audits of financial statements
Engagement team
- All personnel performing an audit engagement, including any experts contracted by the firm in connection with
that audit engagement
- They:
a) Implement quality control procedures that are applicable to the audit engagement
b) Provide the firm with relevant information to enable the functioning of that part of the firm’s system of quality
control relating to independence
c) Are entitled to rely on the firm’s systems unless information provided by the firm or other parties suggest
otherwise
Firm
- The engagement partner should take responsibility for the overall quality on each audit engagement to which that
partner is assigned
o Partner – any individual with authority to bind the firm with respect to the performance of a professional
services engagement
o His actions and messages should emphasize:
(a) The importance of:
(i) Performing work that complies with professional standards and regulatory and legal
requirements
(ii) Complying with the firm’s quality control policies and procedures as applicable
(iii) Issuing auditor’s reports that are appropriate in the circumstances
(b) The fact that quality is essential in performing audit engagements
Ethical Requirements
- The engagement partner should consider whether member of the engagement team have complied with ethical
requirements
- Fundamental principles of professional ethics:
a. Integrity d. Confidentiality
b. Objectivity e. Professional behavior
c. Professional competence and due care
- Independence
o The engagement partner should:
1. Obtain relevant information from the firm and, where applicable, network firms, to identify and
evaluate circumstances and relationships that create threats to independence
Network firm – an entity under common control, ownership or management with the firm of any
entity that a reasonable and informed third party having knowledge of all relevant information
would reasonably conclude as being part of the firm nationally or internationally
2. Evaluate information on identified breaches, if any, of the firm’s independence policies and
procedures to determine whether they create a threat to independence for the audit engagement
3. Take appropriate action to eliminate such threats or reduce them to an acceptable level by applying
the standards. The engagement partner should promptly report to the firm any failure to resolve the
matter for appropriate action
4. Document conclusions on independence and any relevant discussions with the firm that support these
conclusions
If engagement partner cannot eliminate the threat to independence or reduce it to an acceptable
level, he will have to consult with the firm to determine appropriate action, which may include
eliminating the activity or interest that creates the threat, or withdrawing from the audit
engagement (in which shall be documented)
- The engagement partner should be satisfied that appropriate procedures regarding the acceptance and
continuance of client relationships and specific audit engagements have been followed, and that conclusions
reached in this regard are appropriate and have been documented
- Acceptance and continuance of client relationship and specific audit engagements includes considering:
o The integrity of the principal owners, key management, and those charged with governance of the entity
o Whether the engagement team is competent to perform the audit engagement and has the necessary
time and resources
o Whether the firm and the engagement team can comply with the ethical requirements
- Determining whether to continue a client relationship includes:
o Consideration of significant matters that have arisen during the current or previous audit engagement
o Implications for continuing the relationship
- If the engagement partner obtains information that would have caused the firm to decline the audit engagement
if that information had been available earlier, he should communicate it to the firm so that necessary action can
be taken
- The engagement partner should be satisfied that the engagement team collectively has the appropriate
capabilities, competence and time to perform the audit engagement in accordance with professional standards
and regulatory and legal requirements, and to enable an auditor’s report that is appropriate in the circumstances
to be issued
- The appropriate capabilities and competence expected of the engagement team as a whole include:
o An understanding of, and practical experience with, audit engagements of a similar nature and complexity
through appropriate training and participation.
An understanding of professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements.
Appropriate technical knowledge, including knowledge of relevant information technology.
Knowledge of relevant industries in which the client operates.
Ability to apply professional judgment.
An understanding of the firm’s quality control policies and procedures.
Engagement Performance
- Engagement partner should take responsibility for the direction, supervision and performance of the audit
engagement in compliance with professional standards and regulatory and legal requirements and for the
auditor’s report that is issued to be appropriate in the circumstances
- Engagement partner should inform his members of:
a. Their responsibilities
o Which includes:
Maintaining an objective state of mind
Maintaining an appropriate level of professional skepticism
Performing work delegated to them with due care
b. The nature of the entity’s business
c. Risk-related issues
d. Problems that may arise
e. The detailed approach to the performance of the engagement
- There should be appropriate communication and appropriate team-working and training
o Members are encouraged to raise questions with more experienced members
o Should assist less experience members of the engagement team to clearly understand the objectives of
their assigned work
- Supervision includes:
o Tracking the progress of the audit engagement
o Considering the capabilities and competence of individual members of the engagement team
o Addressing significant issues arising during the audit engagement, considering the significance and
modifying the approach appropriately
o Identifying matter for consultation or consideration by more experienced engagement team members
during the audit engagement
- Review Responsibilities
o More experienced team members review work performed by less experienced member
o Reviewers consider whether:
a. The work has been performed in accordance with professional standards and regulatory and legal
requirements;
b. Significant matters have been raised for further consideration;
c. Appropriate consultations have taken place and the resulting conclusions have been documented and
implemented;
d. There is a need to revise the nature, timing and extent of work performed;
e. The work performed supports the conclusions reached and is appropriately documented;
f. The evidence obtained is sufficient and appropriate to support the auditor’s report; and
g. The objectives of the engagement procedures have been achieved.
o Engagement partner should conduct timely reviews at appropriate stages of the engagements so that
significant matters can be resolved before the auditor’s report is issued
o Note: If a new engagement partner takes over an audit during the engagement, he should review the
work performed to the date of the change
Consultation
Differences of Opinion
- Where differences of opinion arise within the engagement team, with those consulted and, where applicable,
between the engagement partner and the engagement quality control reviewer, the engagement team should
follow the firm’s policies and procedures for dealing with and resolving differences of opinion.
- A process designed to provide an objective evaluation, before the auditor’s report is issued, of the significant
judgements the engagement team made and the conclusions they reached in formulating the auditor’s report
o Includes an objective evaluation of:
The significant judgments made by the engagement team
The conclusions reached in formulating the auditor’s report
o Ordinarily involves:
A discussion with the engagement partners
A review of the financial information and auditor’s report
Consider whether auditor’s report is appropriate
A review of selected audit documentation relating to significant judgments and conclusions
- The engagement partner should:
a. Determine that an engagement quality control reviewer has been appointed;
b. Discuss significant matters arising during the audit engagement, including those identified during the
engagement quality control review, with the engagement quality control reviewer; and
c. Not issue the auditor’s report until the completion of the engagement quality control review.
- Engagement quality control reviewer
o A partner, other person, suitably qualified external person, or a team made up of such individuals, with
sufficient and appropriate experience and authority to objectively evaluate, before the auditor’s report is
issued, the significant judgements the engagement team made and the conclusions they reached in
formulating the auditor’s report
- An engagement quality control review for listed entities includes the following:
o The engagement team’s evaluation of the firm’s independence in relation to the specific audit
engagement.
o Significant risks identified during the engagement and the responses to those risks, including the
engagement team’s assessment of, and response to, the risk of fraud.
o Judgments made, particularly with respect to materiality and significant risks.
o Whether appropriate consultation has taken place on matters involving differences of opinion or other
difficult or contentious matters, and the conclusions arising from those consultations.
o The significance and disposition of corrected and uncorrected misstatements identified during the audit.
o The matters to be communicated to management and those charged with governance and, where
applicable, other parties such as regulatory bodies.
o Whether audit documentation selected for review reflects the work performed in relation to the
significant judgments and supports the conclusions reached.
o The appropriateness of the auditor’s report to be issued.
- Listed entity – an entity whose shares, stock, or debt are quoted or listed on a recognized stock exchange, or are
marketed under the regulations of a recognized stock exchange or other equivalent body
Monitoring
- A process comprising an ongoing consideration and evaluation of the firm’s system of quality control, including a
periodic inspection of a selection of completed engagements, designed to enable the firm to obtain reasonable
assurance that its system of quality control is operating effectively
- Firm should establish policies and procedures designed to provide it with reasonable assurance that the policies
and procedures relating to the system of quality control are relevant, adequate, operating effectively and
complied with in practice
- The engagement partner considers:
(a) Whether deficiencies noted in that information may affect the audit engagement; and
(b) Whether the measures the firm took to rectify the situation are sufficient in the context of that audit.