Call Us Today! +27(0) 12 003 3368|info@leafexcellenceinauditingforum.com
FacebookTwitterYouTubeLinkedInInstagramPinterest

News in the LEAF Audit Quality Division.

Monitoring and remediation

2022-12-13T11:33:58+02:00

Monitoring and Remediation Many auditors underestimate the value of regular and robust monitoring of their systems of quality management, followed by focused remediation. If monitoring and remediation is performed correctly, the firm’s system of quality management is bolstered, which results in improved quality of engagements, and improved staff competence and morale. This, in turn, boosts profitability and client confidence. The evaluation of deficiencies needs to be brutally honest, however, so that the root cause of deficiencies may be properly addressed. Firm-level considerations The firm’s monitoring and remediation process must provide relevant, reliable and timely information [...]

Monitoring and remediation2022-12-13T11:33:58+02:00

Engagement performance

2022-12-06T16:11:29+02:00

Engagement Performance One of the root causes of negative regulatory inspection findings is the lack of appropriate involvement by engagement partners on engagements. There are also many instances where audit documentation does not reflect the application of appropriate levels of professional scepticism when auditing and exercising professional judgment. The new quality management standards place increased emphasis on these important aspects to achieve the appropriate level of engagement quality. Firm-level considerations ISQM 1 para 31 requires firms to establish quality objectives that address the performance of quality engagements, including the following: a. Engagement teams understand and fulfil [...]

Engagement performance2022-12-06T16:11:29+02:00

Resources, information and communication

2022-12-06T16:09:42+02:00

Newsletter April Significant Risk Assessment When considering whether appropriate resources are available to perform engagements, practitioners have traditionally only considered human resources available within the firm. The new quality management standards expand on this, however, by requiring firms to also consider the technological and intellectual resources available. Firms should also consider whether appropriate resources are available to maintain their quality management system; they should establish an information system to support the operation of their quality management system, and ensure that the necessary communication takes place internally and externally. Firm-level considerations ISQM 1 para 32 requires [...]

Resources, information and communication2022-12-06T16:09:42+02:00

Ethics, acceptance and continuance

2022-12-06T16:10:50+02:00

Ethics, acceptance and continuance 30 September 2022 Ethics is a fundamental concept that needs to be established in an auditing and accounting practice. It cannot merely be given lip service, and should lead to proactively managing the risk of ethical threats and breaches that could inappropriately influence the firm’s compliance with relevant ethical requirements. One of the occasions when ethics may be involved in audit considerations is when deciding whether to accept, or continue with client relationships and engagements. Quality, integrity and independence should be the overriding factors. Firm-level considerations ISQM 1 para 29 [...]

Ethics, acceptance and continuance2022-12-06T16:10:50+02:00

Governance and leadership

2022-09-13T14:29:51+02:00

Governance and leadership Governance and leadership set the tone at a firm, and create the environment in which all the other components of the firm’s system of quality management operate. For a system of quality management to achieve the intended outcomes, firm leadership needs to ensure that quality management requirements and principles are incorporated into all aspects of practice management, including a culture that facilitates proactive and regular self-scrutiny. Firm level considerations ISQM 1 para 28 requires firms to establish the following quality objectives that address the firm’s governance and leadership, and establish the environment [...]

Governance and leadership2022-09-13T14:29:51+02:00

Materiality

2022-09-13T14:30:18+02:00

Materiality In planning the audit, the auditor makes judgments about misstatements that will be considered material. Misstatements, including omissions, are considered to be material if they, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. Generally, auditors place focus on quantitative materiality considerations and tend to forget qualitative disclosures that could also be indicative of a misstatement being material by nature. It is important to consider and document all relevant aspects when determining the materiality levels and material qualitative disclosures relevant to [...]

Materiality2022-09-13T14:30:18+02:00

Going concern

2022-06-30T16:02:52+02:00

Newsletter April Significant Risk Assessment Auditors are required to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements, and to determine its impact on the audit report. However, results from monitoring reviews point to a significant documentation gap in the audit working papers when it comes to this important assessment, resulting in inadequate support for conclusions drawn and the opinion expressed. Risk assessment procedures and related activities Risk assessment procedures performed during the planning phase of the audit include [...]

Going concern2022-06-30T16:02:52+02:00

Audit Procedures – Related Parties

2022-06-30T16:03:01+02:00

Audit procedures - Related Parties In certain sections of our monthly newsletters, we may address audit procedures to provide guidance in a format that provides easy reference on engagements. The guidance provided is not exhaustive, and is intended to share observations from real cases of deficiencies on engagement files. Background Over the years, Related Parties has developed as a section of the audit that requires detailed attention. As the required procedures have been modified over time, I believe that the real objective of testing related parties has become unclear. Dependent on the risk and circumstances [...]

Audit Procedures – Related Parties2022-06-30T16:03:01+02:00

Improving Audit Quality

2022-05-30T16:01:59+02:00

Improving Audit Quality Annually, audit firms invest vast quantities of blood, sweat and tears in delivering quality auditing and related services to their clients. Yet, audit regulators still report many common audit quality deficiencies in their annual inspections reports, most of which are repeat findings. It is important to root out the causes to make lasting improvements to audit quality, which, in turn, will lead to efficient and profitable firms. Firm-level deficiencies – quality system Firm-wide deficiencies reported on by audit regulators mainly revolve around firm leadership, engagement performance and independence issues. While some improvements have [...]

Improving Audit Quality2022-05-30T16:01:59+02:00

Group audits 3 of 3 – Joint Audits

2022-05-30T16:01:46+02:00

Group audits 3 of 3 – Joint Audits Group audits represent some of the most risky audits to undertake, as most public interest audits comprise the audit of groups of companies. However, the standards and audit principles relevant to group audits do not always receive the detailed attention they deserve, This article addresses audit procedures relating to joint audit engagements, which are often relevant to group audits, and should be read in conjunction with parts 1 and 2 to reach an understanding of group audits as a whole. It addresses key requirements which auditors would be wise [...]

Group audits 3 of 3 – Joint Audits2022-05-30T16:01:46+02:00

Title

Leaf Quality Systems

  • Ground Floor Southdowns Ridge Office Park,
    Cnr John Vorster and Nellmapius Drive,
    Irene, Centurion, 0149, South Africa

  • Tel: +27 (0) 12 003 3368
  • info@leafexcellenceinauditingforum.com
  • Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 17:00 PM
Go to Top