Tag: ISA

  • Is there a difference between an Internal Auditor and an External Auditor?

    Is there a difference between an Internal Auditor and an External Auditor?

    Yes. Both of these have their own unique qualities that set them apart.

    Auditing may primarily be broken down into two categories: internal and external.

    An internal audit department is staffed by employees of that entity who will provide internal audit functions that benefit the entity as a whole. However, it is common for businesses to contract out their internal audit function.

    This is typically done when the expenses of having an in-house audit function do not outweigh the benefits of having one.

    Internal audit departments will conform to their own auditing standards, generally independent of the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). They will have their tasks outlined by the organisation’s management.

    Internal auditing serves its purpose by, among other things, examining, evaluating and reporting to management with reports on the adequateness and efficiency of various accounting and internal control systems.

    To put it another way, the purpose of an internal audit is to provide value to and enhance an organisation’s operations.

    是的,这两者都有自己独特的品质,使它们与众不同。

    审计主要可分为两类:内部和外部。

    内部审计部门由该实体的员工组成,他们将提供有利于整个实体的内部审计功能。然而,企业将其内部审计职能外包出去也是很常见的。

    这通常是在本身设立一个内部审计部门的费用,远远超过了拥有一个内部审计职能的好处时,才会考虑外包。

    内部审计部门将按照他们自己的审计标准进行其职务,这通常独立于《国际审计标准》(ISA)。他们的任务,主要是由组织的管理层概述。

    内部审计的目的是,除其他事项外,检查、评估和向管理层报告各种会计和内部控制系统的充分性和效率。

    换句话说,内部审计的目的是为一个组织的运作提供价值,并加强其运作。

    On the other hand, an external audit is almost always a requirement that must be fulfilled (either by legislation or other rules and regulations, such as listing rules or because financiers require an audit of the financial statements to be undertaken).

    The Companies Act 2016 mandates that all entities established under the Act must have their financial statements audited by a certified auditor, except for those companies exempt from this requirement.

    The entity’s financial statements will constitute the exclusive and primary focus of the aim of the independent audit (in contrast to the internal audit, which is focused on the operations of the entire business).

    另一方面,外部审计几乎总是一个遵循的要求(要么是立法或其他规则和条例,如上市规则或因为金融家要求对财务报表进行审计)。

    马来西亚2016年公司法令则要求,除符合豁免资格的公司外,所有在有关法令下成立的公司,其账目都需要委任合格审计师进行审计。

    实体的财务报表将构成独立审计目标的唯一和主要重点(与内部审计相反,内部审计的重点是整个企业的运作)。

    The following is a table that compares and contrasts internal auditing with external auditing:

    以下是内部审计与外部审计的对比表:

    ​Internal AuditExternal Audit
    ObjectiveIt is developed to enhance the performance of an entity’s activities.​To provide an opinion about whether or not the financial statements are presented fairly (or to give a true and fair view)
    ReportingThose responsible for governance (such as the audit committee) or management (the board of directors) are the ones who receive reports from this department. Internal audit reports are not made public and are kept strictly confidential.Contains information that is communicated to the entity’s shareholders or members on the truth and fairness of the financial statements. Reports are given to shareholders and anyone else who might be interested in the reporting company. They are also available to the general public.
    ScopeThe work of internal audit relates to the operations of the organisationThe work of the external auditors relates to the financial statements
    RelationshipEmployees of the organisation frequently fill positions in the organization’s internal audit departments (where the role of internal audit is not outsourced)Auditors appointed by the company’s shareholders are considered external auditors because of their independence from the corporate entity.
    Planning and evidence collectionLong-term planning will take place, emphasising the business’s overall strategy and the goals it aims to accomplish. There will be no materiality level established, and the evidence gathered by the internal audit will often be internal.Its purpose is to have external audits done to see if the financial statements are true and fair in how they show the business. The importance of the financial statements and the company’s performance will be figured out, and evidence will be gathered in several ways that will be sufficient and appropriate.

    There are no legal requirements to become an internal auditor. As a result, internal auditors are not required to be members of a professional body.

    This is because business policy, as opposed to external rules or standards, is more likely to be responsible for defining the function of internal audits.

    On the other hand, a significant number of internal auditors hold accounting degrees, and there is a recognised institution for internal auditors known as the Institute of Internal Auditors, [the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia (IIA Malaysia)], which internal auditors can join as members.

    要成为一名内部审计师,没有任何法律要求。

    因此,内部审计师不需要成为专业机构的成员。

    这是因为,相对于外部规则或标准,商业政策更有可能负责界定内部审计的功能。

    另一方面,相当多的内部审计师拥有会计学位,而且有一个被称为内部审计师协会的认可机构,[马来西亚内部审计师协会(IIA Malaysia)],内部审计师可以作为会员加入。

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  • The Clarity Project

    The Clarity Project

    The International Accounting Standards Board (IAASB) initiated a campaign in 2004 to improve the clarity (readability) of the ISAs.

    This Clarity Project’s overarching objective was to make the ISAs more understandable, which would, in turn, make it easier to apply the standards consistently and lead to an improvement in the overall audit quality on a global scale.

    After a string of corporate scandals that received widespread media attention and a widespread erosion of trust within the auditing profession, this was a vital task to carry out.

    As a result of the Clarity Project, each standard now possesses a transparent structure with clear objectives, definitions, and requirements, in addition to the application and other explanatory material that provides a deeper dive into the requirements of the ISAs.

    Because of how the new standards are organised, it is much simpler to comprehend what is needed and what is considered recommendations.

    In addition, ISQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Financial Statements, and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements has been rewritten, and the revised guidance on quality control procedures went into effect at the same time as the clarified ISAs did.

    These updates were made in conjunction with the International Standards on Auditing. The following constitutes the structure of each standard:

    • Introduction
    • Objective
    • Definitions
    • Requirements
    • Application and Other Explanatory Material

    Introduction

    This paragraph contains information concerning the standard, including the ISA’s purpose, scope and subject matter. It also contains information regarding the responsibilities of the auditor and others in the context in which the ISA is set.

    Objective

    Each ISA contains a statement of the auditor’s objective in the audit area in which the ISA is set.

    Definitions

    The Clarity Project included adding an element for a greater understanding of the ISAs, and as such applicable terms contained within the ISAs have now been defined.

    Requirements

    Clearly stated requirements support each ISA.

    Phrases such as ‘the auditor should …’ have now been replaced by ‘the auditor shall …’.

    The profession welcomed this improvement because it cleared any ambiguity.

    The word ‘shall’ indicates that the standard expects the auditor to do something rather than ‘should’, which implies that the standard ‘may’ expect something of the auditor in certain circumstances.

    Application and other explanatory material

    Each ISA clearly explains more precisely what the auditor is required to do to achieve the objective of the ISA in question.

    Where applicable, the ISA may also contain illustrative examples of procedures that may apply in certain circumstances.

    Other explanatory material may be contained within an ISA to help the auditor understand the ISA’s overall objective and application.

    The impact of the Clarity Project contributed significantly to the enhancement and uniformity of audit quality worldwide.

    The IAASB set out to undertake the project to encourage international convergence and assist audit firms that operate internationally by harmonising auditing standards.

    In summary, the Clarity Project had the following effect on the ISAs and ISQC:

    • 19 ISAs and ISQC 1 were redrafted.
    • 16 ISAs were revised and redrafted to reflect the new clarity convention.
    • One new standard was issued:
      • relating to communication, ISA 265 Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those Charged with Governance and Management
    • ISA 540 Audit of Accounting Estimates and ISA 545 Auditing Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures were combined in ISA 540 Auditing Accounting Estimates, Including Fair Value Accounting Estimates, and Related Disclosures

    The Clarity Project brought about some significant changes in the work that auditors are required to undertake, which can be seen in the following summaries.

    Our website's articles, templates, and material are solely for reference. Although we make every effort to keep the information up to date and accurate, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, either express or implied, regarding the website or the information, articles, templates, or related graphics that are contained on the website in terms of its completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability. Therefore, any reliance on such information is strictly at your own risk.

    Keep in touch with us so that you can receive timely updates |

    要获得即时更新,请与我们保持联系

    1. Website ✍️ https://www.ccs-co.com/ 2. Telegram ✍️ http://bit.ly/YourAuditor 3. Facebook ✍

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  • ISQC 1: Audit Firms must ensure that their Audits adhere to Quality Standards

    ISQC 1: Audit Firms must ensure that their Audits adhere to Quality Standards

    The purpose of this is to reduce the RISKS of:

    • Litigation brought against the Firm for alleged violations of professional conduct;
    • Incorrect opinion from the auditor, and as a result, boosted confidence in the reliability of the financial statements among investors

    审计事务所必须确保他们的审计工作遵守质量标准,其目的是减少以下的风险:

    • 审计事务所因涉嫌违反职业行为而面对诉讼的风险;
    • 审计师提供不正确意见的风险,并因此增强投资者对财务报表可靠性的信心

    There are 2 Different Quality Control Standards

    • At the firm level:
      • the International Standard on Quality Control 1 (ISQC 1) is Quality Control for Firms that carry out audits and reviews [*]
    • At the individual AUDIT level:
      • International Standard on Auditing [ISA] 220 Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements [*] is specific to audit engagements and contains specific requirements that should be adhered to in the performance of any audit.

    有两种不同的质量控制标准

    • 在公司层面
      • 国际质量控制标准 1(ISQC 1)是对进行审计和审查的会计事务所的质量控制 [*] 。
    • 在个别审计层面
      • 国际审计准则 [ISA] 第220号 《财务报表审计的质量控制》[*] 是专门针对审计业务及包含了在执行任何审计时应遵守的具体要求。

    [*] – However, effective 15 December 2022:

    • ISQM 1 replaces ISQC 1;
    • ISA 220 Quality Management for an Audit of Financial Statements replaces Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements

    [*] – 然而,即将在2022年12月15日生效:-

    ISQM 1 取代了 ISQC 1;

    ISA 220 财务报表审计的质量管理取代财务报表审计的质量控制

    *Quick note to Audit Firms:

    Firms are recommended to research the requirements of the three new quality management standards that have been adopted by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). These standards are scheduled to become effective on December 15, 2022.

    The standards, which include the International Standards on Quality Management ISQM 1 and ISQM 2, as well as the International Standard on Auditing ISA 220 Revised, are an evolution from a traditional, more linear approach to quality control.

    They are intended to create a more robust System of Quality Management for Firms that use the standards developed by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). The new standards provide an approach to audit quality management that is robust, scalable, and proactive. This approach is essential to ensuring that the auditing profession will continue to be trusted and viable in the future.

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  • 7. How can the Application of Professional Skepticism be Evidenced?

    7. How can the Application of Professional Skepticism be Evidenced?

    Auditors often show Professional Skepticism during audit conversations.

    The auditor’s discussion with TCWG may explain why a substantial accounting practice permissible under the applicable financial reporting framework is not most suited for the entity.

    审计师在审计谈话中经常表现出职业怀疑态度。

    审计师与 TCWG 的讨论可能会解释为什么在适用的财务报告框架下允许的实质性会计做法却不是该实体最适合的。

    Audit documentation is essential for demonstrating Professional Skepticism since it shows that the audit was planned and completed according to ISAs and other legal and regulatory requirements.

    The ISAs require the auditor to prepare adequate audit documentation to allow an experienced auditor with no prior connection to the audit to understand, among other things, significant audit matters, conclusions, and judgments.

    The ISAs also require auditors to document discussions with management, TCWG, and others, detailing the nature of the significant matters discussed, when, and with whom.

    Such documentation helps the auditor show how significant judgments and key audit concerns were addressed and whether sufficient and relevant audit evidence was acquired.

    审计文件对于证明 “职业怀疑”至关重要,因为它表明审计是根据《国际审计准则》和其他法律及监管要求来计划和完成的。

    《国际审计准则》要求审计师准备充分的审计文件,以使事先与相关审计无关但有经验的审计师,除其他事项外,能够了解重要的审计事项、结论和判断。

    《国际审计准则》还要求审计师记录与管理层、TCWG 和其他方的讨论,详细说明所讨论的重大事项的性质、时间和对象。

    这样的文件有助于审计师说明如何处理重大判断和关键的审计问题,以及是否获得了充分和相关的审计证据。

    When matters and judgments are important, it is important to prepare audit documentation, such as in the following situations:

    • The significant decisions made by the project team regarding the likelihood of fraud resulting in a material misstatement in the entity’s financial statements and their communications with management, the TCWG, regulators and others regarding fraud issues.
    • Known or suspected non-compliance with laws and rules, as well as the results of discussions with management, TCWG, and other parties outside the entity.
    • The basis for the auditor’s conclusions about the reasonableness of accounting estimates, their disclosures that give rise to significant risks, and any indicators of possible management bias.
    • Identified information that doesn’t fit with the auditor’s conclusion about a significant matter and how that inconsistency was handled.
    • The basis for the auditor’s conclusions on the reasonableness of areas of subjective judgments.
    • The auditor’s conclusion about a document’s authenticity when further investigation (such as using an expert or confirmation procedures) is done in response to audit conditions that led the auditor to assume the document may not be legitimate.

    当事项和判断非常重要时,编制审计文件也会显得很重要,例如在以下情况下

    • 项目团队就欺诈导致实体财务报表中出现重大错报的可能性所作出的重要决定,以及他们与管理层、TCWG、监管机构和其他方面就欺诈问题所进行的沟通。
    • 已知或涉嫌不遵守法律和规则的情况,以及与管理层、TCWG 和实体外其他各方所讨论的结果。
    • 审计师关于会计估计合理性的结论的依据,其引起重大风险的披露,以及任何可能的管理偏见的迹象。
    • 已确定的与审计师关于重大事项的结论不一致的信息,以及如何处理这种不一致的情况。
    • 审计师对主观判断领域的合理性的结论的依据。
    • 针对审计过程中发现的导致审计师认为文件可能不真实的情况而进行的进一步调查(如适当使用专家或确认程序)。

    Since Professional Skepticism is a state of mind, it can be challenging to show how the auditor utilised it during the audit.

    ISAs remark that no single mechanism exists to document an auditor’s Professional Skepticism.

    However, Audit documentation may show the auditor’s ISA-compliant Professional Skepticism, such evidence may include measures performed to substantiate management’s responses to the auditor’s inquiries.

    由于 “职业怀疑论 “是一种心态,因此如果要显示审计师在审计过程中是如何利用这种心态,这会是一个非常大的挑战。

    《国际审计准则》指出,现实中并不存在一个单一的机制来记录审计师的职业怀疑态度。

    然而审计文件可以显示审计师符合《国际审计准则》的职业怀疑态度,这些证据可能包括为证实管理层对审计师询问的答复而采取的措施。

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