Programming independence essentially protects the auditor's potential to select the most likely strategy when doing an audit. Auditors must be reasonable to approach a piece of work in whatever manner they consider best. As a client company grows up and conducts new activities, the auditor's approach will probably have to adjust to take into account these. In addition, the auditing occupation is a vibrant one, with new techniques constantly being developed and upgraded that your auditor may decide to use.
While investigative independence helps to protect the auditor's potential to execute the strategies in whatever manner they consider necessary. Fundamentally, auditors must have unlimited usage of all company information. Any concerns regarding a company's business and accounting treatment must be answered by the business. The collection of audit evidence can be an essential process, and can't be restricted in any way by your client company.
Reporting independence defends the auditors' capability to choose to reveal to the general public any information they imagine should be disclosed. If company professionals have been misleading shareholders by falsifying accounting information, they'll strive to prevent the auditors from reporting this. It really is in situations like this when auditor independence is most likely to be compromised.
Independence is fundamental to the reliability of auditors' studies. Those reports would not be credible, shareholders and creditors could have self-confidence with them, if auditors were not impartial in both truth and appearance. To be credible, an auditor's thoughts and opinions must be predicated on a target and disinterested diagnosis of whether the financial statements are presented quite in conformity with generally accepted accounting guidelines. On the other hand, Frank said that "Auditor independence really helps to ensure quality audits and contributes to financial record users' reliance on the financial reporting process. An auditor who is independent in reality has the capacity to make indie audit decisions even if there is a perceived lack of independence or if the auditor is located in a probably compromising position. "(2007) Nonetheless, even when the auditor is actually independent, one or more factors may lead the public to trust the auditor will not appear independent. This may cause users of financial claims to believe they cannot count on financial information. At mean time, auditor should take responsibilities for detecting material errors and materials fraud. Because in Xerox, they can be many accounting manipulations can certainly cause fraud, the audit should find out those fraud, determined and reported those fraud risk.
Q6: The first questionable accounting manipulation is acceleration of rent revenue reputation from bundled leases. This manipulation will have an impact on revenues account, because Xerox accelerated the rent revenue reputation by allocating a higher part of the lease payment to the equipment instead of the service or financing activity. By reallocating profits from the finance and service activity to the gear, Xerox was able to recognize greater profits in the current reporting period instead of deferring revenue recognize to future times. You will find two auditor procedures can suit because of this environment. First is use internal procedure, recalculation: verifying the mathematical accuracy of documents or details. Second it external procedure, confirmation: the process of finding a representation from a third party.
For doubtful accelerated of rent revenue from lease price increase & extensions, upsurge in the residual principles of leased equipment and acceleration of income from portfolio property strategy transactions. All those three manipulation will increase revenue accounts and income affirmation. Because in a nutshell term it will immediate increase change, but it sacrifice the permanent profit. To protect company long-term profit, auditor should observation all the procedures and procedure the performed. On the other hand auditor should re-performance, it means the auditor's independence execution of strategies recently performed by entity staff.
For doubtful manipulation of reserves. This manipulation will influence equity profile. Because Xerox set up an acquisition reserve for mysterious business risk and unrelated business to the reserve consideration to inflate earning. It means Xerox put money in equity account to avoid potential risk, but it unrelated to expenditures. It easy triggers fraud. Auditor may use observation procedure, to considering processes and steps being performed or use inquiry process, to seeking information from competent persons.
For doubtful manipulation of other income. This manipulation will affect cost and bills accounts. Because Xerox elect to recognize most of the eye income during period years. The price and expenses accounts will reduce in period years, and meantime make that year's article look better. To appropriateness of this practice, audit should use analytical method. Compare the day with similar prior-period night out, to keep carefully the article justice.
For questionable failure to reveal factoring orders. This manipulation will have an impact on revenues accounts and asset bill. From material, we can know Xerox sold future cash from receivable consideration to local banking companies for immediate cash. It made Xerox have a strong cash position in the present 12 months, like the profits account will increase, on the other side sold receivables to bank or investment company must take some lost. The property account must decrease. It also easy cost fraud. Audits may use inspection of tangible property and analytical procedures. Inspection of tangible investments will get out the total property increase or decrease. Xerox company failing to reveal factoring deal should track record in annual statement, so use analytical technique will disclose this issue.
REF:
Arens. , Best. , Shailer. , Fiedler. , Elder. , Beasley. (2010). Requirements of Auditing, Assurance Services & Ethics in Australia. Chris Richardson
Frank D. (2007). CPAs' Views on Auditor Independence. Modern culture of Certified Consumer Accountants
