Audit Planning and Basic Auditing Concepts
mes32502_ch03_067-097.indd 74 10/14/15 02:03 PM
A Sample Engagement Letter—EarthWear Clothiers (continued)
Company’s internal control over financial reporting, to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
We will design our audit to obtain reasonable, but not absolute, assurance of detecting errors or fraud that would have a material effect on the financial statements as well as other illegal acts having a direct and material effect on financial statement amounts, and of identify- ing material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. Absolute assurance is not attainable due to the nature of audit evi- dence and the characteristics of fraud. Also, an audit is not designed to detect errors or fraud that are immaterial to the financial statements or other illegal acts having an indirect or immaterial financial statement impact or deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that, individually or in combination, are less severe than a material weakness. It is important to recognize that there are inherent limitations in the auditing process. An audit is based on the concept of selective testing of the data underlying the financial statements, which involves judgment regarding the areas to be tested and the nature, timing, extent and results of the tests to be performed. Accordingly, there is some risk that a material misstatement of the financial statements or a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting would remain undetected. Because of the characteristics of fraud, an audit designed and executed in accordance with the standards established by the PCAOB may not detect a material misstatement due to fraud. Characteristics of fraud include (i) concealment through collusion among management, employees, or third parties; (ii) withheld, misrepresented, or falsified documentation; and (iii) the ability of manage- ment to override or instruct others to override what otherwise appears to be effective controls. Further, while effective internal control over financial reporting reduces the likelihood that errors, fraud, or other illegal acts will occur and remain undetected, it does not eliminate that possibility. For these reasons we cannot ensure that errors, fraud, or other illegal acts, if present, will be detected. However, we will com- municate to the audit committee and management of the Company, as appropriate, any such matters identified during our audit.
We also are responsible for determining that the audit committee is informed about certain other matters related to the conduct of our audit, including (i) any disagreements with management about matters that could be significant to the Company’s financial statements or our report thereon; (ii) any serious difficulties encountered in performing the audit; (iii) information relating to our independence with respect to the Company; and (iv) other matters related to the Company’s financial statements including its significant accounting policies and practices, including critical accounting policies and alternative treatments within accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Lastly, we are responsible for ensuring that the audit committee receives copies of certain written communications between us and management, including management representation letters and written communications on accounting, auditing, internal control, or operational matters.
The financial statement audit and the audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting will not be planned or conducted in contemplation of reliance by any specific third party or with respect to any specific transaction. Therefore, items of possible interest to a third party will not be specifically addressed and matters may exist that would be assessed differently by a third party, possibly in connec- tion with a specific transaction.