Pipara & Co LLP

Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements

Introduction

Scope of this SA

This Standard on Auditing (SA) deals with the auditor’s responsibilities in agreeing the terms of the audit engagement with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance. This includes establishing that certain preconditions for an audit, responsibility for which rests with management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, are present. SA 2201 deals with those aspects of engagement acceptance that are within the control of the auditor. (Ref: Para. A1)

Effective Date

This SA is effective for audits of financial statements for periods beginning on or after April 1, 2010.

Objective
  1. The objective of the auditor is to accept or continue an audit engagement only when the basis upon which it is to be performed has been agreed, through:
    1. Establishing whether the preconditions for an audit are present; and
    2. Confirming that there is a common understanding between the auditor and management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance of the terms of the audit engagement.
Definitions
  1. For purposes of the SAs, the following term has the meaning attributed below:

Preconditions for an audit – The use by management of an acceptable financial reporting framework2 in the preparation of the financial statements and the agreement of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance to the premise3 on which an audit is conducted.

  1. For the purposes of this SA, references to “management” should be read hereafter as “management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance”.

1 SA 220, “Quality Control for an Audit of Financial Statements”.

2 SA 200, “Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in accordance with Standards on Auditing”, paragraph 13 (a).

3 SA 200, Paragraph 13(j).

Requirements
Preconditions for an Audit
  1. In order to establish whether the preconditions for an audit are present, the auditor shall:
    1. Determine whether the financial reporting framework to be applied in the preparation of the financial statements is acceptable; and (Ref: Para. A2- A9)
    2. Obtain the agreement of management that it acknowledges and understands its responsibility: (Ref: Para A10-A13, A20)
      1. For the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework, including where relevant their fair presentation; (Ref: Para. A14)
      2. For such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and (Ref: Para. A15-A18)
      3. To provide the auditor with:
        1. Access to all information of which management is aware that is relevant to the preparation of the financial statements such as records, documentation and other matters;
        2. Additional information that the auditor may request from management for the purpose of the audit; and (Ref: Para. A19)
        3. Unrestricted access to persons within the entity from whom the auditor determines it necessary to obtain audit evidence.
Limitation on Scope Prior to Audit Engagement Acceptance
  1. If management or those charged with governance impose a limitation on the scope of the auditor’s work in the terms of a proposed audit engagement such that the auditor believes the limitation will result in the auditor disclaiming an opinion on the financial statements, the auditor shall not accept such a limited engagement as an audit engagement, unless required by law or regulation to do so.
Other Factors Affecting Audit Engagement Acceptance
  1. If the preconditions for an audit are not present, the auditor shall discuss the matter with management. Unless required by law or regulation to do so, the auditor shall not accept the proposed audit engagement:
  1. If the auditor has determined that the financial reporting framework to be applied in the preparation of the financial statements is unacceptable, except as provided in paragraph 19; or
  2. If the agreement referred to in paragraph 6(b) has not been obtained.
Agreement on Audit Engagement Terms
  1. The auditor shall agree the terms of the audit engagement with management or those charged with governance, as appropriate. (Ref: Para. A21)
  2. Subject to paragraph 11, the agreed terms of the audit engagement shall be recorded in an audit engagement letter or other suitable form of written agreement and shall include: (Ref: Para. A22-A26)
    1. The objective and scope of the audit of the financial statements;
    2. The responsibilities of the auditor;
    3. The responsibilities of management;
    4. Identification of the applicable financial reporting framework for the preparation of the financial statements; and
    5. Reference to the expected form and content of any reports to be issued by the auditor and a statement that there may be circumstances in which a report may differ from its expected form and content. (Ref: Para. A24)
  3. If law or regulation prescribes in sufficient detail the terms of the audit engagement referred to in paragraph 10, the auditor need not record them in a written agreement, except for the fact that such law or regulation applies and that management acknowledges and understands its responsibilities as set out in paragraph 6(b). (Ref: Para. A22, A27-A28)
  4. If law or regulation prescribes responsibilities of management similar to those described in paragraph 6(b), the auditor may determine that the law or regulation includes responsibilities that, in the auditor’s judgment, are equivalent in effect to those set out in that paragraph. For such responsibilities that are equivalent, the auditor may use the wording of the law or regulation to describe them in the written agreement. For those responsibilities that are not prescribed by law or regulation such that their effect is equivalent, the written agreement shall use the description in paragraph 6(b). (Ref: Para. A27)
Recurring Audits
  1. On recurring audits, the auditor shall assess whether circumstances require the terms of the audit engagement to be revised and whether there is a need to remind the entity of the existing terms of the audit engagement. (Ref: Para. A29)
Acceptance of a Change in the Terms of the Audit Engagement
  1. The auditor shall not agree to a change in the terms of the audit engagement where there is no reasonable justification for doing so. (Ref: Para. A30-A32)
  2. If, prior to completing the audit engagement, the auditor is requested to change the audit engagement to an engagement that conveys a lower level of assurance, the auditor shall determine whether there is reasonable justification for doing so. (Ref: Para. A33-A34)
  3. If the terms of the audit engagement are changed, the auditor and management shall agree on and record the new terms of the engagement in an engagement letter or other suitable form of written agreement.
  4. If the auditor is unable to agree to a change of the terms of the audit engagement and is not permitted by management to continue the original audit engagement, the auditor shall:
    1. Withdraw from the audit engagement where possible under applicable law or regulation; and
    2. Determine whether there is any obligation, either contractual or otherwise, to report the circumstances to other parties, such as those charged with governance, owners or regulators.
Additional Considerations in Engagement Acceptance
Financial Reporting Standards4 Supplemented by Law or Regulation
  1. If financial reporting standards established by an authorised or recognised standards setting organization are supplemented by law or regulation, the auditor shall determine whether there are any conflicts between the financial reporting standards and the additional requirements. If such conflicts exist, the auditor shall discuss with management the nature of the additional requirements and shall agree whether:
    1. The additional requirements can be met through additional disclosures in the financial statements; or
    2. The description of the applicable financial reporting framework in the financial statements can be amended accordingly.
4 Accounting Standards issued by the ICAI or Accounting Standards, notified by the Central Government by publishing the same as the Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006, or the Accounting Standards for Local Bodies issued by the ICAI, as may be applicable. If neither of the above actions is possible, the auditor shall determine whether it will be necessary to modify the auditor’s opinion in accordance with SA 705(Revised)5. (Ref: Para. A35)
Financial Reporting Framework Prescribed by Law or Regulation—Other Matters Affecting Acceptance
  1. If the auditor has determined that the financial reporting framework prescribed by law or regulation would be unacceptable but for the fact that it is prescribed by law or regulation, the auditor shall accept the audit engagement only if the following conditions are present: (Ref: Para. A36)
    1. Management agrees to provide additional disclosures in the financial statements required to avoid the financial statements being misleading; and
    2. It is recognised in the terms of the audit engagement that:
      1. The auditor’s report on the financial statements will incorporate an Emphasis of Matter paragraph, drawing users’ attention to the additional disclosures, in accordance with SA 706(Revised)6 ; and
      2. Unless the auditor is required by law or regulation to express the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements by using the phrases “present fairly, in all material respects”, or “give a true and fair view” in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework, the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements will not include such phrases.
  2. If the conditions outlined in paragraph 19 are not present and the auditor is required by law or regulation to undertake the audit engagement, the auditor shall:
    1. Evaluate the effect of the misleading nature of the financial statements on the auditor’s report; and
    2. Include appropriate reference to this matter in the terms of the audit engagement.
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