4 SA 200, “Overall Objectives of the Independent Auditor and the Conduct of an Audit in Accordance with Standards on Auditing”, paragraph 18.
reporting framework applied in the preparation of the financial statements5. In the case of an audit of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement, this shall include whether application of the financial reporting framework will result in a presentation that provides adequate disclosures to enable the intended users to understand the information conveyed in the financial statement or the element, and the effect of material transactions and events on the information conveyed in the financial statement or the element. (Ref: Para. A7)
5 SA 210, “Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements”, paragraph 6(a).
6 SA 210, paragraph 10(e).
7 SA 200, paragraph 2.
8 SA 200, paragraph 13(f), explains that the term “financial statements” ordinarily refers to a complete set of financial statements as determined by the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework.
9 SA 700 (Revised), “Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements”.
statement or on a specific element of a financial statement in conjunction with an engagement to audit the entity’s complete set of financial statements, the auditor shall express a separate opinion for each engagement.
Modified Opinion, Emphasis of Matter Paragraph or Other Matter Paragraph in the Auditor’s Report on the Entity’s Complete Set of Financial Statements
10 SA 705(Revised), “Modifications to the Opinion in the Independent Auditor’s Report”, paragraph 15.
A1. SA 200 defines the term “historical financial information” as information expressed in financial terms in relation to a particular entity, derived primarily from that entity’s accounting system, about economic events occurring in past time periods or about economic conditions or circumstances at points in time in the past11.
A2. SA 200 defines the term “financial statements” as a structured representation of historical financial information, including related notes, intended to communicate an entity’s economic resources or obligations at a point in time or the changes therein for a period of time in accordance with a financial reporting framework. The term ordinarily refers to a complete set of financial statements as determined by the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework12.
A3. SAs are written in the context of an audit of financial statements13; they are to be adapted as necessary in the circumstances when applied to an audit of other historical financial information, such as a single financial statement or a specific element of a financial statement. This SA assists in this regard. (Appendix 1 lists examples of such other historical financial information.)
11 SA 200, paragraph 13(g).
12 SA 200, paragraph 13(f).
13 SA 200, paragraph 2.
A4. A reasonable assurance engagement other than an audit of historical financial information is performed in accordance with Proposed Standard on Assurance Engagements (SAE) 300014.
A5. SA 200 requires the auditor to comply with (a) relevant ethical requirements, including those pertaining to independence, relating to financial statement audit engagements, and (b) all SAs relevant to the audit. It also requires the auditor to comply with each requirement of an SA unless, in the circumstances of the audit, the entire SA is not relevant or the requirement is not relevant because it is conditional and the condition does not exist. In exceptional circumstances, the auditor may judge it necessary to depart from a relevant requirement in an SA by performing alternative audit procedures to achieve the aim of that requirement15.
A6. Compliance with the requirements of SAs relevant to the audit of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement may not be practicable when the auditor is not also engaged to audit the entity’s complete set of financial statements. In such cases, the auditor often does not have the same understanding of the entity and its environment, including its internal control, as an auditor who also audits the entity’s complete set of financial statements. The auditor also does not have the audit evidence about the general quality of the accounting records or other accounting information that would be acquired in an audit of the entity’s complete set of financial statements. Accordingly, the auditor may need further evidence to corroborate audit evidence acquired from the accounting records. In the case of an audit of a specific element of a financial statement, certain SAs require audit work that may be disproportionate to the element being audited. For example, although the requirements of SA 570(Revised)16 are likely to be relevant in the circumstances of an audit of a schedule of accounts receivable, complying with those requirements may not be practicable because of the audit effort required. If the auditor concludes that an audit of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement in accordance with SAs may not be practicable, the auditor may discuss with management whether another type of engagement might be more practicable.
A8. The form of opinion to be expressed by the auditor depends on the applicable financial reporting framework and any applicable laws or regulations17. In accordance with SA 700 (Revised)18:
A9. In the case of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement, the applicable financial reporting framework may not explicitly address the presentation of the financial statement or of the element. This may be the case when the applicable financial reporting framework is based on a financial reporting framework established by an authorised or recognised standards setting organization for the preparation of a complete set of financial statements (e.g., Financial Reporting Standards). The auditor therefore considers whether the expected form of opinion is appropriate in the light of the applicable financial reporting framework. Factors that may affect the auditor’s consideration
as to whether to use the phrases “presents fairly, in all material respects”, or “gives a true and fair view” in the auditor’s opinion include:
The auditor’s decision as to the expected form of opinion is a matter of professional judgment. It may be affected by whether use of the phrases “presents fairly, in all material respects”, or “gives a true and fair view” in the auditor’s opinion on a single financial statement or on a specific element of a financial statement prepared in accordance with a fair presentation framework is generally accepted in the particular jurisdiction.
A10. The relevance of each of the SAs requires careful consideration. Even when only a specific element of a financial statement is the subject of the audit, SAs such as SA 24019, SA 55020 and SA 570(Revised) are, in principle, relevant. This is because the element could be misstated as a result of fraud, the effect of related party transactions, or the incorrect application of the going concern assumption under the applicable financial reporting framework.
A11. Furthermore, SAs are written in the context of an audit of financial statements; they are to be adapted as necessary in the circumstances when applied to the audit of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement21. For example, written representations from management about the complete set of financial statements would be replaced by written representations about the presentation of the financial statement or the element in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.
19 SA 240,”The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements”.
20 SA 550, “Related Parties”.
21 SA 200, paragraph 2.
A12. When auditing a single financial statement or a specific element of a financial statement in conjunction with the audit of the entity’s complete set of financial statements, the auditor may be able to use audit evidence obtained as part of the audit of the entity’s complete set of financial statements in the audit of the financial statement or the element. SAs, however, require the auditor to plan and perform the audit of the financial statement or element to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base the opinion on the financial statement or on the element.
A13. The individual financial statements that comprise a complete set of financial statements, and many of the elements of those financial statements, including their related notes, are interrelated. Accordingly, when auditing a single financial statement or a specific element of a financial statement, the auditor may not be able to consider the financial statement or the element in isolation. Consequently, the auditor may need to perform procedures in relation to the interrelated items to meet the objective of the audit.
A14. Furthermore, the materiality determined for a single financial statement or for a specific element of a financial statement may be lower than the materiality determined for the entity’s complete set of financial statements; this will affect the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures and the evaluation of uncorrected misstatements.
A15. SA 700 (Revised) requires the auditor, in forming an opinion, to evaluate whether the financial statements provide adequate disclosures to enable the intended users to understand the effect of material transactions and events on the information conveyed in the financial statements22. In the case of a single financial statement or of a specific element of a financial statement, it is important that the financial statement or the element, including the related notes, in view of the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework, provides adequate disclosures to enable the intended users to understand the information conveyed in the financial statement or the element, and the effect of material transactions and events on the information conveyed in the financial statement or the element.
A16. Appendix 2 of this SA contains illustrations of auditors’ reports on a single financial statement and on a specific element of a financial statement.
A17. Even when the modified opinion on the entity’s complete set of financial statements, Emphasis of Matter paragraph or Other Matter paragraph does not relate to the audited financial statement or the audited element, the auditor may still deem it appropriate to refer to the modification in an Other Matter paragraph in an auditor’s report on the financial statement or on the element because the auditor judges it to be relevant to the users’ understanding of the audited financial statement or the audited element or the related auditor’s report (see SA 706(Revised))23.
A18. In the auditor’s report on an entity’s complete set of financial statements, the expression of a disclaimer of opinion regarding the results of operations and cash flows, where relevant, and an unmodified opinion regarding the state of affairs is permitted since the disclaimer of opinion is being issued in respect of the results of operations and cash flows only and not in respect of the financial statements as a whole24.
Paragraph 6(b) of ISA 805 defines the meaning of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Since in India, financial reporting standards, used for the preparation and presentation of financial statements, can be ‘Accounting Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or Accounting Standards, notified by the Central Government by publishing the same as Companies (Accounting Standards) Rules, 2006’ or ‘Accounting Standards for Local Bodies issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)’, the paragraph 6(b) of SA 805 has, accordingly, been changed. Corresponding changes have also been made at the relevant places of the Standard.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
[Appropriate Addressee]
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of ABC Company Ltd. as at March 31, 20X1 and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information (together “the financial statement”).
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Those Standards
25 Or other term that is appropriate in the context of the legal framework in the particular jurisdiction.
26 The underlined text has been added pursuant to the decision of the Council of ICAI taken at its 350th meeting held in February 2016.
require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control27. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates, if any, made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statement presents a true and fair view of the state of affairs of ABC Company Ltd. as at March 31, 20X1 in accordance with the Companies Act, 1956 read with general circular 15/2013 dated 13th September 2013 of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in respect of section 133 of the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”),28 relevant to preparing such a financial statement.
Place of Signature Date
For XYZ and Co. Chartered Accountants Firm’s Registration Number
Signature (Name of the Member Signing the Audit Report)
(Designation29) Membership Number
27 The underlined text has been added pursuant to decision of Council of ICAI taken at its 329th adjourned meeting held in January 2014. The complete text of the Announcement in this regard has been published in Paragraph ‘C’, “Announcements/Clarifications” of Section 1, “Announcements of the Council regarding Status of Various Documents issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India”, included in Volume I.A of the Handbook.
28 The underlined text has been added pursuant to the decision of the Council of ICAI taken at its 350th meeting held in February 2016.
29 Partner or Proprietor, as the case may be.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
[Appropriate Addressee]
We have audited the accompanying statement of cash receipts and disbursements of ABC Company Ltd. for the year ended March 31, 20X1 and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information (together “the financial statement”). The financial statement has been prepared by management using the cash receipts and disbursements basis of accounting described in Note X.
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of this financial statement in accordance with the cash receipts and disbursements basis of accounting described in Note X; this includes determining that the cash
30 SA 800 contains requirements and guidance on the form and content of financial statements prepared in accordance with a special purpose framework.
31 Or other term that is appropriate in the context of the legal framework in the particular jurisdiction.
receipts and disbursements basis of accounting is an acceptable basis for the preparation of the financial statement in the circumstances, and the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Standards on Auditing issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Those Standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statement, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statement in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control32. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates, if any, made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statement.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statement presents a true and fair view of the cash receipts and disbursements of ABC Company Ltd. for the year ended March 31, 20X1 in accordance with the cash receipts and disbursements basis of accounting described in Note X.
32 The underlined text has been added pursuant to decision of Council of ICAI taken at its 329th adjourned meeting held in January 2014. The complete text of the Announcement in this regard has been published in Paragraph ‘C’, “Announcements/Clarifications” of Section 1, “Announcements of the Council regarding Status of Various Documents issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India”, included in Volume I.A of the Handbook.
Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to Note X to the financial statement, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial statement is prepared to provide information to XYZ Creditor. As a result, the statement may not be suitable for another purpose.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
[Appropriate Addressee]
We have audited the accompanying schedule of the liability for “incurred but not reported” claims of ABC Insurance Company as of March 31, 20X1 (“the schedule”). The schedule has been prepared by management based on [describe the financial reporting provisions established by the regulator].
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the schedule based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Standards on Auditing issued by the 34 SA 800 contains requirements and guidance on the form and content of financial statements prepared in accordance with a special purpose framework.
35 Or other term that is appropriate in the context of the legal framework in the particular jurisdiction.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Those Standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the schedule is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the schedule. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the schedule, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation of the schedule in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control36. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the schedule.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Without modifying our opinion, we draw attention to Note X to the schedule, which describes the basis of accounting. The schedule is prepared to assist ABC Insurance Company to meet the requirements of Regulator DEF. As a result, the schedule may not be suitable for another purpose. Our report is intended solely for ABC Insurance Company and Regulator DEF and should not be distributed to parties other than ABC Insurance Company or Regulator DEF.
36 The underlined text has been added pursuant to decision of Council of ICAI taken at its 329th adjourned meeting held in January 2014. The complete text of the Announcement in this regard has been published in Paragraph ‘C’, “Announcements/Clarifications” of Section 1, “Announcements of the Council regarding Status of Various Documents issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India”, included in Volume I.A of the Handbook.