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The overall objective of the audit of accounts receivable and sales is to determine if they are fairly presented in the context of the financial statements as a whole. The sales account is closely tied to accounts receivable; therefore, evidence supporting accounts receivable tends to support sales. For example, having determined that an account receivable is valid, the auditor has thereby supported the validity of the sale. Analytical procedures can often be used to test the sales account. An unusual relationship detected in the audit of receivables and inventory may reflect a problem for the reported sales figure as well Keywords: audit, procedures, receivable, sales JEL classification: M42 Get Full Access Gale offers a variety of resources for education, lifelong learning, and academic research. Log in through your library to get access to full content and features! Access through your library Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 Romanian-American University Source CitationGale Document Number: GALE|A545066253 Today we take a look at auditing receivables and revenues. Revenues are the lifeblood of any organization. Without cash inflows, the entity may cease to exist. So, it’s important that each business generate sales or some type of revenue. For you, the auditor, it’s important to verify the revenue. Along with revenues, auditors need to prove receivables. Why? Some companies manipulate their earnings by inflating their period-end receivables. When trade receivables increase, revenues increase. So, a company can increase its net income by recording nonexistent receivables. In this post, we’ll answer questions such as, “should I confirm receivables or examine subsequent receipts?” and “why should I assume that revenues are overstated?" How to Audit Receivables and Revenues — An OverviewIn this post, we will cover the following:
Primary AssertionsFirst, let’s look at assertions. The primary relevant accounts receivable and revenue assertions are:
Of these assertions, I believe—in general—existence (of receivables), occurrence (of revenues) and valuation (of receivables) are most important. So, clients assert that:
Accuracy comes into play if the customer has complex receivable transactions. Additionally, the cutoff assertion is often relevant, especially if the client has incentives to inflate the receivables balance (e.g., bonuses triggered at certain income levels). When auditing receivables and revenues, consider these assertions. Accounts Receivable and Revenue WalkthroughSecond, think about performing your risk assessment work in light of the relevant assertions. As we perform walkthroughs of accounts receivable and revenue, we are looking for ways they are overstated (though they can also be understated as well). We are asking, “What can go wrong, whether intentionally or by mistake?” In performing accounts receivable and revenue walkthroughs, ask questions such as:
As we ask questions, we also inspect documents (e.g., aged receivable reports) and make observations (e.g., who collects the payments?). If controls weaknesses exist, we create audit procedures to respond to them. For example, if—during the walkthrough—we see inconsistent allowance methods, we will perform more substantive work to prove the allowance balances. Directional Risk for Accounts Receivable and RevenuesThird, consider directional risk when auditing receivables and revenues. The directional risk for accounts receivable and revenue is an overstatement. So, in performing your audit procedures, perform procedures to ensure that accounts receivables and revenues are not overstated. For example, review the cutoff procedures at period-end. Be sure that no subsequent period revenues are recorded in the current fiscal year. Audit standards require that auditors review estimates for management bias. So, consider the current year allowance and bad debt write-offs in light of the prior year allowance. This retrospective review allows the auditor to see if the current estimate is fair. The threat is that management might reduce allowances to inflate earnings. Moreover, the audit standards state there is a presumption (unless rebutted) that revenues are overstated. Therefore, we are to assume revenues are overstated, unless we can explain why they are not. Primary Risks for Accounts Receivable and RevenuesFourth, think about the risks related to receivables and revenues. The main risks are:
Risks related to revenue also vary from company to company. For example, one telecommunications company might sell bundled services while another may not. Revenue recognition is more complex (risky) for the company selling bundled services. Also, revenue risks vary from industry to industry. For example, the allowance for uncollectible is normally a high risk area for healthcare entities, but may not be so for other industries. Common Accounts Receivable and Revenue Control DeficienciesFifth, think about the control deficiencies noted during your walkthroughs and other risk assessment work. In smaller entities, the following control deficiencies are common:
Risk of Material Misstatement for Accounts Receivable and RevenuesSixth, now it’s time to assess your risks. In smaller engagements, I usually assess control risk at high for each assertion. Controls must be tested to support any lower control risk assessments. Assessing risks at high is often more efficient than testing controls. When control risk is assessed at high, inherent risk becomes the driver of the risk of material misstatement (inherent risk X control risk = risk of material misstatement). The assertions that concern me the most (those with higher inherent risks) are existence, occurrence, and valuation. So my RMM for these assertions is usually moderate to high. My response to higher risk assessments is to perform certain substantive procedures: namely, receivable confirmations and tests of subsequent collections. As RMM increases, I send more confirmations and examine more subsequent collections. Additionally, I thoroughly test management’s allowance computation. I pay particular attention to uncollected amounts beyond 90 days. Uncollected amounts beyond 90 days should usually be heavily reserved. And amounts beyond 120 days should—generally—be fully reserved. Substantive ProceduresAnd finally, it’s time to determine your substantive procedures in light of your identified risks. My customary audit procedures when auditing receivables and revenues are as follows:
Additionally, I add extended procedures to my audit program if there are high risks of material misstatement such as significant risks. For example, if a company sells bundled goods, I test how the company apportions the revenue recognition. Or if there are no segregation of duties, I add fraud-related procedures such as testing daily cash collections. The additional procedures address the root of the identified risks. Common Work PapersMy accounts receivable and revenue work papers frequently include the following:
In SummaryIn this chapter, we’ve looked at the following for receivables and revenues:
Next, we’ll see how to audit investments. Get Your Copy of The Why and the How of AuditingClick the book cover below to see the book on Amazon. Get your copy on Amazon; click the book image. Learn from my CPA Hall Talk newsletter!Get my free accounting and auditing digest with the latest content. About the AuthorCharles Hall is a practicing CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. For the last thirty years, he has primarily audited governments, nonprofits, and small businesses. He is the author of The Little Book of Local Government Fraud Prevention and Preparation of Financial Statements & Compilation Engagements. He frequently speaks at continuing education events. Charles is the quality control partner for McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co. where he provides daily audit and accounting assistance to over 65 CPAs. In addition, he consults with other CPA firms, assisting them with auditing and accounting issues. How do you audit sales and accounts receivable?How to Audit Accounts Receivable. Trace receivable report to general ledger. ... . Calculate the receivable report total. ... . Investigate reconciling items. ... . Test invoices listed in receivable report. ... . Match invoices to shipping log. ... . Confirm accounts receivable. ... . Review cash receipts. ... . Assess the allowance for doubtful accounts.. How do you test the effectiveness of internal controls?The following best practices can help you test internal controls more effectively.. Create an Inventory of Controls. ... . Prioritize Controls Testing. ... . Design an Appropriate Test for Each Control. ... . Document and Follow Up on Identified Issues.. What are the internal controls for receivables and sales transactions?The key controls to consider are:. Require credit approval prior to shipment. ... . Verify contract terms. ... . Proofread invoices. ... . Authorize credit memos. ... . Restrict access to the billing software. ... . Segregate duties. ... . Review accounts receivable journal entries. ... . Audit invoice packets.. How do auditors obtain an understanding of internal control for sales?Auditors must use additional procedures—such as observations, inspection or tracing transactions through the information system—to obtain an understanding of controls relevant to the audit. The appropriate procedures are a matter of the auditor's professional judgment.
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