Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
The company processes a significant number of routine intercompany transactions on a
monthly basis. Individual intercompany transactions are not material and primarily relate to
balance sheet activity, for example, cash transfers between business units to finance normal
operations. A formal management policy requires monthly reconciliation of intercompany
accounts and confirmation of balances between business units. However, there is not a process
in place to ensure performance of these procedures. As a result, detailed reconciliations of
intercompany accounts are not performed on a timely basis. Management does perform
monthly procedures to investigate selected large-dollar intercompany account differences. In
addition, management prepares a detailed monthly variance analysis of operating expenses to
assess their reasonableness. - Answers Significant Deficiencies:
-individual intercompany transactions are not material
-monthly controls are in place to detect MWs, but controls only detect MWs not SDs
-transactions are related to balance sheet accounts
Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
The company processes a significant number of intercompany transactions on a monthly basis.
Intercompany transactions relate to a wide range of activities, including transfers of inventory
with intercompany profit between business units, allocation of research and development costs
to business units and corporate charges. Individual intercompany transactions are frequently
material. A formal management policy requires monthly reconciliation of intercompany
accounts and confirmation of balances between business units. However, there is not a process
in place to ensure that these procedures are performed on a consistent basis. As a result,
reconciliations of intercompany accounts are not performed on a timely basis, and differences
in intercompany accounts are frequent and significant. Management does not perform any
alternative controls to investigate signi - Answers Material Weaknesses:
-individual transactions relate to a wide variety of activities and are frequently material
-there are material unreconciled differences in intercompany accounts
-controls are not operating effectively, therefore its likely that MWs occur (because it says they
,do frequently)
Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
The company uses a standard sales contract for most transactions. Individual sales
transactions are not material to the entity. Sales personnel are allowed to modify sales contract
terms. The company's accounting function reviews significant or unusual modifications to the
sales contract terms, but does not review changes in the standard shipping terms. The changes
in the standard shipping terms could require a delay in the timing of revenue recognition.
Management reviews gross margins on a monthly basis and investigates any significant or
unusual relationships. In addition, management reviews the reasonableness of inventory levels
at the end of each accounting period. The entity has experienced limited situations in which
revenue has been inappropriately recorded in advance of shipment, but amounts have not been
material. - Answers Significant Deficiencies:
-Individual sales transactions are not material
-monthly controls reduce likelihood of MWs, but are only designed to detect MWs
-only major risk is limited to revenue recognition
Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
The company uses a standard sales contract but sales personnel frequently modify the terms
of the contract. The nature of the modifications can affect the timing and amount of revenue
recognized. Individual sales transactions are frequently material to the entity, and the gross
margin can vary significantly for each transaction. The company does not have procedures in
place for the accounting function to regularly review modifications to sales contract terms.
Although management reviews gross margins on a monthly basis, the significant differences in
gross margins on individual transactions make it difficult for management to identify potential
misstatements. Improper revenue recognition has occurred and the amounts have been
material. - Answers Material Weaknesses:
-individual sales transactions are material
-gross margin varies significantly on each transaction (rendering detective controls based on
reasonableness ineffective)
-material weakness in revenue recognition
, Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
The company has a standard sales contract, but sales personnel frequently modify the terms of
the contract. Sales personnel frequently grant unauthorized and unrecorded sales discounts to
customers without the knowledge of the accounting department. These amounts are deducted
by customers in paying their invoices and are recorded as outstanding balances on the
accounts receivable aging. Although these amounts are individual insignificant, they are
material in aggregate and have occurred consistently over the past few years. - Answers
Material Weaknesses:
-financial mistatements occur very frequently to the point that even though they are individually
insignificant, they are likely to be material in aggregate
-internal control deficiency allows for more chance of MWs in the future
Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.
During its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management identified the
following deficiencies. Based on the context in which the deficiencies occur, management and
the auditor agree that these deficiencies individually represent significant deficiencies.
Inadequate segregation of duties over certain information system access controls.
Several instances of transactions that were not properly recorded in subsidiary ledgers;
transactions were not material, either individually or in aggregate.
A lack of timely reconciliations of the account balances affected by the improperly
recorded transactions. - Answers Material Weaknesses:
-individually, the deficiencies are significant but not material
-however, all deficiencies affect same set of accounts, making it more likely to result in a MW in
aggregate
Identify whether MWs or SDs exist in the following scenario.