Hi Sir, I read that for the assertion of completeness about year-end inventory one of the tests is to ‘compare the gross profit % to the previous year or industry data.’ I don’t understand how this test relates to completeness, can you please clarify?
So if closing inventory were not complete (understated) cost of sales would be too high and gross profit too low.
A reduction in the GP% might therefore indicate that closing inventory was not complete. Conversely, an increase in GP% might indicate that closing inventory was overstated.
Analytical procedures can give very powerful clues about material misstatements.