Forums › Ask ACCA Tutor Forums › Ask the Tutor ACCA AA Exams › S.P over 3rd party inventory- December 2011- 3bi
- This topic has 4 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 3 years ago by Kim Smith.
- AuthorPosts
- January 23, 2021 at 9:53 am #607637
Hello I hope you’re well,
Kindly explain to me the rationale behind reviewing controls effectiveness or their adequacy through audit report, I get it attending the count for existence makes sense. but why suggest about controls at all? when the question is asking for ”SUBSTANTIVE” procedures.
January 23, 2021 at 10:27 am #607648I’ll get back to you on Monday when I have access to the Q/A so I can answer in context.
January 23, 2021 at 5:28 pm #607689OK – so it says “Attend the inventory count (if one is to be performed) at the third party warehouses to review the controls in operation to ensure the completeness and existence of inventory.” So “controls in operation” is just referring to adherence to count instructions – two people counting, items clearly labelled, etc, etc. If you spend a day in a warehouse watching a count – yes, “observance” of control procedures is a test of control – but I think you would have substantive evidence of the completeness and existence of inventory. As you have concluded.
I do not think it was necessary to mention controls here – you could just have said to physically inspect inventory.With regard to “Inspect any reports produced by the auditors of the warehouses in relation to the adequacy of controls over inventory …..”
This is incomplete – it should add “… for ensuring that inventory is properly counted (i.e. as at the reporting date) and adequately safeguarded”. i.e. this would be an alternative procedure if the auditor cannot attend the physical count at the warehouse – to get a confirmation from the auditor who does attend the physical count at the warehouse.
January 24, 2021 at 1:59 pm #607773Thank you for the clarification, madam. I have a feeling this case is an exception where limited S.Ps can be performed which is why the audit procedures are as suggested. Infact in the kaplan book, this is under ”Procedures” and not ”substantive procedures”
I hope examiner would award marks though.January 24, 2021 at 4:25 pm #607807You are absolutely spot on – the “procedures” are as specified in ISA 501 where they are not specifically labelled “substantive”.
Also I think you should bear in mind that this Q is nearly 10 years old; since then, the examining team’s expectations have become more prescriptive (i.e. are spelt out in the examiner’s reports) and so answers may be more “exact” now.
- AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.