Items 1 through 5 present various independent factual situations an auditor might encounter in conducting an audit of a nonpublic company. For each situation, assume:
The auditor is independent.
The auditor previously expressed an unmodified opinion on the prior year’s financial statements.
The nonpublic audit client is presenting single-year (not comparative) financial statements.
The conditions for an unmodified opinion exist unless contradicted in the factual situations.
The conditions stated in the factual situations are material.
No report modifications are to be made except in response to the factual situation.
The Report Alteration part of the problem only addresses the need to add an additional section or a paragraph to an existing section. Other parts of the audit report may be affected that are not examined in this question.
Required:
Below are the types of opinions the auditor ordinarily would issue and report modifications (if any) relating to an additional paragraph or section that would be necessary. Select as the best answer for each situation (items 1 through 5) the type of opinion and alterations, if any, the auditor would normally select. For each situation (items 1 through 5) also provide the report alteration under PCAOB standards for audits of public companies.
Types of Opinions Report Alteration
A. Unmodified H. Add a section preceding the Opinion section.
B. Qualified I. Add a section immediately following the Opinion section.
C. Adverse J. Add a section at a point following the Basis for Opinion section.
D. Disclaimer K. Add a paragraph to the Opinion section.
E. Qualified or adverse L. Add a paragraph to the Basis for Opinion section.
F. Qualified or disclaimer M. Issue unmodified report without alteration.
G. Disclaimer or adverse
1. In auditing the long-term investments account, an auditor is unable to obtain audited financial statements for an investee located in a foreign country. The auditor concludes that sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding this investment cannot be obtained.
2. Due to recurring operating losses and working capital deficiencies, an auditor has substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. However, the financial statement disclosures concerning these matters are adequate. The auditor has decided not to issue a disclaimer of opinion.
3. A group auditor decides to take responsibility for the work of a component CPA who audited a wholly owned subsidiary of the entity and issued an unmodified opinion. The total assets and revenues of the subsidiary represent 17 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of the total assets and revenues of the entity being audited.
4. An entity changes its depreciation method for production equipment from straight-line to a units-of-production method based on hours of utilization. The auditor concurs with the change, although it has a material effect on the comparability of the entity’s financial statements.
5. An entity discloses certain lease obligations in the notes to the financial statements. The auditor believes that the failure to capitalize these leases is a departure from generally accepted accounting principles and, although the possible effects on the financial statements of the misstatements are material, they could not be pervasive.
