Discuss whether the changes described in each of the cases below require recognition in the CPA’s audit report as to consistency. (Assume that the amounts are material).

  1. The company changed its inventory method to FIFO from weighted-average, which had been used in prior years.
  2. The company disposed of one of the two subsidiaries that had been included in its consolidated statements for prior years.
  3. The estimated remaining useful life of plant property was reduced because of obsolescence.

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. No

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of audit report

The auditor’s report is a document comprising the viewpoint of the auditor on in case a firm’s accounting statements are in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and are exempted from material misrepresentation.

02

Explanation for statement ‘a’

If the firm altered its process of valuing inventory, the consistency as well as the comparability, of the accounting statements have been affected by a variation in the process of applying the principles of accounting. The variation would need statement in the report of auditor in a descriptive paragraph.

03

Explanation for statement ‘b’

If the firm ended one of its two subsidiaries that was involved in its consolidated statements for previous years, no statement in relation to the requirements of consistency is required to be made in the CPA’s audit report. The comparability of the accounting statements has been affected by the business events, but there has been no alteration made in the principle or the process used. The transaction would possibly need informative exposure in the accounting statements.

04

Explanation for statement ‘c’

If the firm decreases the estimated residual life of plant property due to obsolescence, the comparability of the accounting statements has been afflicted. The variation is not a subject of consistency; it is an alteration in the accounting evaluate needed by changed conditions and includes no variation in principles of accounting used. The variation would reasonably be stated by an accounting statement note. If judged on in the CPA’s report, it would be a result of disclosure as opposed to consistency.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Homer Winslow and Jane Alexander are discussing various aspects of the FASB’s concepts statement on the objective of financial reporting. Homer indicates that this pronouncement provides little, if any, guidance to the practicing professional in resolving accounting controversies. He believes that the statement provides such broad guidelines that it would be impossible to apply the objective to present-day reporting problems. Jane concedes this point but indicates that the objective is still needed to provide a starting point for the FASB in helping to improve financial reporting.Instructions

  1. Indicate the basic objective established in the conceptual framework.
  2. What do you think is the meaning of Jane’s statement that the FASB needs a starting point to resolve accounting controversies?

Why is it necessary to develop a definitional framework for the basic elements of accounting?

What is a conceptual framework? Why is a conceptual framework necessary in financial accounting?

How is materiality (or immateriality) related to the proper presentation of financial statements? What factors and measures should be considered in assessing the materiality of a misstatement in the presentation of a financial statement?

Question: For each item below, indicate to which category of elements of financial statements it belongs.

(a) Retained earnings (f) Loss on sale of equipment

(b) Sales (g) Interest payable

(c) Additional paid-in capital (h) Dividends

(d) Inventory (i) Gain on sale of investment

(e) Depreciation (j) Issuance of common stock

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