Deepa Ltd., initially requested an audit engagement for the financial year 2023-2024. However, midway through the audit process, the management…

CA Intermediate · Auditing and Ethics · MTP · January 2025
Deepa Ltd., initially requested an audit engagement for the financial year 2023-2024. However, midway through the audit process, the management claims that they are unable to provide complete supporting documentation for a significant portion of their receivables. As a result, the management asks the auditor to change the audit engagement to a review engagement, arguing that it would prevent the issuance of a qualified opinion. The auditor is now facing challenge in determining whether this change is justified or not. Comment in accordance with relevant SA.

Suggested Answer and Working Notes:

As per SA 210, “Agreeing the Terms of Audit Engagements”, a request from the entity for the auditor to change the terms of the audit engagement may result from a change in circumstances affecting the need for the service, a misunderstanding as to the nature of an audit as originally requested or a restriction on the scope of the audit engagement, whether imposed by management or caused by other circumstances. The auditor considers the justification given for the request, particularly the implications of a restriction on the scope of the audit engagement. A change in circumstances that affects the entity's requirements or a misunderstanding concerning the nature of the service originally requested may be considered a reasonable basis for requesting a change in the audit engagement. In contrast, a change may not be considered reasonable if it appears that the change relates to information that is incorrect, incomplete or otherwise unsatisfactory. An example might be where the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding receivables and the entity asks for the audit engagement to be changed to a review engagement to avoid a qualified opinion or a disclaimer of opinion. Hence Deepa Ltd.'s request for the audit engagement to be changed to a review engagement to avoid a qualified opinion or a disclaimer of opinion is not reasonable.

Topics: Ethics and Terms of Audit Engagements

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