Guide to Using International Standards on Auditing in - IFAC
Guide to Using International Standards on Auditing in - IFAC
Guide to Using International Standards on Auditing in - IFAC
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54<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Guide</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Us<strong>in</strong>g</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Internati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Standards</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Audit<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> the Audits of Small- and Medium-Sized Entities Volume 1—Core C<strong>on</strong>cepts<br />
may (and, <strong>in</strong> the absence of additi<strong>on</strong>al staff, should) perform functi<strong>on</strong>s bel<strong>on</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> several of the<br />
comp<strong>on</strong>ents of <strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol.<br />
• Different term<strong>in</strong>ology or frameworks from those used <strong>in</strong> ISA 315 can be used <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> describe the various<br />
aspects of <strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol and their effect <strong>on</strong> the audit, but all five comp<strong>on</strong>ents are <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g> be addressed <strong>in</strong><br />
the audit.<br />
• The audi<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>r’s primary c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> is whether, and how, a specific c<strong>on</strong>trol prevents, or detects and<br />
corrects, material misstatements <strong>in</strong> classes of transacti<strong>on</strong>s, account balances, or disclosures, and their<br />
related asserti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
A summary of the five <strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol comp<strong>on</strong>ents follows.<br />
5.3 The C<strong>on</strong>trol Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
Paragraph #<br />
Relevant Extracts from ISAs<br />
315.14 The audi<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>r shall obta<strong>in</strong> an understand<strong>in</strong>g of the c<strong>on</strong>trol envir<strong>on</strong>ment. As part of obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g this<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g, the audi<str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>r shall evaluate whether:<br />
(a) Management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, has created and<br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed a culture of h<strong>on</strong>esty and ethical behavior; and<br />
(b) The strengths <strong>in</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>trol envir<strong>on</strong>ment elements collectively provide an appropriate<br />
foundati<strong>on</strong> for the other comp<strong>on</strong>ents of <strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol, and whether those other<br />
comp<strong>on</strong>ents are not underm<strong>in</strong>ed by deficiencies <strong>in</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>trol envir<strong>on</strong>ment. (Ref: Para.<br />
A69-A78)<br />
C<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>ment<br />
The c<strong>on</strong>trol envir<strong>on</strong>ment is the foundati<strong>on</strong> for effective <strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol, provid<strong>in</strong>g discipl<strong>in</strong>e and structure for<br />
the entity. It sets the <str<strong>on</strong>g>to</str<strong>on</strong>g>ne of an organizati<strong>on</strong>, <strong>in</strong>fluenc<strong>in</strong>g the c<strong>on</strong>trol c<strong>on</strong>sciousness or awareness of its people.<br />
The c<strong>on</strong>trol envir<strong>on</strong>ment addresses the governance and management functi<strong>on</strong>s. It also addresses the<br />
attitudes, awareness, and acti<strong>on</strong>s of those charged with governance and management c<strong>on</strong>cern<strong>in</strong>g the entity’s<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternal c<strong>on</strong>trol and its importance with<strong>in</strong> the entity.<br />
Note: C<strong>on</strong>trol-envir<strong>on</strong>ment c<strong>on</strong>trols are generally pervasive <strong>in</strong> nature. They will not directly prevent, or<br />
detect and correct, a material misstatement. Instead, they form an important foundati<strong>on</strong> up<strong>on</strong> which<br />
all other c<strong>on</strong>trols will be built.