The auditor’s opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting is rendered at a point in time (e.g. at year-end), whereas the auditor’s opinion on the financial statements covers the financial results over a period of time (for the entire year). In an integrated audit of internal control over financial reporting and the financial statements, how should the auditor generally structure his or her testing of controls – throughout the entire period under audit or compressed toward year-end? (Adapted from PCAOB, 2005)