Case 17-9 Contradictory Evidence

Auditors have a responsibility to remain alert to audit evidence that contradicts other audit evidence obtained. The application of professional skepticism is essential to the critical assessment and questioning of contradictory audit evidence.

When the auditor obtains information during the course of the audit that contradicts information obtained from another source, the auditor has a responsibility to resolve the matter and consider its impact on the sufficiency and appropriateness of audit evidence obtained and the effect, if any, on other aspects of the audit.

The auditor may face significant challenges associated with identifying, evaluating, and addressing contrary, disconfirming, or inconsistent evidence. In particular, when auditing accounting estimates, auditors may have a tendency to overweight evidence that is supportive of managements methods and assumptions, favoring evidence that confirms the aforementioned, without critically assessing the reasonableness of contradictory evidence or inputs.

The following three cases illustrate how the auditor considers audit evidence obtained, including contradictory evidence, related to accounting estimates.

Case A Revenue Projections Used in an Impairment Assessment

An entity holds an indefinite-lived intangible asset that it tests annually for impairment under ASC 350 using an income approach (discounted cash flow analysis). As part of its assessment procedures, the engagement team identified the following risk of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion:

The revenue projections (i.e., revenue growth rate) used in the discounted cash flow analysis could be unreasonable and result in the entity not recording an impairment that exists.

The risk of material misstatement was not identified as a fraud risk.

Note that the engagement team may have identified additional risks of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion as part of its risk assessment procedures; however, this case focuses on this specific risk of material misstatement for illustrative purposes.

The engagement team obtained the following evidence from the audit procedures performed to address this risk:

The entitys revenue projections align with historical trends.

The entitys revenue forecasts have not significantly varied from actual results over the past few years.

The entity is operating in a depressed industry that has recently experienced market declines

The entity has gained market share in each of the last three years.

The revenue growth rates used in the projections are above the growth rates predicted by the industry analysts.

The entity has a significant number of multi-year contracts with its customers.

Case B Impairment Indicator Related to a Potential Asset Sale

An entity owns a long-lived asset group (the Asset Group) that management evaluated for impairment indicators in the current year in accordance with ASC 360 and concluded that there were no such indicators. As part of its risk assessment procedures, the engagement team identified the following risk of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion:

The entity did not identify relevant impairment indicators related to ASC 360-10-35- 21(f), which states an impairment indicator may exist if there is a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset (asset group) will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life.

The risk of material misstatement was not identified as a fraud risk.

Note that the engagement team may have identified additional risks of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion identified as part of its risk assessment procedures; however, this example focuses on this specific risk of material misstatement for illustrative purposes.

The engagement team obtained the following evidence from the audit procedures performed to address this risk:

The budget used by management for operational purposes is reasonable and indicates operating income and positive cash flows for the Asset Group.

Because they are in a distressed industry, the entity and the Asset Group have experienced declines in financial results in recent years.

Management communicated to investors an intention to shift its operating strategy to improve cash flows and is exploring options and opportunities to achieve this goal.

Board meeting minutes indicate that a number of strategic options and opportunities have been discussed, including the potential sale of the Asset Group, the potential sale of other assets, and refinancing debt.

The entity projects that it will meet its financing and liquidity needs without having to sell the Asset Group or any other assets.

Management represented to the engagement team that it does not believe it is more likely than not that the Asset Group will be sold in the near future.

Case C Assumptions Used to Estimate the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

A commercial furniture wholesaler reserves for its allowance for doubtful accounts based on standard reserve percentages supported by historical collection experience. (Note that this example does not contemplate the need for specific reserves.) Management uses the same process for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts (the reserve), as it did in the prior year. As part of its risk assessment procedures, the engagement team identified the following risk of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion:

The entity may not appropriately update its reserve policy (including updates to reserve percentages) for changes in circumstances.

Note that the engagement team may have identified additional risks of material misstatement related to the valuation assertion identified as part of its risk assessment procedures; however, this example focuses on this specific risk of material misstatement for illustrative purposes. In addition, this risk was not identified as a fraud risk.

The engagement team obtained the following evidence from the audit procedures performed to address this risk:

The current-year reserve as a percentage of gross receivables is consistent with prior years, although there was an increase in revenues, gross receivables, and the related reserve.

Bad debt expense has remained consistent as a percentage of gross revenue over the past several years.

Retrospective review of receivable collections indicates that managements reserves have historically been accurate.

Economic conditions have been fairly stable and are predicted to remain stable.

Revenues increased substantially year over year as a result of the introduction of a new product line.

The new product line is marketed toward customers in the restaurant industry, in which the entity does not currently have an established customer base.

The restaurant industry generally has a higher rate of business failure than other customer segments.

The entitys collections experience has primarily been with customers in the retail and professional services industries; the entity has very little collections experience with the new product line, given the recent launch.

Approved sales terms have not changed year to year (e.g., sales personnel may offer an extension of credit of up to 100 percent of the purchase price consistent with prior year, creditworthiness is determined in the same manner, payment terms are consistent with prior year).

Sales of the new product line are more frequently 100 percent financed versus sales of the existing product lines, resulting in an increase in gross receivables.

Competitors who manufacture similar restaurant furniture products have higher reserves as a percentage of their trade receivables.

Required:

For each case above:

1. Identify and summarize the corroborative and contradictory audit evidence in each scenario.

2. Determine what additional information, if any, is needed to reach a conclusion regarding managements assertion.

3. On the basis of the case facts, determine whether managements assertion is supportable and how additional information obtained might change your conclusion.