DEF Ltd is a global leader in the manufacture, integration and support of networking and telecommunications systems. The company sells broadband wireless products and a line of handset equipment to operators in emerging and established telecommunications markets worldwide. The auditor reported material weaknesses in the companys internal controls to the audit committee.

Significant deficiencies related to revenue and deferred revenue accounts and the associated cost of sales were noted. These material weaknesses were evidenced by the identification of six separate transactions aggregating approximately $5 million in which revenue was initially included in the Companys financial statements before all criteria for revenue recognition were met. In addition, there were other transactions for which there was insufficient initial documentation for revenue recognition purposes, but which did not result in any adjustments to the Companys financial statements. If unremediated, these significant deficiencies have the potential of misstating revenue in future financial periods.

The Companys planned remediation measures reported to the audit committee include the following:

a. The Company plans to design a contract review process in China requiring financial and legal staff to provide input during the contract negotiation process to ensure timely identification and accurate accounting treatment of nonstandard contracts.

b. The Company conducted a training seminar regarding revenue recognition, including identification of nonstandard contracts, in Australia and a similar seminar in China. The Company plans to conduct additional training seminars in various international locations regarding revenue recognition and the identification of nonstandard contracts.

c. The Company will begin requiring centralized retention of documentation evidencing proof of delivery and final acceptance for revenue recognition purposes.

Required:

1. Using the disclosures above as a starting point, brainstorm about the challenges regarding internal controls and that a company may face in doing business internationally?

2. The company has disclosed its planned remediation efforts. How might the auditor use that information during the next years audit in terms of audit planning?

3. Considering potential analytical procedures relevant to the revenue cycle, identify what types of analytics might be applied in the next years audit to provide evidence that the problems detected have been remedied.

4. Considering potential substantive tests of revenue, identify procedures that might be applied in the next years audit to provide evidence that the problems detected have been remedied.