Matthew Damon has been appointed as a junior auditor of AwesomewaterhouseCoopers (AwC). One of his first tasks is to review the firms audit clients to ensure that independence requirements of APES 110 (Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants) are being met. His review has revealed the following:

(a) Jessica Parker is an assurance manager with AwC and it has just been decided to allocate her to the audit of Fresh Foods Limited (FFL). Jessicas financially dependent daughter, Sarah, who is still in high school has recently used all her inheritance from her grandfather to buy a small parcel of shares in FFL.

(b) AwC has recently been approached by Metal Mining Limited (MML) to conduct its audit. The accountant at MML, Jennifer Lawrence is the daughter of one of AwCs audit partner Brian Adams. Being aware of Brians relationship with Jennifer, AwC will not be assigning Brian to the audit team of MML.

(c) AwC has performed the audit of Jamaican Metals Pty Limited (JM), a large proprietary company (NOT public interest entity) for the last two years. AwC has also been providing services related to the preparation of accounting records and financial statements to JM.

(d) AwC is soon planning to commence its audit work for Blue Metals Limited (BML). James Grage will be the engagement partner for the BML audit. Paul Levesque is also a partner at AwC and sits in the same office as James. Pauls wife Stephanie has recently purchased shares in BML. Paul is not involved in the BML audit.

(e) Wendy Machineries Limited (WML) has been an audit client of AwC since the past two years. AwC has recently completed a review of internal controls for WML. AwC has been requested by WML to take responsibility to implement a new software system that will form a significant part of internal controls over WMLs financial reporting process and run a three hour training session for its accounting staff.

Required: For each of the independent situations above, and using the conceptual framework in APES 110 (Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants), answer the following questions:

1. Identify potential threat(s) to independence & recommend safeguards (if any) to reduce the independence threat(s) identified. (5 marks)

2. Provide an objective assessment of whether audit independence can be achieved (5 marks) (Total 10 Marks