Part A

You are the audit manager of Chestnut & Co and are reviewing the key issues identified in the files of two audit clients.

Palm Industries Co (Palm)

Palms year-end was 31 March 2015 and the draft financial statements show revenue of $282 million, receivables of $56 million and profit before tax of $48 million. The fieldwork stage for this audit has been completed.

A customer of Palm owed an amount of $350,000 at the year-end. Testing of receivables in April highlighted that no amounts had been paid to Palm from this customer as they were disputing the quality of certain goods received from Palm. The finance director is confident the issue will be resolved and no allowance for receivables was made with regards to this balance.

Ash Trading Co (Ash)

Ash is a new client of Chestnut & Co, its year-end was 31 January 2015 and the firm was only appointed auditors in February 2015, as the previous auditors were suddenly unable to undertake the audit. The fieldwork stage for this audit is currently ongoing.

The inventory count at Ashs warehouse was undertaken on 31 January 2015 and was overseen by the companys internal audit department. Neither Chestnut & Co nor the previous auditors attended the count. Detailed inventory records were maintained but it was not possible to undertake another full inventory count subsequent to the year-end. The draft financial statements show a profit before tax of $24 million, revenue of $101 million and inventory of $510,000.

Required:

For each of the two issues:

(i) Discuss the issue, including an assessment of whether it is material; (8 marks)

(ii) Recommend ONE procedure the audit team should undertake to try to resolve the issue; and (8 marks)

(iii) Describe the impact on the audit report if the issue remains UNRESOLVED. (4 marks)