You are an audit supervisor of Caving & Co and you are planning the audit of Hurling Co, a listed company,

for the year ending 31 March 20X7. The company manufactures computer components and forecast profit

before tax is$336m and total assets are $793m.

The finance director is keen to announce the company's financial results to the stock market earlier than

last year and in order to facilitate this, he has asked if the audit could be completed in a shorter timescale.

In addition, the company is intending to propose a final dividend once the financial statements are finalized.

Hurling Co's finance director has informed the audit engagement partner that one of the company's non-

executive directors (NEDs) has just resigned, and he has enquired if the partners at Caving & Co can help

Hurling Co in recruiting a new NED. Specifically, he has requested the engagement quality control reviewer,

who was until last year the audit engagement partner on Hurling Co, assist the company in this recruitment.

Caving & Co also provides taxation services for Hurling Co in the form of tax return preparation along with

some tax planning advice. The finance director has recommended to the audit committee of Hurling Co that

this year's audit fee should be based on the company's profit before tax. At today's date, 20% of last year's

audit fee is still outstanding and was due to be paid three months ago.

Required:

(i) Identify and explain FIVE ethical threats which may affect the independence of Caving & Co's audit of

Hurling Co; and

(ii) For each threat, suggest a safeguard to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.