Challenges for audit committees 2009 11 November 2009 clean

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Challenges for audit committees 2009 11 November 2009 clean

Umma - Achambers

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FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL C HALLENGES FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES ARISING FROM CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS N OVEMBER 2009 Introduction The current economic outlook appears to be less depressed than this time last year. However, significant economic risks remain and will present challenges for many audit committees during the 2009/10 reporting season. Past experience shows that insolvencies have increased after the technical end of recessions as companies run out of working capital. Such conditions mean that the next twelve months are likely to be particularly difficult for management and may increase the risk that annual reports and accounts misreport facts and circumstances and contain uncorrected errors and omissions. The attached questions seek to identify issues that will be particularly relevant to the work of many audit committees over the next few months. This publication does not establish any new requirements. Specific risks and uncertainties All companies are likely to be experiencing the effects of the recession in one form or another, but these conditions impact different companies in different ways. Useful insight can often be gained by observing the strengths and weaknesses of competitors and comparing their performance to that of the company. Companies may have found it necessary to change their business models in order to improve cash flow or to manage extreme competitive pressures ...

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Publié par	Umma
Nombre de lectures	61
Langue	Español

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FINANCIALREPORTINGCOUNCIL

CHALLENGESFORAUDITCOMMITTEES ARISINGFROMCURRENTECONOMICCONDITIONS

NOVEMBER2009

IntroductionThecurrenteconomicoutlookappearstobelessdepressedthanthistimelastyear.However,significanteconomicrisksremainandwillpresentchallengesformanyauditcommitteesduringthe2009/10reportingseason.Pastexperienceshowsthatinsolvencieshaveincreasedafterthetechnicalendofrecessionsascompaniesrunoutofworkingcapital.Suchconditionsmeanthatthenexttwelvemonthsarelikelytobeparticularlydifficultformanagementandmayincreasetheriskthatannualreportsandaccountsmisreportfactsandcircumstancesandcontainuncorrectederrorsandomissions.Theattachedquestionsseektoidentifyissuesthatwillbeparticularlyrelevanttotheworkofmanyauditcommitteesoverthenextfewmonths.Thispublicationdoesnotestablishanynewrequirements.SpecificrisksanduncertaintiesAllcompaniesarelikelytobeexperiencingtheeffectsoftherecessioninoneformoranother,buttheseconditionsimpactdifferentcompaniesindifferentways.Usefulinsightcanoftenbegainedbyobservingthestrengthsandweaknessesofcompetitorsandcomparingtheirperformancetothatofthecompany.Companiesmayhavefounditnecessarytochangetheirbusinessmodelsinordertoimprovecashflowortomanageextremecompetitivepressures.Suchchangesmayhaveincludedamendmentstotermsoftradeand/orthewayinwhichgoodsandservicesareprocessedanddelivered.Thereisalsoahigherlikelihoodofcompaniesenteringintoinnovativetransactionswhichrequirecarefulanalysistoensurethatappropriateaccountingpolicieshavebeenidentifiedandapplied.Wheresuchchangesarepresent,theyarelikelytonecessitatereconsiderationofaccountingpoliciesandtheeffectivenessofthesystemofinternalcontrol.RelianceonassumptionsandmodelsforcashflowandvaluationinformationWhilstmarketconditionsappearlessvolatilethanlastyear,manycompanieswillstillneedtoconsiderawider‐than‐normalrangeofreasonablypossibleoutcomeswhenperformingsensitivityandscenarioanalysisonthecashflowprojectionssupportingbothassetvaluationsandimpairmentassessments.Theincreaseintherangeofreasonablypossibleoutcomesplacesadditionalpressureonthejudgmentsneededtoevaluateilliquidassetvalues.Auditcommitteesarelikelytowantaclearunderstandingofthesejudgmentsandmayrequiremoredetailedinformationandanalysis.Principles‐basedaccountingandreportingstandardsrelyonbeingappliedinaconstructiveandtransparentwaywithafocusonusefulcommunications,notjusttheminimumnecessarytocomplywithlawsandregulations.

Financial Reporting Council 1

Auditcommitteesarelikelytowanttobeconvincedthatkeyjudgmentsaresupportedbyagreaterdegreeofrigourandanalysisthaninmorenormalcircumstancesandtoconsiderhowsuchmattershavebeenexplainedintheannualreport.LiquidityriskandgoingconcernOneaspectofthisdependenceoncashflowforecastsistheworknecessarytoassessgoingconcern.TheFinancialReportingCouncil(FRC)hasjustpublishedrevisedguidancefordirectorsongoingconcernandliquidityriskhttp://www.frc.org.uk/publications/pub2140.html).Heightenedliquidityriskwillnecessitategreaterattentiontothekeyassumptionsandprocessesthatleadtocashflowforecasts.Insomecases,detailedconsiderationwillneedtobegiventodeterminewhethertherearematerialuncertaintiesleadingtosignificantdoubtaboutwhetherthebusinessisagoingconcern.ManycompanieshaverespondedtotheFRC’scallforimproveddisclosuresin2008/9andlinkedtheirgoingconcernstatementrequiredbytheListingRulestogetherwiththeliquidityriskandsupportinganalysisrequiredbyInternationalFinancialReportingStandard7‐ FinancialInstruments:Disclosures.TheFRCcontinuestoattachimportancetothequalityandclarityofthesedisclosures.Year‐endplanningconsiderationsGiventheincreasedeconomicpressures,auditcommitteesmayneedtoconsiderthepossibleimpactofanincreasedriskoferrororomissionormanipulationoftheannualfinancialinformation.Effectivesystemsareparticularlyvitalinordertomanageanincreasedriskoferror,omissionandfraudwhenmanagementandsupportingfinanceteamsareunderabnormalpressures.Thismaynecessitateare‐examinationofsystemsandcontrolsoverkeyreportingareas.PendingtheoutcomeoftheFRC’srecentlyannouncedreviewofmarketpracticesinrelationtotheprovisionofinternalauditservicesbyexternalauditorshttp://www.frc.org.uk/press/pub2157.html,auditcommitteesshouldbecautiousabouttheengagementofauditorstoprovideserviceswhichmaycompromisetheboundariesbetweeninternalandexternalauditservices.Externalcommentaryisanotherkeysourceofinformationtohelpalerttheauditcommitteetobusinessissues.Examplesincludequestionsraisedaboutpriorperiodfinancialstatementswhichcouldindicateareasrequiringattentioninthecurrentyear.AuditcommitteesarelikelytofinditusefulattheplanningstagetohaveaccesstopresscommentsaboutpriorperiodfinancialreportstogetherwithabriefingonanycorrespondencewithregulatorssuchastheFinancialReportingReviewPanelandacopyofanycommentletterprovidedbytheAuditInspectionUnittothecompany’sauditors.

2 Challenges for audit committees arising from current economic conditions (November 2009)

AreaofconsiderationAssessingandcommunicatingriskanduncertainties

Keyquestions

2009/10 Corporate Reports Key Questions for Audit Committees

HastheauditcommitteeconsideredwhethertheBoardmayneedtoamendthegroupstrategicplanincludingexpectationsoffuturegrowthandthegroup’sabilitytosustainormodifyitsbusinessmodel?

Isthecommitteesatisfiedthatthegrouphasmonitoredtheeffectsonthebusinessofthecontinuedvolatilityinthefinancialmarketsandreducedsupplyofcredit,includingitsexposuretoliquidityriskandcustomerandsupplierdefaultrisk?

HastheBoardsetoutintheannualreportafairreviewofthecompany’sbusinessandhowthebusinessmayhavebeenchangedtoaddresstheeffectsoftherecession?

IsthecommitteesatisfiedthatthebusinessreviewpresentstheprincipalrisksanduncertaintiesthatmostconcerntheBoardinafairandtransparentway?

Hasthecommitteeconsideredwhethertheauditedfinancialstatementsdescribefairlyallofthekeyjudgmentsabouttheapplicationofaccountingpoliciesandtheestimationuncertaintiesinherentinassetsandliabilities?

Haveallrelevantissuesthathaveconcernedmanagementduringtheyearandthathavebeendrawntotheattentionoftheboardand/ortheauditcommitteebeenconsideredfordisclosure?

Hasthecommitteeconsideredwhetherthereisaneedforadditionaldisclosuresaboutcompanycircumstances,suchasgoingconcernissues,inpreliminaryannouncementsorotherregulatoryreportsbeforetheannualreportispublished?

Financial Reporting Council 3

Relianceonmodelsforcashflowandvaluationinformation

2009/10 Corporate Reports Key Questions for Audit Committees

Hastheauditcommitteeconsideredtheprocessesinplacetoensurethatappropriateproceduresandcontrolshavebeenappliedtothegroup’suseofmodelstogeneratecashflowandaccountingvaluationinformation,includingthechoiceandconsistentuseofkeyassumptions?

Hasconsiderationbeengiventothechangesinthoseassumptionsmadesincelastyearandwhetherthosechangesareconsistentwithexternaleventsandcircumstances?

Domodelsadequatelyaddresslowprobabilitybuthighimpactevents?Hasmanagementconsideredwhichscenariosarethemostchallengingforthecompany?

Istheauditcommitteesatisfiedthatappropriatesensitivityanalysishasbeenconducted,byflexingassumptions,toidentifyhowrobustthemodeloutputsareinpracticeandaretheassumptionsfreefrombias?

Whereassetsarenottraded,perhapsbecausemarketsarenolongeractive,isthecommitteesatisfiedthatappropriateadditionalprocedureshavebeenundertakentoestimatefairvaluesthroughtheselectionofmarket‐basedvariablesandtheuseofappropriateassumptions?

Wheremodelshavebeenusedtoestimatethevalueofassetswhichmustbetestedforimpairment,isthecommitteesatisfiedbytheproceduresadoptedtoestimatecashflowsandthattheappropriateadjustmentshavebeenmadeforrisk?Aretheassumptionsthatunderlieanyimpairmenttestsconsistentwithinternalbudgetsandforecastsandwithhowtheprospectsforthebusinesshavebeendescribedelsewhereintheannualreport?

4 Challenges for audit committees arising from current economic conditions (November 2009)

Liquidityriskandgoingconcern

2009/10 Corporate Reports Key Questions for Audit Committees

IstheauditcommitteesatisfiedbytheprocessthattheBoardhasconductedtoconcludethatthefinancialstatementsshouldbepreparedonagoingconcernbasis?WasreferencemadetotherevisedguidancefromtheFRC:“GoingConcernandLiquidityRisk:GuidancefordirectorsofUKcompanies2009”?

Isthecommitteesatisfiedthatproperconsiderationhasbeengiventocashflowforecastspreparedforatleast,butnotlimitedto,twelvemonthsfromthedateofapprovalofthefinancialstatementsincludingananalysisofheadroomagainstavailablefacilitiesandthatallavailableinformationaboutthefuturehasbeentakenintoaccount?

Hasthecommitteeconsideredwhetherthereisaneedtoextendthecashflowforecastexercisetoevaluateissuesthatmayariseaftertheendoftheperiodcoveredbytheinitialbudgetsandforecasts?

Isthecommitteesatisfiedthatappropriateevidencehasbeenobtainedaboutthegroup’sabilitytosecurenewortorenewexistingfundingcommitments?

Hasthecommitteeconsideredananalysisofthetermsofcurrentbankingfacilitiesandcovenants,andhasthisanalysisidentifiedrisksthatneedtobeaddressed?Ifso,areplansinplacetomanagethoserisks?

Isthecommitteesatisfiedthatfullconsiderationhasbeengiventoguarantees,indemnitiesorliquidityfacilitiesthathavebeenprovidedtootherentitiesthatthegroupmaybecalledontohonour?Hasmanagementconsideredwhetherthegrouphastheresourcestomeetsuchobligationsshouldtheyarise?

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Year‐endplanningconsiderations

2009/10 Corporate Reports Key Questions for Audit Committees

Hastheauditcommitteeconsideredhowitshouldrespondtoanyheightenedriskoferrors,omissionsormanipulationofreportedfinancialresultsorbalancesheetpresentation?Hasitassessedhowtheseriskshavebeenmitigated?

Isthecommitteesatisfiedthatappropriateplansareinplacetomakeaconsideredassessmentabouttheuseofthegoingconcernbasisofaccountingatthedateofapprovaloftheannualreportandaccounts?Doesthecommitteeneedfurtheranalysisofhowthebusinesshasbeenaffectedbytherecession?Forexample,ifthetermsoftradehavebeenchangedhasthisresultedinareconsiderationofthesystemofinternalcontrolandhowaccountingpolicieshavebeenselectedandapplied?Inparticular,ifsalestermsandconditionshavebeenchangedhasthecompany’srevenuerecognitionpolicybeenreviewedanddoesitneedtobeamended?Hasthecompanychangeditsbusinessinawaythatwouldincreasethedemandsonthegroupfinancefunctionanditsneedforspecialistskills?Ifadditionalresourcesarerequired,hasaplantoincreaseresourcesbeenmadeandimplemented?

Whereaninternalauditfunctionexists,hasthecommitteeconsideredwhetheritwishesinternalaudittoconductadditionalworkuptoorattheyearend?Isthecommitteecomfortablewiththeboundarybetweeninternalandexternalaudit?Hasconsiderationbeengiventoanyrecommendationsforimprovementarisingfromprioryearannualreportsfromthepressorregulatoryagencies,includingtheFinancialReportingReviewPanelandtheAuditInspectionUnit?Hasthecommitteeconsideredwhetherthegroupauditplanhasbeenupdatedtoaddresscurrentrisksandanychangestothebusiness?Havetheexternalauditorsallocatedsufficientadditionalandexperiencedresourcestoaddressheightenedrisksand,ifnot,arenegotiationsscheduledtosecureadditionalcommitments?

6 Challenges for audit committees arising from current economic conditions (November 2009)

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