Opal Ltd has had an internal audit function for 15 years. Until they retired three months ago, the Chief Internal Auditor (CIA) had been in post since the function was established. An interim replacement has been appointed. The function was always well resourced with a good number of professional and specialist staff. However, a number of staff left when the previous CIA retired and there are rumours that the remaining staff are dissatisfied with the appointment of a relatively inexperienced replacement, who is close friends with the Director of Finance. Due to the need for the organisation to make significant financial savings, the need for the internal audit function is greater than ever yet recent months have also seen increased resistance to, and criticism of, the recommendations made by the function. Senior management is now considering the best delivery model for the function. Explain two advantages and two disadvantages to Opal of outsourcing their internal audit function.

The public accounting firm of Hanson and Brown was expanding very rapidly. Consequently, it hired several staff assistants, including James Small. Subsequently, the partners of the firm became dissatisfied with Small’s production and warned him that they would be forced to discharge him unless his output increased significantly. At that time, Small was engaged in audits of several clients. He decided that, to avoid being fired, he would reduce or omit entirely some of the required auditing procedures listed in the audit plan prepared by the partners. One of the public accounting firm’s non-SEC clients, Newell Corporation, was in serious financial difficulty and had adjusted several of its accounts being examined by Small to appear financially sound. Small prepared fictitious working papers in his home at night to support purported completion of auditing procedures assigned to him, although he in fact did not examine the Newell adjusting entries. The public accounting firm rendered an…

Erica Gray, CPA, is a sole practitioner. She has been practicing as an auditor for 10 years. Recently a long-standing audit client asked Gray to design and implement an integrated computer-based accounting information system. The fees associated with this additional engagement with the client are very attractive. However, Gray wonders if she can remain objective on subsequent audits in her evaluation of the client’s accounting system and its records if she was responsible for its design and implementation. Gray knows that professional auditing standards require her to remain independent in fact and appearance from her auditing clients. Required 1. What do you believe auditing standards are mainly concerned with when they require independence in fact? In appearance? 2. Why is it important that auditors remain independent of their clients? 3. Do you think Gray can accept this engagement and remain independent? Justify your response.

You are the audit manager at KPMG & Coopers a medium-sized audit firm undertaking the audit forthe year ended 30 June 2018 of Vesta Tech Ltd, an electronic component manufacturer located inSydney. During the planning stage of the audit you discovered that one of Vesta Tech Ltd’s majorsuppliers went bankrupt one month ago, causing major product shortages. To overcome the problem,Jonathon Marshall, the husband of the finance director, Nimat Marshall provided electroniccomponents to Vesta Tech Ltd through his private company. There is no formal agreement in placewith Jonathon Marshall, however, the goods are being provided at competitive prices. You areconcerned about the electronic components that Jonathon Marshall’s company is supplying, becausehis products are new to the market and you have heard some of Vesta Tech Ltd’s staff complainingthat they are of poor quality.The board has informed you that although sales have been strong this year, Vesta Tech Ltd hassuffered significant…