Deck 16: Completing the Tests in the Sales and Collection Cycle: Accounts Receivable

Question 1

Auditors are especially concerned with three aspects of internal control for the sales and collection cycle.Which of the following is not one of their major concerns?

A) Controls over cutoff
B) Controls that prevent or detect embezzlements
C) Controls over sales discounts
D) Controls related to the allowance for uncollectible accounts

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Analytical procedures are substantive tests and,if the results of the analytical procedures are favorable,the auditor would normally:

A) reduce the extent of tests of details of balances.
B) reduce the extent of tests of controls.
C) reduce the tests of transactions.
D) reduce all of the other tests.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The results of the tests of controls determine whether assessed control risk for sales and cash receipts needs to be revised.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following types of receivables would not deserve the special attention of the auditor?

A) Accounts receivables with credit balances
B) Accounts that have been outstanding for a long time
C) Receivables from related parties
D) Each of the above would receive special attention.

Question 5

Analytical procedures:

A) are only done during the planning of the audit and when performing detailed tests.
B) performed during the detailed testing phase are done before tests of details of balances.
C) performed during the detailed testing phase are done before the balance sheet date.
D) are performed only on accounts receivable, not on the entire sales and collection cycle.

Question 6

For cash receipts,the occurrence transaction-related audit objective affects which of the following balance-related audit objective?

A) Existence
B) Completeness
C) Rights
D) Detail tie-in

Question 7

Favorable results from analytical procedures may reduce the extent to which the auditor needs to test details of balances.

Question 8

The accounts receivable balance-related audit objective net realizable value is not affected by assessed control risk for sales or cash receipts.

Question 9

The understatement of sales and accounts receivable is best uncovered by:

A) testing internal controls.
B) testing the aged accounts receivable trial balance.
C) substantive tests of transactions for shipments made but not recorded.
D) substantive tests of transactions for bad debts.

Question 10

The two primary classes of transactions in the sales and collection cycle are:

A) sales and sales discounts.
B) sales and cash receipts.
C) sales and sales returns.
D) sales and accounts receivable.

Question 11

Recording a sale that did not occur violates the occurrence transaction-related audit objective and the existence balance-related audit objective.

Question 12

The appropriate and sufficient evidence to be obtained from tests of details must be decided on an:

A) efficiency basis.
B) effectiveness basis.
C) audit objectives basis.
D) none of the above.

Question 13

For sales,the completeness transaction-related audit objective affects the existence balance-related audit objective.

Question 14

An auditor is comparing the write-off of uncollectible accounts as a percentage of total accounts receivable with previous years.A possible misstatement this procedure could uncover is:

A) overstatement or understatement of sales.
B) overstatement or understatement of accounts receivable.
C) overstatement or understatement of bad debt expense.
D) overstatement or understatement of sales returns and allowances.

Question 15

Auditors use the results of the substantive tests of transactions of sales and the collection cycle to determine the extent to which inherent risk is satisfied for each accounts receivable balance-related audit objective.

Question 16

Below are listed possible misstatements that could occur in the sales and collections cycle.Provide the analytical procedure that would be most useful in detecting the possible misstatement.
a.Overstatement of sales and accounts receivable
b.Uncollectible accounts receivable that have not been provided for
c.Overstatement of sales returns and allowances

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct statement regarding analytical procedures?

A) If an auditor identifies a possible misstatement in sales using analytical procedures, accounts payable will be the likely offsetting misstatement.
B) Auditors should also compare the results of their analytical procedures to budgets and industry trends.
C) If sales are overstated, the income statement will be incorrect, but the balance sheet will be correct.
D) If an analytical procedure uncovers an unusual fluctuation, the auditor must assume fraud is involved.

Question 18

A high inherent risk increases planned detection risk and decreases planned substantive tests.

Question 19

When analytical procedures in the sales and collection cycle uncover unusual fluctuations,the auditor should make additional inquiries of management.

Question 20

For sales,the occurrence transaction-related audit objective affects which of the following balance-related audit objective?

A) Existence
B) Completeness
C) Rights
D) Detail tie-in

Question 21

Which of the following is likely to be determined first when performing tests of details for accounts receivable?

A) Recorded accounts receivable exist.
B) Accounts receivable in the aged trial balance agree with related master file amounts, and the total is correctly added and agrees with the general ledger.
C) Accounts receivable are owned.
D) Existing accounts receivable are included.

Question 22

Cutoff misstatements occur:

A) either by error or fraud.
B) by error only.
C) by fraud only.
D) randomly without causes related to errors or fraud.

Question 23

Tests of which balance-related audit objective are normally performed first in an audit of the sales and collection?

A) Accuracy
B) Completeness
C) Rights
D) Detail tie-in

Question 24

Which of the following audit procedures would not likely detect a client's decision to pledge or factor accounts receivable?

A) A review of the minutes of the board of directors' meetings
B) Discussions with the client
C) Confirmation of receivables
D) Examination of correspondence files

Question 25

Most tests of accounts receivable are based on what schedule,file,or listing?

A) Sales master file
B) Aged accounts receivable trial balance
C) Accounts receivable master file
D) Accounts receivable general ledger account

Question 26

Testing the information on the aged trial balance for detail tie-in is a necessary audit procedure,which would normally include:

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 27

The most important aspect of evaluating the client's method of obtaining a reliable cutoff is to:

A) perform extensive detailed testing of cutoff.
B) evaluate the client's control procedures around cutoff.
C) confirm a sample of transactions near period end with customers.
D) confirm transaction with customers.

Question 28

Because of its central role in auditing of accounts receivable,which of the following would normally be one of the first items tested?

A) Accounts receivable master file
B) Customer file
C) Aged trial balance
D) Sales register

Question 29

Confirmation of accounts receivable selected from the trial balance is the most common test of details of balances for the ________ of accounts receivable.

A) presentation
B) valuation
C) accuracy.
D) detail tie-in

Question 30

Cutoff misstatements occur when:

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 31

A customer mails and records a check to a client for payment of an unpaid account on December 30.The client receives and records the amount on January 2.The records of the two organizations will be different on December 31.This represents:

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 32

Which of the following audit procedure would normally be included in the audit plan when auditing the allowance for doubtful accounts?

A) Send positive confirmations.
B) Inquire of the client's credit manager.
C) Send negative confirmations.
D) Examine sales invoices.

Question 33

When do most companies record sales returns and allowances?

A) During the month in which the sale occurs
B) During the accounting period in which the return occurs
C) Whenever the customer contacts the company regarding the credit
D) During the month after the sale occurs

Question 34

Audit procedures designed to uncover credit sales made after the client's fiscal year end that relate to the current year being audited provide evidence for which of the following audit objective?

A) Realizable value
B) Accuracy
C) Cutoff
D) Existence

Question 35

Generally accepted accounting principles require that revenue be reported net of sales returns and allowances:

A) if practical.
B) if required by industry practice.
C) if the amounts are material.
D) any of the above.

Question 36

A listing of the balances in the accounts receivable master file at the balance sheet date,by total balance outstanding and by the amount of time the component parts have been outstanding,is the:

A) customer list.
B) aged trial balance.
C) accounts receivable ledger.
D) schedule of accounts receivable.

Question 37

An auditor is performing a credit analysis of customers with balances over 60 days due.She is most likely obtaining evidence for which audit related objective?

A) Realizable value
B) Existence
C) Completeness
D) Occurrence

Question 38

If the client's internal control for recording sales returns and allowances is evaluated as ineffective:

A) a larger sample may be needed to verify cutoff.
B) sampling is not appropriate.
C) all sales returns must be traced to supporting documentation.
D) all sales returns must be confirmed with the customer.

Question 39

The most important test of details of balances to determine the existence of recorded accounts receivable is:

A) tracing details of sales invoices to shipping documents.
B) tracing the credits in accounts receivable to bank deposits.
C) tracing sales returns entries to credit memos issued and receiving room reports.
D) the confirmation of customers' balances.

Question 40

Cutoff misstatements can occur for:

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 41

When designing tests of details of balances,an important point to remember is:

A) auditors emphasize income statement accounts.
B) the audit procedures selected depends heavily on whether planned evidence for a given objective is low, medium, or high.
C) if accounts receivable are overstated, then sales will be understated.
D) sales cutoff is the most important test of details of accounts receivable.

Question 42

How might the auditor determine whether a client has limited rights to accounts receivable?

A)
B)
C)
D)

Question 43

For effective internal control,employees maintaining the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger should not also approve:

A) employee overtime wages.
B) credit granted to customers.
C) write-offs of customer accounts.
D) cash disbursements.

Question 44

Tests of detail tie-in are normally conducted last in the audit of the sales and collections cycle.

Question 45

For which of the following accounts is cutoff least important?

A) Sales
B) Sales returns and allowances
C) Cash collections
D) Inventory

Question 46

Describe how the auditor tests the accuracy objective for accounts receivable.

Question 47

The net realizable value of accounts receivable is equal to:

A) gross accounts receivable less allowance for uncollectible accounts.
B) gross accounts receivable less bad debt expense.
C) gross accounts receivable less returns and allowances.
D) gross accounts receivable less sales discounts.

Question 48

Tests of the presentation and disclosure-related objectives are generally done as part of the completion phase of the audit.

Question 49

Assuming the client's internal controls are adequate,describe how the auditor can verify proper cutoff of sales transactions.

Question 50

You are reviewing sales to discover cutoff problems.If the client's policy is to record sales when title to the merchandise passes to the buyer,then the books and records would contain errors if the December 31 entries were for sales recorded:

A) before the merchandise was shipped.
B) at the time the merchandise was shipped.
C) several days subsequent to shipment.
D) at a time after the point at which title passed.

Question 51

The balance-related audit objectives of realizable value and rights are not affected by assessed control risk.

Question 52

Discuss the audit procedures performed when testing the detail tie-in objective for accounts receivable,and explain why this objective is ordinarily tested before any other objectives for accounts receivable.

Question 53

If material,all of the following are required to be separately disclosed in the financial statements except for:

A) accounts receivable from officers.
B) accounts receivable from affiliates.
C) sales and assets for different business segments.
D) sales for the last ten days of the fiscal year.

Question 54

A procedure to test for a cash receipts cutoff error is:

A) reconciling the bank statement.
B) performing a four-column proof-of-cash.
C) observing the counting of cash at the balance sheet date.
D) tracing recorded cash receipts to bank deposits on the bank statement of a different period.

Question 55

For most audits,a proper cash receipts cutoff is less important than the sales cutoff because the improper cutoff of cash:

A) is detected and correct when cash is separately audited.
B) is unlikely to have a material impact on the balance sheet or the income statement.
C) affects items on the balance sheet but does not affect net income.
D) rarely occurs given the control consciousness of most entities.

Question 56

Cutoff misstatements can occur for sales,sales returns,and cash receipts.List below the threefold approach an auditor performs for each account above to determine the reasonableness of the cutoff.

Question 57

Which of the following most likely would be detected by a review of a client's sales cutoff?

A) Excessive sales discounts
B) Unrecorded sales for the year
C) Unauthorized goods returned for credit
D) Lapping of year-end accounts receivable

Question 58

An auditor selects a sample from the file of shipping documents to determine whether invoices were prepared.This test is to satisfy the audit objective of:

A) accuracy.
B) existence.
C) control.
D) completeness.

Question 59

The criterion used by most merchandising and manufacturing clients for determining when revenue recognition takes place is whether title to the goods has passed.

Question 60

One of the shortcomings in evaluating the allowance for uncollectible accounts by reviewing individual noncurrent balances on the aged trial balance is:
I)it is difficult to compare the results of the current year with those of the previous year.
II)current accounts are ignored in establishing the adequacy of the allowance.

A) I only
B) II only
C) both I and II
D) neither I or II

Question 61

If the auditor decides not to confirm accounts receivable,the auditor should:

A) always use alternative procedures to audit the accounts receivable.
B) include copies of customer statements in the audit files.
C) document the reasons for such a decision in the audit files.
D) include copies of customer sales invoices in the audit files.

Question 62

Tests of the realizable value balance-related audit objective are for the purpose of evaluating the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Question 63

Communication addressed to the debtor requesting him or her to confirm whether the balance as stated on the communication is correct or incorrect is a:

A) representation letter.
B) negative confirmation.
C) bank confirmation.
D) positive confirmation.

Question 64

When positive confirmations are used,auditing standards require alternative procedures for confirmations not returned by the customer.Which of the following would not be considered an alternative procedure?

A) Send a second confirmation request.
B) Examine subsequent cash receipts to determine if the receivable has been paid.
C) Examine shipping documents to verify that the merchandise was shipped.
D) Examine customer's purchase order and the duplicate sales invoice to determine that the merchandise was ordered.

Question 65

An auditor should perform alternative procedures to substantiate the existence of accounts receivable when:

A) no reply to a positive confirmation request is received.
B) no reply to a negative confirmation request is received.
C) collectability of the receivables is in doubt.
D) pledging of the receivables is probable.

Question 66

The most reliable evidence from confirmations is obtained when they are sent:

A) as close to the balance sheet date as possible.
B) at various times throughout the year to different segments of the sample, so that the entire sample is representative of account balances scattered throughout the year.
C) several months before the year-end, so the auditor will have adequate time to perform alternate procedures if they are required.
D) at various times throughout the year to the same group in the sample, so that the sample will not have a time bias.

Question 67

Describe the differences between positive and negative confirmations.Which type is generally viewed as more reliable?

Question 68

The most effective audit evidence gathered for accounts receivable is the:

A) detail tie-in of the records.
B) analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts.
C) confirmation of accounts receivable.
D) examination of sales invoices.

Question 69

Confirmation of accounts receivable balances normally provides evidence concerning the:

A) valuation of the balances.
B) rights of the balances.
C) existence of the balances.
D) completeness of the balances.

Question 70

Auditing standards require the confirmation of accounts receivable in normal circumstances.What are the two exceptions to this requirement?

Question 71

The audit procedure that provides the auditor with the most appropriate evidence when performing test of details of balances for accounts receivable is:

A) confirmations.
B) recalculation of the aged receivables and uncollectible accounts.
C) tracing credit memos for returned merchandise to receiving room reports.
D) tracing from shipping documents to journals to the accounts receivable ledger.

Question 72

A positive confirmation is more reliable evidence than a negative confirmation because:

A) fewer confirmations can be sent out.
B) the auditor has a document which can be used in court.
C) the debtor's lack of response indicates agreement with the stated balance.
D) follow-up procedures are performed if a response is not received from the debtor.

Question 73

When should auditors not perform alternative procedures in testing the accounts receivable balance?

A) When customers do not return positive confirmation requests
B) When customers do not return negative confirmation requests
C) When confirmations are deemed to be ineffective as an audit procedure
D) When confirmations are too costly to use

Question 74

A type of positive confirmation known as a blank confirmation:

A) requests the recipient to fill in the amount of the balance.
B) is considered less reliable than the regular positive confirmation.
C) generates as high a response rate as the regular positive confirmation form.
D) is used when the auditor is confirming several small balances.

Question 75

Which of the following is the principle "weakness" of using negative confirmations for your tests of details of balances for accounts receivable?

A) They can only be used for large balance accounts.
B) They cannot not be used when account balances "bunch" around a mean value.
C) Conclusions drawn from receiving no reply may not be correct.
D) Response rates are generally too low to draw any conclusions.

Question 76

For most audits,a proper cash receipts cutoff is less important than either the sales or the sales returns and allowances cutoff since cash only affects the balance sheet,and not earnings.

Question 77

A type of positive confirmation in which an individual invoice is confirmed,rather than the customer's entire accounts receivable balance is the ________ confirmation.

A) invoice
B) specific
C) balance
D) voucher

Question 78

Confirmation is the most common test of details of balances for the accuracy of accounts receivable.

Question 79

Confirmation of accounts receivable provide evidence related to the existence,accuracy and cutoff objectives.

Question 80

The positive (as opposed to the negative)form of receivables confirmation may be preferred when:

A) internal control surrounding accounts receivable is considered to be effective.
B) there is reason to believe that a substantial number of accounts may be in dispute.
C) a large number of small balances are involved.
D) the auditor believes that the recipients of the confirmations will give the requests adequate consideration.