On a High Level,the Accounting Processes of a Business Consist

question 11

Essay

On a high level,the accounting processes of a business consist of internal controls,individual transactions,and account balances.
Required:
A. A company implements internal controls as a safeguard to ensure appropriate capturing and recording of individual transactions, which are then collected into ending account balances. Ending account balances are then used to prepare the financial statements. The auditor expresses an opinion on the financial statements, which are made up of ending account balances and disclosures.
A. Describe the relationship between internal controls, individual transactions, and account balances.
B. Discuss how evidence regarding each of these three areas can help an auditor determine if the financial statements are fairly stated.
B. The auditor can obtain evidence from all three areas of the accounting process. For instance, an auditor can directly test the account balance (e.g., by examining a bank statement reconciliation). This evidence is usually the highest-quality but costliest evidence. Alternatively, the auditor can obtain indirect information by testing the individual transactions that make up an account balance. If transactions are handled properly, this provides indirect evidence that the ending balances are more likely to be fairly stated. The least direct method of obtaining evidence is to evaluate and test the company's internal controls, which are implemented to ensure that transactions are handled properly. If a company's system of internal control is effective, transactions are more likely to be handled properly, and thus the ending balances making up a set of financial statements are more likely to be fairly stated. Auditors usually collect evidence relating to all three areas: internal control, transactions, and ending balances.

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Definitions:

Money

A medium of exchange that facilitates the sale, purchase, or trade of goods between parties.

Money

A medium of exchange that is widely accepted in transactions for goods and services and repayment of debts.

Wealth

The total value of all financial assets and physical possessions owned by an individual or entity, minus any debts.

Required Reserve Ratio

The percentage of deposits that banks are mandated to keep on hand and not lend out, as regulated by central banking authorities.