Jeff Johns Is a Staff Accountant and Has Been Assigned

question 38

Essay

Jeff Johns is a staff accountant and has been assigned to the audit of Worldwide Enterprises, Inc. Subsequent to the completion of fieldwork; Jeff was assigned to draft the audit report. The content of one of the paragraphs he has drafted reads as follows:
As explained in Note 2 to the financial statements, Worldwide Enterprises has charged goodwill and certain other intangible assets acquired in two separate acquisitions directly to shareholders' equity. Under generally accepted accounting principles, these intangibles should have been recorded as assets and amortized to income over future periods. Had these intangibles been capitalized, total assets would have increased by $400,000 as of December 31, 2011 and net income and earnings per share would be increased by $380,000 and $2.25, respectively (assuming a 20-year amortization period).
a. Based on the contents of the paragraph above, which condition requiring a departure from a standard unqualified opinion exists in the engagement?
b. Assuming that the engagement partner agrees with the paragraph Jeff has prepared above, where in the auditor's report should the paragraph be placed?
c. How would the materiality of the condition above affect the final choice of opinion?

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Definitions:

Inventory-related Selling Costs

These are expenses directly tied to the selling of inventory items, such as shipping and handling fees.

Inventory Inspection Costs

Expenses associated with verifying the quantity and quality of inventory on hand.

Stockholders' Equity

The residual interest in the assets of a corporation after deducting its liabilities, often equated to the book value of the company.

Ending Inventory

The value of goods available for sale at the end of an accounting period, calculated as the sum of beginning inventory plus purchases minus cost of goods sold.