a) Aseye Ltd is in the manufacturing sector and its year-end is 30 September 2019. The final audit is nearly complete and it is proposed that the financial statements and audit report will be signed on 10 November 2019. Revenue for the year is GH¢80 million and profit before taxation is GH¢9 million. Subsequent to the year-end, a lawsuit was filed against Aseye Ltd. Below are the details of the lawsuit:

A key supplier of Aseye Ltd is suing the company for breach of contract. The lawsuit was filed on 10 October 2019, and the sum claimed by the supplier is GH¢2 million. This has been disclosed as a contingent liability in the notes to the financial statements; however, correspondence has just been received from the supplier indicating that they are willing to settle the case for a payment by Aseye Ltd of GH¢1 million. It is likely that the company will agree to this.

Required:
i) For the event above:

  • Discuss whether the financial statements require amendment. (2 marks)
  • Describe audit procedures that should be performed to enable the Auditor to draw a conclusion on the amendment. (2 marks)

ii) Describe the auditor’s responsibility for subsequent events occurring between:

  • The year-end date and the date the auditor’s report is signed. (3 marks)
  • The date the auditor’s report is signed and the date the financial statements are issued. (3 marks)

i) Financial Statement Amendment:

  • The financial statements should be amended as the event provides evidence of a condition that existed at the reporting date (30 September 2019). The contingent liability should be adjusted from GH¢2 million to a provision of GH¢1 million, as it is probable that Aseye Ltd will agree to this settlement. This is in accordance with IAS 37: Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.

Audit Procedures:

  • Review correspondence with the supplier to confirm the settlement amount of GH¢1 million.
  • Discuss with management to verify their intention to settle the lawsuit for GH¢1 million.
  • Obtain a written representation from management confirming the likelihood of settling for GH¢1 million.
  • Contact the company’s legal advisors to assess the probability and amount of the settlement.

ii) Auditor’s Responsibility:

  • Between year-end date and the date the auditor’s report is signed:
    The auditor has an active responsibility to perform procedures to identify subsequent events that require adjustment or disclosure. This includes reviewing management procedures, inquiring of management, and considering if further adjustments are necessary based on subsequent events, as outlined by ISA 560: Subsequent Events.
  • Between the date the auditor’s report is signed and the date the financial statements are issued:
    After the report is signed, the auditor is not required to perform any audit procedures unless they become aware of facts that may materially affect the financial statements. If such events occur, the auditor should discuss them with management and determine whether the financial statements need to be amended. If amendments are made, the auditor may need to extend their review to cover the period up to the new report date.