Deck 11: Auditing of Government and Not-for-Profit Organizations

Question 1

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget issues generally accepted auditing standards which provide general guidelines for government audits and address the minimum responsibilities of the auditor.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The section headed "Auditor's Responsibility" in the audit report will specify whether the audit is conducted under generally accepted auditing standards or generally accepted government auditing standards.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) apply to financial audits of state and local governments only if they expend $750,000 or more in federal financial assistance.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Under generally accepted government auditing standards, safeguards are controls designed to reduce or eliminate threats to independence.

Question 5

Performance audits are independent assessments of performance against objective criteria.

Question 6

In evaluating an entity's system of internal controls, a material weakness is a deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity's financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis.

Question 7

Guidelines for grant accounting and reporting are contained within the State and Local Government Audit and Accounting Guide, issued by the AICPA.

Question 8

The AICPA's Audit and Accounting Guide, State and Local Governments, requires auditors to make separate materiality determinations for each opinion unit.

Question 9

Generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) require that auditors conducting a GAGAS audit complete at least 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) that directly contributes to the auditor's professional proficiency to perform such audit work.

Question 10

Governments may engage one auditor to audit the primary government and other auditors to audit certain component units.

Question 11

Generally accepted government auditing standards require the auditor to report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance with laws, regulations, and provisions of contracts or grant agreements.

Question 12

When financial statements are accompanied by the report of an independent auditor, users have the assurance that the statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting and financial reporting standards established by authoritative bodies, and that all material facts have been disclosed.

Question 13

In auditing compliance with laws and regulations as part of a single audit, the auditor must render an opinion on the specific requirements applicable to each program for which the entity receives federal financial assistance.

Question 14

If the auditor determines that the financial statements contain a departure from GAAP, the effect of which is material, the auditor should express an unqualified opinion.

Question 15

To help identify threats to independence, generally accepted government auditing standards establish a conceptual framework that requires auditors to identify, evaluate, and apply safeguards to appropriately address threats to independence.

Question 16

Auditing standards issued by the U.S. General Accountability Office include specific reference to ethical requirements relating to an audit of financial statements, however, auditing standards issued by the Auditing Standards Board do not address ethics.

Question 17

The introductory paragraph of the auditor's report should identify the financial statements being audited and, in particular, refer to the audit of the financial statements of each opinion unit.

Question 18

Required supplementary information (RSI), such as the MD&A and budgetary comparison schedules, are within the scope of a financial statement audit.

Question 19

Some of the auditing issues faced by auditors of government and not-for-profit entities are unique to the public sector.

Question 20

Only state and local governments and their component units must have single audits; colleges and universities and other not-for-profit organizations that expend federal financial awards are not required to have single audits.

Question 21

Governments and not-for-profit entities may be subject to each of the following levels of audit except:

A) Requirements under AICPA generally accepted auditing standards.
B) Requirements under GAO generally accepted government auditing standards.
C) Requirements under OMB compliance standards.
D) Requirements under the Single Audit Act.

Question 22

Which of the following is a True statement about the relationship between generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) and generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS)?

A) GAGAS and GAAS provide standards for financial audits, attestation engagements, and performance audits.
B) GAGAS encompass GAAS and supplement certain GAAS.
C) GAAS encompass GAGAS and supplement certain GAGAS.
D) GAGAS are promulgated by the Government Accountability Office and GAAS are promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

Question 23

The purpose of an attestation engagement may include all of the following, except:

A) Expressing an opinion on whether the subject matter examined is in conformity with recognized criteria.
B) Expressing a conclusion about whether any information came to the attention of the auditor indicating that the subject matter reviewed conflicts with recognized criteria.
C) Providing an agreed-upon procedure report on an assertion about a subject matter.
D) Providing a due diligence report on compliance with laws and regulations.

Question 24

Generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) apply to all of the following audits except:

A) Financial statement audits of federal organizations.
B) Financial audits of not-for-profit organizations not receiving or expending federal financial awards.
C) Financial audits of governments receiving and expending federal grants.
D) Performance audits of federal programs.

Question 25

Threats to independence include all of the following except:

A) Bias threat.
B) Familiarity threat.
C) Undue influence threat.
D) Management representation threat.

Question 26

The goal(s) of a performance audit include(s) assessment of:

A) Program effectiveness.
B) Economy.
C) Internal control compliance.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 27

Which of the following statements concerning the Single Audit Act of 1984 (with 1996 amendments) is correct?

A) Only those entities receiving over $750,000 a year in federal financial assistance are required to have a single audit.
B) Those entities expending under $750,000 a year in federal awards may be exempt from single audit requirements.
C) The Single Audit Act only applies if an entity has high risk programs.
D) The single audit is optional for all entities receiving federal awards.

Question 28

Audits of state and local governments may be performed by all of the following except:

A) Independent CPAs.
B) State audit agencies.
C) Federal grantor agencies.
D) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Question 29

Auditing procedures deemed particularly applicable to audits of state and local governments by independent CPAs are published in:

A) The GASB codification.
B) AICPA audit and accounting guides.
C) GASB implementation guides.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 30

In audits of state and local government units which of the following sections may not be required in the auditor's report for every audit?

A) Auditor's Opinion section.
B) Other Matters section.
C) Other Information section.
D) Auditor's Responsibility section.

Question 31

Generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS):

A) Establish the same scope as GAAS, but use wording appropriate to government entities instead of business organizations.
B) Are set forth in the Federal Government Compliance Supplement.
C) Establish more standards that are broader in scope than those found in GAAS.
D) Establish standard wording of auditor's reports on government financial statements.

Question 32

One of the primary purposes of the Single Audit Act of 1984 (amended in 1996) is to:

A) Detect fraud, waste and abuse in government entities.
B) Promote the efficient and effective use of audit resources.
C) Make audit activity legal at the federal level.
D) Allow federal auditors greater access to government entities receiving federal funds.

Question 33

Typical objectives of a performance audit include:

A) Determining whether financial statements fairly present the entity's operational results.
B) Judging the appropriateness of an entity's program goals.
C) Determining whether financial statements fairly present in conformity with GAAP.
D) Assessing effectiveness and results, economy and efficiency, and internal controls.

Question 34

An auditor would not render an opinion on a(an):

A) Financial audit of financial statements.
B) Performance audit.
C) Audit to determine whether the entity has adhered to specific compliance requirements applicable to a major program.
D) Audit to determine whether a government department's financial information complies with specific state regulatory requirements.

Question 35

Under the existing GAAP hierarchy for state and local government financial reporting, the GASB Implementation guides are:

A) More authoritative than GASB Statements.
B) Equally authoritative to GASB Technical Bulletins.
C) More authoritative than the AICPA state and local government audit guide.
D) Less authoritative than AICPA Practice Bulletins.

Question 36

A single audit conducted pursuant to the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 requires which of the following types of audits?

A) Financial Audit: Yes; Performance Audit: No
B) Financial Audit: No; Performance Audit: No
C) Financial Audit: No; Performance Audit: Yes
D) Financial Audit: Yes; Performance Audit: Yes

Question 37

The single audit requirement applies to:

A) All audits of state and local government reporting entities.
B) Financial audits of all not-for-profit entities.
C) Most audits of state and local governments expending federal grant funds.
D) Only those governments and not-for-profit entities that are audited by a federal audit agency.

Question 38

In which section of the standard audit report does the auditor inform financial statement users that certain information, such as combining statements or budgetary comparison schedules may not have been subject to the comprehensive audit procedures?

A) Auditor's Opinion section.
B) Other Matters section.
C) Other Information section
D) Auditor's Responsibility section.

Question 39

An unmodified audit opinion rendered on a government unit's basic financial statements means those statements:

A) Have been certified as free from error.
B) Did not require modifications by the auditor.
C) Present the entity's financial position fairly in conformity with GAAP.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 40

All of the following reports are included in the reporting package resulting from the single audit except:

A) Financial statements and schedule of expenditures of federal awards.
B) Summary schedule of prior audit findings.
C) Report on efficiency and effectiveness.
D) Corrective action plan.

Question 41

Which of the following would not be considered Category (b) GAAP for state and local government auditees?

A) AICPA Practice Bulletins if specifically made applicable to state and local governments by the AICPA and cleared by the GASB.
B) GASB Technical Bulletins.
C) GASB Statements.
D) GASB Implementation Guides.

Question 42

Audit objectives set forth by the United States Comptroller General in Government Auditing Standards (GAS or GAGAS) differ from the AICPA view (GAAS) as discussed in Chapter 11. What are some of the differences?

Question 43

The fundamental ethical principles identified under generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) include all of the following except:

A) Public interest.
B) Proper use of government information, resources, and position.
C) Oath of office.
D) Professional behavior.

Question 44

Which of the following is not considered an opinion unit requiring a materiality determination associated with a financial statement audit of a state or local government?

A) Aggregate discretely presented component units.
B) Investment trust fund financial statements.
C) Each major governmental fund.
D) Business-type activities.

Question 45

Which of the following is not a required component of the audit report for a single audit?

A) A report on internal control over financial reporting and compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award.
B) An opinion on the completeness of the schedule of expenditures.
C) A report on compliance for each major program and on internal control over compliance.
D) A schedule of findings and questioned costs.

Question 46

Each of the following activities could be performed by an independent auditor.  Select whether generally accepted government auditing standards deem each activity Acceptable (A), Prohibited (P), or Require conceptual framework assessment (R) in regarding to independence.
 
________ 1. Reporting to those charged with governance on behalf of management.
________ 2. Providing valuation services.
________ 3. Researching and responding to the audited entity's technical questions on relevant tax laws as an ancillary part of providing tax services.
________ 4. Preparing accounting records and financial statements.
________ 5. Providing internal control monitoring and assessments.
________ 6. Having custody of an audited entity's assets.
________ 7. Setting policies and strategic direction for the audited entity.
________ 8. Educating the audited entity on matters within the technical expertise of the auditors.

Question 47

Select the key term that relate to auditing of government and not-for-profit organizations from the list that best matches with the following definition.
A. Attestation engagement
B. Generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS)
C. Opinion units
D. Materiality
E. Financial audit
F. Generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS)
G. Performance audits
________ 1. A process that culminates in an opinion that financial statements present fairly an entity's financial position and results of operations in conformity with GAAP
________ 2. An auditor's judgment as to the level at which the quantitative or qualitative effects of misstatements will have a significant impact on user's evaluations
________ 3. Standards prescribed by the AICPA to provide guidance for planning, conducting, and reporting on audits by CPAs
________ 4. Professional services related to internal control, compliance, MD&A presentation, allowability and reasonableness of proposed contract amounts, final contract costs, and reliability of performance measures
________ 5. Units of the government on which the auditor expresses an opinion (e.g., governmental activities, each major governmental fund, etc.)

Question 48

When compared to generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS), generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) include additional General Standard requirements for financial audits related to all of the following except:

A) Independence.
B) Quality control and assurance.
C) Audit opinions.
D) Competence.

Question 49

A common reason why a government might receive a "modified opinion" from the external auditors is:

A) A violation of generally accepted accounting principles was noted that does not cause material misstatement of the financial statements.
B) A fund balance deficit in the General Fund.
C) Poor internal controls such that the accounting records could not be audited.
D) Expenditures exceeded appropriations in the General Fund.

Question 50

Which of the following is the highest in the hierarchy of generally accepted accounting principles for federal government entities?

A) AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide
B) FASB emerging issues task force reports.
C) GASB statements.
D) FASAB statements.

Question 51

"An unmodified opinion on the financial statements of a local government means the entirety of the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) has been audited and conforms with GAAP." Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Question 52

Under a single audit:

A) An annual audit must be performed encompassing the nonfederal entity's financial statements and schedule of expenditures of federal awards.
B) The audit must be conducted by an independent auditor in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS) and cover the operations of the entire nonfederal entity.
C) For each major program, the auditor must obtain an understanding of the internal controls pertaining to the compliance requirements for the program, assess control risk, and perform tests of controls, unless the controls are deemed to be ineffective.
D) All of the given statements regarding a single audit are True.

Question 53

What are the major types of audits and audit engagements described in the Government Accountability Office's Government Auditing Standards or generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS), and how do they differ?

Question 54

Under a single audit, low-risk Type A programs are identified as those:

A) Audited in at least one of the three most recent audit periods as a major program.
B) With no significant changes in personnel or systems that would have significantly increased risk.
C) Considered low-risk by a cognizant agency.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 55

An auditor performing nonaudit work for a client may be in danger of violating the independence rules in Government Auditing Standards when he or she provides:

A) Valuation services.
B) Advice on establishing or improving internal controls.
C) Benchmarking information to the client.
D) The client with answers to technical questions.

Question 56

Which of the following statements regarding audit findings is True?

A) A significant deficiency is a deficiency in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity's financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis.
B) A material weakness is a deficiency in internal control important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance.
C) A deficiency exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees to prevent, or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis.
D) All of the given statements are True.

Question 57

Cognizant agencies:

A) Are responsible for conducting government single audits.
B) Are assigned to each nonfederal agency expending more than $50 million of federal funds per year.
C) Are also referred to as oversight agencies.
D) Are responsible for issuing Government Auditing Standards.

Question 58

Select the key term that relate to single audits from the list that best matches with the following definition.
 
A. Risk-based approach
B. Single audit
C. Questioned cost
D. Material weakness
E. Oversight agency
F. Major programs
G. Cognizant agency
H. Significant deficiency
________ 1. The federal agency that makes the predominant amount of direct funding to the nonfederal entity receiving less than $50 million in federal awards
________ 2. A deficiency in internal control such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the entity's financial statements will not be prevented, or detected and corrected on a timely basis
________ 3. An audit prescribed by federal law for state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations that expend more than $750,000 in a fiscal year
________ 4. Used by auditors to determine which programs will be audited as part of the single audit
________ 5. A monetary item identified by an auditor in an audit finding that generally relates to noncompliance with a law, regulation, or agreement, where the costs are either not supported by adequate documentation or appear unreasonable

Question 59

When conducting a single audit:

A) All federal grant programs must be audited.
B) All major programs must be audited.
C) At a minimum, all Type A major programs not identified as low-risk and certain high-risk Type B programs must be considered for audit.
D) All programs not identified as low-risk must be audited.

Question 60

Which of the following best describes the relationship between generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) and generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS)?

A) GAAS apply to independent CPA auditors; GAGAS apply to government auditors.
B) Audits conducted in conformity with GAGAS also require the auditor to conform to GAAS.
C) Audits done in accordance with GAAS must also be done in accordance with GAGAS.
D) Audits of state and local governments always require that the audit be conducted in accordance with both GAAS and GAGAS.

Question 61

What are the benefits to a state or local government of establishing an audit committee?

Question 62

Explain how federal award programs are selected for audit under the risk-based approach.

Question 63

When conducting a government financial statement audit, how does the auditor determine the appropriate auditing standards for the engagement?

Question 64

Describe the importance of materiality for auditors and explain how materiality is determined in audits of state and local governments that follow GASB standards.

Question 65

Answer the following questions relating to the provisions of the Single Audit Act of 1984 and 1996 amendments.
(a) What is a single audit?
(b) How do you determine if your government must have a single audit?
(c) Where would you find authoritative guidance on conducting a single audit?