International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board Accounting Estimates

International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board Accounting Estimates, Including Fair Value Accounting Estimates, and Related Disclosures ISA Implementation Support Module Prepared by IAASB Staff October 2009

Overview • Introduction • Risk-Based Approach • Estimation Uncertainty • Responses to Assessed Risks • Indicators of Possible Management Bias • Disclosures Related to Accounting Estimates • Additional Aspects of ISA 540 • SME Considerations 2

Introduction IAASB’s Objectives in Revising ISA 540 • To increase the rigor and skepticism to be applied in auditing accounting estimates • To provide enhanced guidance on estimation uncertainty and management bias • To conform with the risk-based approach reflected in ISA 315 and ISA 330 3

Introduction Auditor’s Objective • To obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about whether – accounting estimates, including fair value accounting estimates, in the financial statements, whether recognized or disclosed, are reasonable; and – related disclosures are adequate, in the context of the applicable financial reporting framework 4

Introduction Application to Both Accounting Estimates and Fair Value Accounting Estimates • Principles in auditing fair values and more traditional accounting estimates are the same • Application material in ISA 540 explains how particular requirements are applied in the context of both accounting estimates and fair values • More guidance has been added related to fair value auditing considerations, including the use of models • Extant ISA 545 to be withdrawn 5

Risk-Based Approach Risk Assessment Procedures • Understanding of how management makes the accounting estimates, and of the underlying data – The method, including the applicable model, used and changes in the method from the prior period – Relevant controls – Whether an expert has been used – The underlying assumptions – Whether and, if so, how management has assessed the effects of estimation uncertainty 6

Risk-Based Approach • ISA 540 expands on how ISAs 315, 330, and others are to be applied to accounting estimates – Obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment, through risk assessment procedures – Based on that understanding, identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement – Obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those risks 7

Risk-Based Approach Risk Assessment Procedures • Understanding of the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework relevant to accounting estimates, including related disclosures • Understanding of how management identifies the need for accounting estimates to be recognized or disclosed – Includes making inquiries about changes in circumstances that may give rise to new accounting estimates or the need to revise existing ones 8

Risk-Based Approach Risk Assessment Procedures • Review the outcome of accounting estimates included in the prior period financial statements or, as applicable, their subsequent re-estimation in the current period – Nature and extent of review takes account of the nature of the estimate and whether information to be obtained is likely relevant to identifying and assessing risks – Not intended to revisit prior judgments 9

Risk-Based Approach Identifying and Assessing Risks of Material Misstatement • In identifying and assessing risks – Evaluate the degree of estimation uncertainty associated with an accounting estimate – Determine whether, in the auditor’s judgment, any of those accounting estimates that have been identified as having high estimation uncertainty gives rise to significant risks 10

Estimation Uncertainty Nature of Estimation Uncertainty • The susceptibility of an accounting estimate to an inherent lack of precision in its measurement • The degree of estimation uncertainty affects the risk that the financial statements are materially misstated and whether an estimate is particularly susceptible to management bias 11

Estimation Uncertainty Evaluation of Estimation Uncertainty • Evaluating the degree of estimation uncertainty associated with an accounting estimate includes consideration of, for example, – Level of judgment involved – Sensitivity to changes in assumptions – Extent to which the estimate is based on observable or unobservable inputs 12

Responses to Assessed Risks Responding to the Assessed Risks • Based on the assessed risks, determine – Whether management has appropriately applied the requirements of the applicable financial reporting framework – Whether the methods for making accounting estimates are appropriate and applied consistently § If there have been changes in the method, are they appropriate? 13

Responses to Assessed Risks Responding to the Assessed Risks • One or more of the following, taking account of nature of the accounting estimate – Use of evidence from events occurring up to the date of the auditor’s report – Testing of how management made the accounting estimate and underlying data § Includes evaluation of measurement method and reasonableness of assumptions 14

Responses to Assessed Risks Responding to the Assessed Risks • Testing the operating effectiveness of controls, together with appropriate substantive procedures • Developing a point estimate or range to evaluate management’s point estimate – Remains necessary to understand management’s assumptions and methods – Range needs to be narrowed based on audit evidence until all outcomes within the range are considered reasonable 15

Responses to Assessed Risks Further Substantive Procedures to Respond to Significant Risks • Evaluate how management has considered alternative assumptions or outcomes and why they have been rejected, or how management has otherwise addressed estimation uncertainty • Evaluate whether the significant assumptions used are reasonable • Where relevant, evaluate management’s intent and ability 16

Responses to Assessed Risks Further Substantive Procedures to Respond to Significant Risks • Where necessary, develop a range to evaluate reasonableness of the accounting estimate – Done when, in the auditor’s judgment, management has not adequately addressed the effects of estimation uncertainty • Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding recognition and measurement decisions 17

Indicators of Possible Management Bias Identifying Indicators • Review the judgments and decisions made by management in making accounting estimates to identify whethere are indicators of possible management bias – Susceptibility of an estimate to management bias increases with subjectivity involved – Indicators may affect auditor’s conclusion of whether risk assessment or responses remain appropriate, but do not themselves constitute misstatements for purposes of concluding on reasonableness of individual estimates 18

Indicators of Possible Management Bias Examples • Changes in an accounting estimate or method where management has made a subjective assessment that there has been a change in circumstances • Use of an entity’s own assumptions for fair value when they are inconsistent with observable marketplace assumptions • Selection or construction of significant assumptions that yield a point estimate favorable to management’s objectives • Selection of a point estimate that may indicate a pattern 19 of optimism or pessimism

Disclosures Related to Accounting Estimates Disclosures • Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence about whether disclosures related to accounting estimates are in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework • For estimates giving rise to significant risks, also evaluate the adequacy of the disclosure of estimation uncertainty in the context of the applicable financial reporting framework 20

Additional Aspects of ISA 540 Using Specialized Skills or Knowledge • In response to assessed risks, consider whether specialized skills or knowledge in relation to aspects of the accounting estimate are needed to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence – Individuals become part of the engagement team if the matters are accounting- and auditing-related – Those with experience in a field other than accounting or auditing are considered auditor’s experts and ISA 620 applies 21

Additional Aspects of ISA 540 Written Representations • Obtain written representations regarding the reasonableness of significant assumptions used in making accounting estimates – Representations alone do not constitute sufficient appropriate audit evidence • Guidance provided regarding additional representations the auditor may consider depending on nature, materiality, and extent of estimation uncertainty 22

Additional Aspects of ISA 540 Documentation • Document – The basis for the auditor’s conclusions about the reasonableness of accounting estimates and their disclosure that give rise to significant risks – Indicators of possible management bias, if any 23

SME Considerations Applicability of the ISA to SME Audits • Obtaining an understanding of how management (or owner-manager) identifies the need for accounting estimates is often relatively straightforward • The ISA allows for different approaches for responding to assessed risks depending on the nature of the accounting estimate • In many cases (other than for fair value estimates), review of events occurring up to the date of the auditor’s report may be an effective and efficient approach 24

Note This set of support slides does not amend or override the ISAs, the texts of which alone are authoritative. Reading the slides is not a substitute for reading the ISAs. The slides are not meant to be exhaustive and reference to the ISAs themselves should always be made. In conducting an audit in accordance with ISAs, the auditor is required to comply with all the ISAs that are relevant to the engagement. 25

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