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Fundamentals
of Auditing ACC 311
VU
Lesson
31
TESTING
THE NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Control
objectives
The
control objectives are to
ensure that:
(i)
Non
current assets are correctly
recorded, adequately secured
and properly
maintained
(ii)
Acquisitions and disposals of non
current assets are properly
authorized
(iii)
Acquisitions and disposals of non
current assets are for the
most favorable price
possible
(iv)
Non current assets are
properly recorded, appropriately depreciated,
and written down where
necessary.
Control
Procedures over Non Current
Assets:
(i)
Annual
capital expenditure budgets
should be prepared by someone directly
responsible to the board
of
directors.
(ii)
Such budgets should, if
acceptable, be agreed by the board and
put in the minutes.
(iii)
Applications for authority to incur
capital expenditure should be
submitted to the board for
approval
and
should contain reasons for the
expenditure, estimated cost,
and any non current
assets replaced.
(iv)
A document should show
what is to be acquired and be
signed as authorized by the board or
an
authorized
official.
(v)
Non current assets
manufactured or constructed by the
company itself should be separately
identifiable
in the
company's costing records
and should reflect direct
costs plus relevant overhead
but not
include
any profit. This might apply
where, for example, a
building company constructs
its own office
block.
(vi)
Disposal of non current
assets should be authorized
and any proceeds from
sale should be related to
the
authority.
(vii)
A register of non current
assets should be maintained
for each major group of
assets. The register
should
identify each item within that group
and contain details of cost
and depreciation.
(viii)
A physical inspection of non
current assets should be
carried out periodically and
checked to the non
current
asset register. Any
discrepancies should be noted and
investigated.
(ix)
Assets should be properly
maintained and adequately
insured.
(x)
Depreciation rates should be
authorized and a written
statement of policy produced.
(xi)
Depreciation should be reviewed
annually to assess the need
for changes in the light of
profits or losses
on
disposal, new technology
etc.
(xii)
The calculation of depreciation should be
checked for accuracy.
(xiii)
Non current assets should be
reviewed for the need
for any write-down.
TESTS
OF CONTROLS
(i)
Check
authorization of purchase to board minutes,
capital expenditure budgets and
capital expenditure
form.
(ii)
Check authorization for disposals
of significant assets.
(iii)
Confirm existence of non
current asset register which
adequately identifies assets and
comments on
their
current condition. Ensure
register reconciles to nominal
ledger.
(iv)
Test evidence of reconciliation of
register to physical checks of
existence and condition of
assets.
(v)
Check authorization of depreciation
rates, and particularly changes in
rates.
(vi)
Examine evidence of checking of
correct calculations of
depreciation.
CONCLUSION
The
testing of controls is established
whether they are working
effectively. So, by this stage,
the auditor will
know
whether a
systems
approach is to be
used - focusing on the accounting
systems supplemented by a
reduced
amount of substantive testing, or a
verification
approach with
full substantive
testing.
103
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