Confirmation.com - Probe What's New 2024.20.13

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FAQ

Probe What's New 2024.20.13

Published:  13/11/2024

What's New | Probe 2024.20.13 

1. Caseware Working Papers 2024 

The following describes the features and fixes included in Working Papers 2024 and related products. 

1.1 Features 

1.1.1 Imports and exports 

  • Added support for imports from the following software packages: 

    • QuickBooks 2024 (Australia, Canada, UK) 
    • Sage 50 Accounting 2024 (Canada) 
  • Added support for exports to the following software packages: 

    • ProFile 2023 (Canada) 
  • The import process for QuickBooks US files now matches the process to import QuickBooks Canada, UK and Australia files. This process requires the QuickBooks Export Utility.   

1.1.2 Protection Setup 

Split the existing Set Protection On/Off group right into Set Protection On and Set Protection Off. This can be used to expand the number of users that can enable file protection without giving them the ability to disable it. 

 

 

1.1.3 History and Milestones 

  • Added an option to display document insertion events in the file history log. 

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1.1.4 Engagement lockdown 

  • Added an option to the Engagement Lockdown Wizard to set all content in a file’s directory to read-only after lockdown. This read-only mode also applies to any sync copies of the file. 

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1.1.5 Annotations 

The Annotation column is now visible in trial balance automatic documents using the Consolidated view. 

 

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1.1.6 More informative Error Messaging 

Added a more informative error dialog when attempting to open a compressed file that contains documents with file paths exceeding 260 characters. 

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1.1.7 Caseview Scripting 

  • Increased the character limit for CaseView script names to 31 characters. This increased character limit aligns with the existing CaseView UI limit and prevents some potential scripting errors. 

1.1.8 Data Store Administrative Tool 

  • The Data Store Administration Tool (DSAT) can now be used with Microsoft SQL Server 2022. 

 

1.2 Fixes 

  • When importing a trial balance with map numbers, nonexistent map numbers will not be created. This reduces the risk of assigning accounts to map numbers which are not catered for in the rest of the product.  

  • Attempting to access a computer’s system drive through CaseView causes CaseView to close unexpectedly. 

  • After performing a silent installation to a newer version of Working Papers, the older version is uninstalled, but the shortcut folder remains in the Windows 10 Start menu. 

 

2. Universal 

2.1 Speed improvements 

We have made significant speed enhancements to some of the documents within Probe. Please note that these improvements are only available on new files. You will have to refer to the speed guide for existing files.  

The below documents have been enhanced for speed: 

Document and procedure 

Percentage enhanced speed  

10.20 - Raising a risk 

38% 

11.60 - Refresh risk tables 

91% 

10.51 - On opening the document 

4% 

11.50 - Linking a risk to a control 

35% 

Saving the above documents 

50% 

 

2.2 Caseware Q 

We have removed Q. This decision was made to improve the overall performance of your files. Q will be replaced by Sherlock, our new and improved tool, which offers enhanced features and better performance. By removing Q, you will notice that your engagement files will close faster, streamlining your workflow and improving efficiency. 

 

3. Audit 

3.1 NEW Engagement types 

To provide for group audit engagements (refer to par 3.1 below) Probe now provides for the following 4 different engagement types: 

Engagement type in 10.20 

Description of engagement type 

Term used in freeze pane 

Audit – single legal entity 

A single legal entity with:  

  • Only one business unit, or  

  • More than one business unit and the business units do not have characteristics such as separate locations, separate management, or separate information systems.  

 

There is no consolidation process in preparing this single legal entity's financial statements. 

AUDIT 

 

Group audit – single legal entity with multiple business units 

A single legal entity organised with more than one business unit. The business units have characteristics such as separate locations, separate management, or separate information systems. The financial information is aggregated in a consolidation process in preparing the single legal entity's financial statements. 

 

AUDIT GROUP SINGLE 

Group audit – multiple entities 

A group that consists of more than one entity whose financial information are consolidated. For example, a parent with one or more subsidiaries, joint ventures, or investments accounted for by the equity method 

AUDIT GROUP MULTIPLE 

Review 

 

REVIEW 

 

Selecting the engagement type is now the first question the user completes, followed by procedures to verify the type of engagement selected. The freeze will continue to distinguish between audit and review, and in the case of audit it will inform the user whether the group audit relates to group audit single or group audit multiple.    

The term group audit engagements will be used in the remainder of the document when reference is made to “Audit group single” and “Audit group multiple”. 

 

3.2 Features 

3.1.2 NEW Add entity in group audits 

Users can now add entities and business units that form part of the group being audited using the new addition to the risk button. Users click on Risk button and select “Add entity or component”.    Users then select “Add entity” in 11.20G Identification of components using the new feature.   

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After adding the entities and business units in 11.20G Identification of components, users will be able to: 

  • Assign the entities and business units to components.  Refer to para 3.2.2 for information on how to add components. 

  • Link the entities of business units to specific COTABDs per column in 10.50G Plan extent of risk assessment procedures. User can click on ‘Add/edit’ which will bring up a different screen with a list of entities and business units recorded in 11.20G Identification of components. If none have been added yet, users can use the link to 11.20G that will take them to the screen that will allow them to add new entities and business units. Users can then return to 10.50G afterwards and link them, as necessary. 

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Only entities and business units added on 11.20G will be available for selection in 10.50G.  


3.2.2 NEW Add components in group audits 

Users can now add components (refer to par 3.3.1 for definition of component) using the new addition to the risk button. Users click on risk button and select “Add entity or component”.  Users then select “Add component” in 11.20G Identification of components.  After adding component(s) users will be able link the entities and business units that were added using “Add entity” to a component.     

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The description of components will automatically pull through from 11.20G Identification of components to:  

  • 12.20G Further audit work at components that enables group auditors to determine at which components further audit work per SCOTABD and material COTABD are required. 

  • 12.22G Use of component auditors that allows group auditors to determine whether they have executed their responsibilities as group auditor related to each component and component auditor. 

Furthermore, the description of the component will pull through to 12.23G Component performance materiality when users selected on 12.20G Further audit work at component level that further audit work is required at that component. 

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The combine features “Add entity” and “Add component” provides user with the functionality to track work to be performed at entities and business units as well as components. 

 

3.2.3 NEW Add specific performance materiality item 

Users can add a COTABD for which specific materiality will be determined using the “Add specific materiality item”.  A new line will be added as follows: 

 


3.3 Group audits 

Content related to group audit engagements previously scoped out of Probe Audit is added in this release. The content is based on ISA 600 (Revised), Audits of Group Financial Statements (Including the Work of Component Auditors) effective for audits of group financial statements for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2023. 

The following key factors were considered in the design of the template for group audit engagements: 

  • The emphasis placed in ISA 600 (Revised) on group auditors’ responsibilities to: 

    • Identify, assess and respond to the RoMM of the group financial statements. 
    • Determine the nature, timing and extent direction and supervision of component auditors, and the review of their work.  

  • Including new key engagement team members, being component auditors, in Probe Audit. 

  • In which engagement file should the audit procedures expected to be performed by group auditors and component auditors respectively, be included, considering that component auditors could be members of the firm (either the same as the group audit team or different), their network firm, another firm, or a combination thereof.    

Taking these key factors into account, the following principle is applied in Probe Audit, after consultation with the CO Forum and customers: 

The group audit file only includes audit procedures to be performed by group auditors in their capacity of group auditors. Audit procedures to be performed on components by component auditors is not included in this engagement file. 

The objective is to enable group auditors to compile a stand-alone audit file that supports the group auditor’s evaluation as to whether sufficient and appropriate audit evidence has been obtained on which to base the group audit opinion.  

 

3.3.1 Key terms used  

  • Group auditor refers to the group engagement partner and members of the engagement team other than component auditors (ISA 600 (Revised) par 14(h)).   

  • Component auditors are auditors who perform audit work related to components for purposes of the group audit (ISA 600 (Revised) par 14(i)). All the requirements related to component auditors, for example communication to and from components auditors, applies to the group auditor when they perform work in the capacity of component auditor. 

  • Components is an “entity, business unit, function or business activity, or some combination thereof, determined by the group auditor for purposes of planning and performing audit procedures in a group audit” (ISA 600 (Revised) par 14 (b)).  

  • Audit work includes risk assessment procedures (RAP) and further audit procedures (test of detail or test of control).  When a COTABD balance is the accumulation of financial information of several components further audit work can be done centrally or at component level: 

    • Centrally. Audit procedures may be designed and performed centrally when sufficient and appropriate audit evidence related to the COTABD can be obtained by testing one population for several components. The balance of the COTABD will not be disaggregated across components. Relevant factors to determine whether further audit procedures can be performed centrally include:  
      • The level of centralisation of activities relevant to financial reporting.  

      • The nature and extent of commonality of controls.  
      • The similarity of the group’s activities and business lines (ISA 600(Revised).A125). 
    • At component level. The balance of the COTABD is disaggregated across components and audit work at components are required. 
  • Consolidation balance only:  The balance of a COTABD is only initiated and accounted for through the consolidation process, for example non-controlling interest.  The balance is not the accumulation of financial information of entities or business units. 

  • Group audit engagements:  When the What’s New refers to group audit engagements it includes both for “Audit Group Single” and “Audit Group Multiple”.   The changes noted in paragraph 3.3 applies to the group audit engagements, unless otherwise indicated. 

 

3.3.2 Terms entity vs group   

The term to describe the reporting entity in procedures and questions in documents and letters are used as follows: 

  • Entity:  For “Audit Single” and “Audit Group Single” the term “entity” is used as these engagements relates to a single legal entity. 

  • Group:  The term “group” is used for “Audit Group Multiple”, except where the requirement of ISA 600 (Revised) relates to the entities or business units within the group. 

 

3.3.3 Group audit only documents 

Documents that are intended only for the group audit engagements are identified with a “G” after the number of the document.  

A warning will appear in these documents when users selected “Audit Single” or “Review” informing users that the document is only applicable to group audit engagements. 

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  1. Group information interaction 

Text Box 

 

Text Box 

 

3.3.5 Risk dialog 

Two additions have been included to the risk dialog for group audit engagements: 

  • Inherent risk factors – When users record an inherent risk using the record button, users will now have the option to select “Consolidation process” as an inherent risk factor.  Refer to para 3.3.18 and  3.3.20 for further detail about the new audit procedure “Consolidation process”. 

  • Entity or business units to which risks relates - Users can select the entity or business unit the risk relates to (if any) from a dropdown list populated based on the entities and business units added on 11.20G.  The name of the entity or business units to which the risk relates will be included in 11.60 Risk assessment at assertion level.  

 

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3.3.6 Aggregated or consolidated financial information   

The following documents will include the consolidated or aggregated financial information for the group audit engagements when the CWWP consolidation function is used: 

  • 10.60 Overall materiality assessment.   

  • 10.51 Types and volumes of transactions. 

  • 10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures. 

  • 10.52 Preliminary analytical review. 

  • 12.20 Audit plan and strategy (to determine whether the COTABD is material). 

  • 02.30 Overall analytical review. 

  • 02.40 Evaluation of misstatements 

 

Please take note that when the CWWP Consolidation function is used, the balances of COTABDs will only include balances of entities and business units.  It does not include the balances of components, unless every entity or business unit is treated as a component.  Components are not necessarily a reflection of the legal structure used to consolidate; components can be a combination of entities or business units.  Refer to par 3.3.13 for further information on identification of components. 

 

3.3.7 FIRMSETT Probe Firm Settings 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

FIRMSETT – Probe Firm Settings 

Risk assessment procedures 

 

Firms can elect the extent to which audit teams of Audit Group Multiple answer or complete the following from a group financial statement perspective:    

  • All the questions on 10.50 , and   

  • "Transactions and balance" for each COTABD with a CY or PY balance on 10.51. 

Firms can elect that the answering or completion is: 

  • Not required. 

  • Required for all Audit Group Multiple engagements. 

  • Elected per Audit Group Multiple engagement. 

Refer 3.3.15 for further detail of the effect of the election on the content in 10.50 Gathering of information and 10.51 Types and volumes of transactions. 

 

3.3.8 Pre-engagement planning 

10.20 Engagement evaluation 

Engagement type 

ISA600.4 

The “engagement type” question now includes the four engagement types. Refer 3.1 for descriptions of the engagement types. 

Questions to verify the type of engagement is included after “Engagement type”. 

After completing the verification questions, users will be asked to confirm the appropriateness of the engagement type selected. 

Management and TCWG 

 

The default description of management and those charged with governance (hereafter referred to as TCWG) for Audit Group Multiple is “group management” and “those charged with governance of the group”.    

Users should consider the appropriateness of the description based on their understanding of the group and amend accordingly to ensure that the engagement file is updated with the appropriate descriptions. 

Components 

ISA600.17 & 18 

 

ISA600.22(a) 

 

ISA600.22(b) 

 

 

 

ISA600.23   

 

Questions for the group audit engagements were added to:  

  • Identify components for planning and performing of audit procedures. 

  • Determine expected involvement of component auditors in RAP and further audit procedures. 

  • Evaluate access to components and component auditors. 

  • Determine whether there is any indication that the group auditor will not be able to be sufficiently and appropriately involved in the work of the component auditor. 

 

Take note of the red warnings that informs the users where key information should be recorded, and the blue text in the description column that advise users where the understanding may be documented.  

 

Refer to par 3.3.13 for a further explanation about the identification of components.  

 

 

Terms of engagement 

ISA600.19 

Preconditions of the audit have been updated for the group audit engagements to include questions related to:  

  • Access to information of which group management is aware.  

  • Request for additional information from group management or component management.  

  • Unrestricted access to persons within the group. 

Compliance Add-on module 

 

The question will appear for Group Audit Multiple for both Audit Large and Audit Small providing group auditors with the option to include or exclude the Companies Act procedures in the engagement file. 

 

Refer par 3.3.21 for explanation of change. 

Conclusion related to preconditions of an audit 

ISA600.20 

The conclusion that the preconditions of the audit are not present, will also appear in the group audit engagements when the following questions under “Preconditions” are answered “No”: 

  • Have (group) management agreed to provide additional information requested from either (group) management or component management? 

  • Have (group) management agreed to provide unrestricted access to persons within the group for purposes of the group audit? 

 

Users will also be prompted that when law or regulation prohibit them from declining the engagement,  

  • their opinion on the financial statements should be disclaimed, and 

  • they should consider their responsibility by law or regulation to communicate with regulators, listing authorities, or others, about the restrictions. 

10.21 

 

The paragraph related to responsibilities o 

Responsibilities of the group management 

ISA600.19(b) 

The sub procedure relating to ‘You will retain responsibility and accountability for:’ was updated to include “or component management’. 

10.30 Discussions with those charged with governance 

Obtain understanding of group and its environment 

ISA600.A34 

 

The following questions were added for group audit engagements: 

  • Any changes to the group structure. 

  • Any changes to the composition of TCWG of the group, group management, or key management of entities or business units within the group. 

  • Any changes to the activities of entities or business units within the group that are significant to the group. 

10.50 Gathering information 

Plan extent of risk assessment procedures (RAP) 

ISA600.5 

ISA600.30(c) (i)&(ii) 

 

A new section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” is added for group audit engagements to determine whether: 

  • The group overall has shared service centers, centralised activities and common controls. 

  • Any COTABDs in the group financial statements are based on accounting estimates or fair value measurements. 

  • Any COTABDs are only initiated and accounted for through the consolidation process.  It is not an accumulation of financial information of entities or business units. 

  • Further audit work is expected to be performed centrally (refer par 3.3.1 for explanation of term). 

  • Component auditors will be involved in performing risk assessment procedures, and to what extent.   

 

Users are prompted to complete 10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures to make the above determination per COTABD. 

 

The responses to the questions in section “Plan extent of risk assessment procedure” 

  • Show and/or hide columns in 10.50G, and 

  • Include and/or hide content in 11.50 Information system and control activities.     

 

Refer to par 3.3.14 and 3.3.16 for more detail. 

Activation of questions following new section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” 

 

Only when users answer “Yes” to the following question on 10.50 the other questions on 10.50 will appear: 

 

“Did we determine whether:  

- The relevant COTABDs are only initiated and accounted for through the consolidation process, and  

- Further audit work for relevant COTABDs will be performed centrally, i.e. audit evidence can be obtained by testing one population for several components?”  

 

Inclusion of questions in 10.50 for Group Audit Multiple 

 

When the firm elected that the group audit team should determine the extent to which the questions in 10.50 Gathering of information and the sub-section "Transactions and balance" of COTABD should be answered or completed, a question will appear in 10.50: 

 

“Are we planning to complete the following from a group financial statement perspective: 

  • All the questions on 10.50 Gathering of information, and 

  • Sub-section transactions and balances for each COTABD with a CY or PY balance on 10.51?” 

Par 3.3.15 explains when questions related to COTABDs will be included for Group Audit Multiple. 

 

Inclusion of questions in 10.50 for Group Audit Single 

 

All the questions will always be included for Audit and Group Audit Single. 

10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures 

Determine Involvement of component auditors 

ISA600.22(a) 

The objective of 10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures is to determine per COTABD whether: 

  • The COTABD is a “Consolidation balance only”.  Refer to par 3.3.1 for explanation of term. 

  • The balance of the COTABD is based on accounting estimates or fair value measurements.  

  • Whether the group audit team plans to perform further audit work centrally considering group centralised activities and common controls applicable to the COTABD, if any. 

  • Component auditors will be involved in in RAP, considering whether audit work can be done centrally. 

 

The responses to the questions in the new section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” in 10.50 Gathering information determines the inclusion of applicable columns in 10.50G. 

 

The responses per COTABD in 10.50G Plan extent of risk assessment procedure 

  • Affects content in 11.50 Information system and control activities.  Refer to par 3.3.16   

  • May affect the inclusion of question for Audit Group Multiple in 10.50 Gathering of information depending on the selection the firm made in FIRMSETT Probe Firm settings and the selection made by the group audit team in 10.50. Refer to par 3.3.15 for further detail. 

Entities or business units centralised activities, common controls relates to and where audit work will be performed centrally  

 

For each COTABD where centralised activities or common controls occur and where the group auditor plan to perform audit work centrally, the user will select from a list of entities and business units added on 11.20G, to which entities and business units it applies. Refer to feature explained in par 3.2. 

Estimates 

 

For group audit engagements the question to determine whether balances in the group financial statements are based on accounting estimates or fair value measurements, is included under new section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures”.    

 

When answered “Yes”: 

  • A column will be included in 10.50G Plan extent of risk assessment procedure where users will indicate whether the COTABD is based on estimates or fair value. 

  • The accounting estimate tick-box under “Types and balances of transactions” in 10.51 will be included.  Refer to Par 3.3.15 for an explanation when “Transactions and balances” sub-section will be included for Group Audit Multiple engagements. 

10.51 Types and volumes of transactions 

 

 

The "lead sheet" and "Identify possible ROMM” sub sections  

 

These sub-sections will continue to be included for each COTABD with CY and PY balance for all audit engagement types. 

 Inclusion of "Transactions and balances" sub-section - Group Audit Multiple 

 

For Audit Group Multiple, the sub-section “Transaction and balances” will appear based on:  

  • The election the firm made in FIRMSETT Probe Firm Settings, and 

  • If applicable, the election made by the group audit team in 10.50 Gathering of information.   

When either the firm or the group audit team selected that “Transaction and balances” should be completed for all COTABD with CY and PY balances, the sub-section will be included.  Par 3.3.15 provides a further explanation. 

Inclusion of "Transactions and balances" sub-section - Group Audit Single 

 

In case of Group Audit S and Audit S the sub-section “Transaction and balances” will be included for each COTABD with CY and PY balance. 

 

3.3.9 Planning and risk assessment procedures 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

11.20 Inherent risk assessment 

Understanding of the group and its environment, and the applicable financial reporting framework 

ISA600.30 (a) & (b) 

Par paragraph 30 and 33 of ISA 600 (Revised) commence with “in applying ISA 315 (Revised 2019), the group auditor shall take responsibility for obtaining an understanding.” 

Therefore, the requirements of ISA 315 (Revised November 2019) were retained and the requirements of ISA 600.30 (a) & (b) was added, including  

  • Locations in which group has its operations and activities. 

  • Nature of the group's business operations and activities, and extent to which they are similar across the group. 

  • Consistency of accounting policies and practices across the group. 

  • Regulatory factors impacting the entities and business units in the group. 

  • Measures used by group management or externally to assess the financial performance of the entities or business units within the group. 

Group organisational structure and ownership 

ISA600.30 (a)(i) 

The user will be required to complete 11.20G (New) “Identification of component auditors”. 

11.20G Identification of component auditors 

 

ISA600.30 (a)(i) 

ISA600.30 (b) 

Only applies to the group audit engagements. 

 

The objective of the document is to: 

  • Identify and add all entities and business within the group. 

  • Record relevant detail of the entities and business units within the group, for example the type of relationship and their financial reporting framework.  

  • Identify and add components. 

 

Use the new features “Add entity” and “Add component” to add entities and business, and components respectively. Only entities and business units as well as the components added on 11.20G will be available for selection in other documents such as 10.50G and 12.20G.  

Refer to 3.3.13 for information about the identification of components. 

Consolidation – default entity and component 

 

Consolidation is added as a default entity and default component. 

 

It is added to facilitate the workflow related to audit work for COTABDs that are not an aggregation of financial information of one or more entity or business unit.  It is initiated through the consolidation process. Example may be Goodwill and Non-controlling interest. 

11.25 Fraud risk assessment 

 

 

For the group audit engagements existing procedures were updated to make the wording more appropriate to group audits. 

11.30 Evaluation of system of internal control 

Understanding of the group’s system of internal control 

ISA315 (Revised 2019) 

Refer comment to 11.20 above related to the requirements of ISA 315 (Revised 2019). 

 

Therefore, all the procedures that address the requirements of ISA 315 (Revised November 2019) were retained. Minor amendments were made to existing procedures for the group audit engagements for more appropriate wording. 

11.50 Information system and control activities 

Centralised activities and common controls 

ISA600.30 (c)(i)&(ii)  

A new section “Centralised activities and common controls” is added with audit procedures that prompts the group auditor to obtain an understanding of the nature and extent of common controls and group centralised activities.  

The inclusion of the section and procedures within the section will be based on the responses to questions in section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” on 10.50 Gathering of information.  

The user will not be able to disable the “Centralised activities and common controls” when they have indicated on 10.50 that the group has common controls and centralised activities. 

 

Additional content based on Appendix 2 par 6 of ISA 600 (Revised) are included for the Extended User. 

Financial statement preparation 

ISA600.30(c) (iii)&(iv) 

 

This section now includes audit procedures that require the group auditor to obtain and document and understanding of the consolidation process. 

SCOTABD 

 

The procedures related to obtaining the understanding of the information system as required by ISA 315 (Revised 2019) par 25 and 26 will be included for each SCOTABD when the users elected on 10.50G that: 

  • The centralised activities or common controls relates to the relevant COTABD. 

  • The COTABD is a “Consolidation balance only’.  Refer to par 3.3.1 for explanation of term. 

For the other SCOTABD sections, the group auditor will be prompted to communicate to component auditors their responsibility to obtain the understanding required by ISA 315 (Revised 2019). 

 

Refer to par 3.3.16 for a further explanation. 

 

3.3.10 Audit planning 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

12.20 Audit plan and strategy 

Determine at which component audit work will be performed 

 

For group audit engagements users will be required to complete 12.20G (New) Further audit work at components and then answer the following question upon completion “Did we determine the components at which to perform further audit procedures?” 

 

For material COTABD the above question will only be included after the assertion was selected. 

Group audit considerations 

 

A new sub-section “Group audit consideration” is added for the group audit engagements with the options consolidation, centrally, centrally with component auditors and at component level.    

 

The group auditor’s determination at which level audit work will be performed in 12.20G (New) Further audit work at components will pull through to 12.20.    

Users will not be able to override the selection.  Any changes related to the level at which audit work should be performed, should be recorded on 12.20G. 

Group audit procedures 

 

A new sub-section “Group audit procedures” is added for the group audit engagements. 

 

Two new audit procedures are included for the group audit engagements, namely: 

  • Use of component auditors 

  • Consolidation process 

 

“Use of component auditors” on 12.20 Audit plan and strategy will be auto-ticked when users elected on 12.20G (New) Further audit work at components that audit work for SCOTABDs or material COTABDs should be done either 

  • Centrally - Component auditor with group auditor, or 

  • At component level – Component auditor.  

Audit procedures related to use of component auditors will be included in the relevant work program.  

 

When “Consolidation process” is selected as inherent risk factor when a risk is recorded, the “Consolidation process” on 12.20 Audit plan and strategy for the relevant COTABD will be auto-ticked.   

The group auditor will be required to formulate and record audit procedures on the relevant work program to respond to the inherent risk related to the consolidation process. 

Audit procedures 

 

When users elected that audit work for a SCOTABD or material COTABD will only be done at component level, the following audit procedures will not be available for selection: 

  • Extended analytical review 

  • Extended test of detail 

  • Substantive sampling 

 

“Required procedures” will not be auto-ticked and will also not be available for selection.  The audit work for the relevant COTABD will be performed at component level.   

Audit considerations  

 

When group auditors determined that further audit work will only be performed at component level for a particular COTABD, the audit considerations such as “Laws and regulations may have direct effect on determination of amounts and disclosures (ISA250.14)” will be answered “No”.  Other examples include “Use of management expert”, “External confirmation” and “Nature and timing of substantive procedures, incl unpredictability.” 

 

When group auditors determine that further audit work will only be performed at component level, it is expected that the group auditor will only evaluate the work performed by component auditors and if relevant consolidation process procedures when an inherent risk related to the consolidation process for that COTABD has been raised. 

 

The same applies to the following items: 

  • Cash and cash equivalents: Perform a cash count. 

  •  Cash and cash equivalents & Bank overdraft: Bank confirmation needed. 

  • Inventory: Attend the physical inventory count. 

  • Operating expenses: Attend a wage pay-out. 

Conclusion 

ISA600.34 

For the group audit engagements additional completion questions are added for the group auditor to consider whether 

 

  • They have obtained sufficient evidence from the RAP procedures performed by themselves and component auditors to provide an appropriate basis for the identification and assessment of RoMM of the group financial statements. 

  • The scope of work at the component are appropriate (only for Extended). 

12.20G (New) Further audit work at component level 

Inclusion and objective of 12.20G (New) 

 

Only applies to the group audit engagements. 

 

The objective of the document is to determine for each SCOTABD and material COTABD: 

  • Whether further audit work at the identified components are required, and 

  • At which level the audit work is required, and the resources to be used. 

Material COTABDs 

 

To enable the content of a section at least one assertion for the material financial statement item must be selected in 12.20. 

 

If not yet selected, a warning will appear “Select at least one assertion for the material financial statement item (ISA 330.18) in 12.20”. 

Assertions 

 

User can distinguish between SCOTABD and (only) material COTABD through the description of the assertions pulling through from 12.20.  In case of a SCOTABD the term “Relevant Assertions” is included and for material COTABD the term “Selected Assertions” shows.  

Inclusion of components 

 

The description of components added on 11.20G will pull through to 12.20G.   Users can use the hyperlink to 11.20G to add newly identified entities and business units, or components.  

Components at which further audit work is required  

ISA600.22(a) 

For each SCOTABD and material COTABD the group auditor determines whether audit work at a component is necessary, and at which level the work should be performed.    They select from the following dropdown options: 

  • Consolidation - Group auditor 

  • Centrally - Group auditor 

  • Centrally - Component auditor with group auditor 

  • At component level -Component auditor. 

 

 The matters that may influence the group auditor’s determination at which component(s) further audit work may be required (per ISA 600.A51) are included for the Extended User.   

 
Refer to par 3.3.17 for further detail. 

Scope of audit work and resources 

ISA600.37 

The components where further audit work is required to be performed by component auditors, with or without the group auditor, will pull through to “Scope of work at components and resources”.   

 

For each of these components, the group auditor describes the nature, timing and extent of audit work component auditors should performed. 

Scope of audit work and resources – Extended users 

ISA600.A133 

The extended users are provided with a summary of the level of audit work per COTABD that is required to be performed per component. 

 

Extended users will be prompted to:  

  1. Consider the factors whether it is appropriate to perform further audit procedures on the entire financial information of the component (ISA 600 (Revised).A133).     

  1. Determine at which level the audit work should be performed at the component. Users will select form entire financial information, one or more COTABD, and specific audit procedures.   

  1. Document detail of the component auditors. 

12.22 Use of resources 

  

Consideration of use of component auditors 

 

The user will be required to complete 12.22G (New) and answer the following question upon completion:  

Did we complete 12.22G Use of component auditors?  

12.22G (New) Use of component auditors 

Inclusion and objective of 12.20G in engagement file 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISA600.22(a) 

ISA600.37 

 

 

ISA 600.25(a) read with ISA220.17 

 

ISA 600.16(a) read with ISA220.14 

ISA600.29 

ISA600.31(a) 

 

 

ISA600.26(a) &(b) 

 

 

ISA600.43 

ISA600.49 

 

 

 

ISA600.53(a) &(b) 

 

Only applies to the group audit engagements. 

 

The objective of the document is to provide the group auditor with a checklist to check whether they have met their responsibility as group auditor in accordance with ISA 600 (Revised), including whether they have: 

  • Determined the components at which audit work, including RAP and further audit work, will be performed, and as the resources needed. 

  • Made component auditors aware of relevant ethical requirements and confirmed that they understand and will comply with those requirements. 

  • Communicated to the component auditors  

  • Their expected behaviour. 

  • Their respective responsibilities and the group auditor’s expectations. 

  • The matters as required by ISA 600 (Revised) 

  • Evaluate whether the component auditors have the appropriate competence and capabilities, including sufficient time, to perform the audit work assigned to them. 

  • Determined whether component auditors will be used for subsequent events procedures and procedures on the consolidation process.  

  • Determined and communicated component performance materiality and thresholds above which misstatements identified in the component financial information are to be communicated 

Determination per component 

 

The design of the document recognises that there may be more than one component and that the group auditor needs to determine whether they have executed their responsibilities as group auditor related to each component and component auditor.   

Therefore, users are required to complete a question under “Pre-planning and risk assessment procedures” and after “Conclusion”, whether all the questions have been completed considering each of the identified components. 

 

The description of components will pull from 11.20G. 

12.23GG (New) Component performance materiality 

Inclusion and objective of 12.20G in engagement file 

ISA600.53(a)&(b) 

 

Only applies to the group audit engagements. 

 

The objective of the document is to determine: 

  • Component performance materiality.  

  • Threshold above which misstatements in components’ financial information should be communicated. 

  • Specific component performance materiality for a COTABD, if deemed appropriate. 

 

The reason(s) of above determination should be documented. 

Performance materiality - Components where further audit work will be performed 

ISA600.53(a) 

 

For each of the components where audit procedures are performed on financial information that is disaggregated, the group auditor should determine and document component performance materiality. 

 

The components where further audit work will be performed will pull through from 12.20G.    

Performance materiality – Determination 

ISA600.53(a) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISA600.A118 

 

ISA 600.A118 states “The determination of component performance materiality is not a simple mechanical calculation and involves the exercise of professional judgment.” 

 

Therefore, the “Component performance materiality” is an input field.   

 

A warning will appear when the component performance materiality for an individual component exceeds group performance materiality. 

 

The factors that the group auditor may consider when setting component performance materiality, in accordance with ISA 600.A118, are included for the Extended User. 

Specific performance materiality 

ISA600.A117 

Users can record the COTABD for which they deem it relevant to determine specific performance materiality using the “Add specific materiality item” feature.  

 

Users capture the description of the COTABD, and the specific materiality determined for that COTABD on 11.60 

 

A warning will appear when the specific component performance materiality determined for the COTABD exceeds the specific group materiality for the COTABD. 

 

The components where further audit work will be performed will pull through from 12.20G.  Users can select these components from a dropdown list. 

Threshold to be communicated 

ISA600.53 (b) 

 

A warning will appear when the threshold exceeds group clearly trivial. 

Conclusion 

 

Users conclude whether they sufficiently considered the aggregation risk when setting component performance materiality. 

12.30 Planning memorandum 

 

 

Leadership responsibilities for managing and achieving quality on a group audit 

ISA600.23 

The partner declaration, which is where the engagement partner illustrates taking overall responsibility for managing and achieving the quality on the audit, has been updated with further declarations based on the “engagement partner shall” paragraphs in ISA 600 (Revised), that applies to the audit plan and strategy. 

For example, that the engagement partner evaluated whether the group auditor will be able to be sufficiently and appropriately involved in the work of the component auditor.  

 

3.3.11 Execution 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

Work programs of COTABD 

 

 

Work programs will be included in the group audit file for all SCOTABD and material COTABD, similar to the previous versions.  

Use of component auditors  

ISA600.42 

New audit procedures related to use of component auditors will be included in the work program when the “Use of Component Auditors’ are auto-ticked on 12.20.   Refer to changes to 12.20 above for when “Use of Component Auditors’ will be auto-ticked. 

 

The user will be required to complete “Assurance obtained” for “Use of component auditors”. 

Consolidation process  

 

When “Consolidation process” is auto-ticked on 12.20, the relevant work program will include a prompt to add audit procedures to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to address the ROMM at assertion level that relates to the consolidated process.   

 

The user will be required to complete “Assurance obtained” for “Consolidation process”. 

Conclusion questions 

 

 

ISA600.18 

 

 

ISA600.57(b) 

 

ISA600.56 

 

 

 

 

ISA600.48 

For group audit engagements questions related to the following are added: 

  • Restrictions imposed on component auditors that affect our ability to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence. 

  • Concerns about the quality of component auditors' work. 

  • Any matter that may be significant to the financial statements of entities or business units within the group that may be required to be audited by statute, regulation or other reason 

 

The group auditor will determine whether the work performed by component auditors is adequate for purposes of the group audit.   If inadequate, the group auditor should determine additional audit procedures and whether they are to be performed by the component auditors or by us. 

 

Refer item below that provides information about how additional procedures can be added to the work program. 

Conclusion – revise audit plan and additional procedures 

 

When users conclude that assurance obtained from work performed by component auditors is inadequate for purposes of the group audit, the users should elect revision of the audit plan in the “Conclusion” section. A new procedure namely “Additional procedures” can be selected, and users can add audit procedures based on the circumstances. 

 

After completion of the additional procedure(s), the group auditor will determine the assurance obtained from the additional procedures and that result will be used when determining the estimated audit risk remaining.     

18.10 Financial statement preparation work program 

Consolidation process 

ISA600.38(a) & (b) 

The user will be required to perform the procedures related to the consolidation process on 25.10G (New) Consolidation process work program. 

25.10G (New) Consolidation process work program 

Inclusion and objective of 25.10G (New) 

ISA600.38-40, 43 & 44 

 

 

Only applies to group audit engagements. 

The objective of the document is to perform the audit procedures to meet the requirements of ISA 600 (Revised) par 38-40, 43 and 44. 

25.10G (New) is a general work program that should always be completed. 25.10G(New) is deemed an extension of 18.10 Financial statement preparation work program.  

Warning – Framework specific audit procedures 

 

For the 2024 release accounting framework specific procedures related to consolidated financial statements have not been updated or added.   

To remind users of this exclusion, the following warning is added to affected work programs for Group Audit M and Group Audit S:  

"Audit procedures to address the requirements related to consolidated financial statements in accordance with "description of framework" have not been updated or included. Review the work program and add and amend procedures as deemed appropriate."   

 

Affected work programs are 25.10G, 321.10, 327.10, 328.10, 790.10 and 830.10. 

 

Subsidiaries – Additions, disposal and change in interest 

 

Basic audit procedures related to additions, disposal or change in interest will be included based on newly added questions in 10.50 Gathering of information. 

Sub-consolidation procedures 

 

Audit procedures related to sub-consolidations are included based on the response of the newly added question in 10.50 Gathering of information. 

Conclusion questions 

 

In addition to the conclusion questions that are included for general work programs, the conclusion questions under work programs for COTABDs noted above are also included, as well as “Fraud or fraud risk factors that could have an impact on fraud risk assessment.” 

26.10G (New) Evaluation of component auditor’s work 

Inclusion and objective of 26.10G (New) 

 

Only applies to group audit engagements. 

The objective of the document is to evaluate the component auditor’s communication and the adequacy of their work in ccordance with ISA 600 (Revised) par 45-47. 

26.10G (New) is a general work program that should always be completed. 

Conclusion 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISA600.46(b) 

 

ISA600.48 

In addition to the conclusion questions that are included for general work programs, the conclusion questions under work programs for COTABDs noted above are also included, as well as “Fraud or fraud risk factors that could have an impact on fraud risk assessment.” 

 

The group auditor will determine whether: 

  • Whether the communication with component auditors is inadequate for purposes of the group audit 

  • The work performed by component auditors is inadequate for purposes of the group audit. 

 

3.3.12 Finalisation 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

02.00 Partner sign-off 

Leadership responsibilities for managing and achieving quality on a group audit 

 

ISA600.16(b) 

The partner declaration has been updated with further declarations based on the “engagement partner shall” paragraphs in ISA 600 (Revised) that applies to the execution and completion of the group auditor. 

For example that the engagement partners determined that they were sufficiently and appropriately involved in the work performed by the component auditors to provide them with a basis for determining that the significant judgments made and conclusions reached are appropriate. 

02.50 Consideration of assurance reports  

Auditor’s report on consolidated financial statements 

ISA600.53 

ISA700.38(c) 

Questions related to the group audit were added, for example description of the responsibilities of the group auditor (ISA700.38(c) and determination that reference is not made to the component auditor, unless required by law or regulation (ISA600.53). 

02.90  Report to management and those charged with governance 

Communication with group management and those charged with governance of the group 

 

ISA 600.57 

02.90 Report to management and those charged with governance includes the matters that ISA 600 (Revised) par 57 requires the group auditor to communicate to TCWG, for example the overview of the work to be performed at the components of the group and the nature of the group auditor’s involvement in the work to be performed by the component auditors. 

Auditor’s independence 

ISA 260.17 

Paragraphs were added for listed and non-listed entities. 

02.92 Letter of representation 

 

 

For ‘Audit Group Multiple, the term ‘consolidated financial statements are used. 

 

3.3.13 NEW Identification of components  

10.20 Engagement evaluation now includes questions for group audit engagements to identify components. As part of client acceptance and continuance for group audit engagements, users will be required to identify components, i.e. “entity, business unit, function or business activity, or some combination thereof, determined by the group auditor for purposes of planning and performing audit procedures in a group audit” (ISA 600 (Revised) par 14 (b)).     

Group auditors identify components during client acceptance and continuance to determine at which entities or business units, individually or in combination, audit work is expected to be performed, to determine the resources needed, including the involvement of component auditors. Together with the other information gathered during client acceptance or continuance, group auditors will use the information gathered related to the components and component auditors to determine whether they expect to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a basis for forming an opinion on the group financial statements (ISA 600 (Revised) par 17).  

Components are not necessarily a reflection of the legal structure used to consolidate; components can be a combination of entities or business units.  Based on their understanding of the group, including  matters such as  similar business characteristics, operating in the same geographical location, under the same management, and using a common system of internal control, group auditors consider whether the financial information of certain entities or business units included in the group's organisational structure can be considered together for planning purposes and further audit work to be performed (ISA600.4-5 & A6-9).     

The following actions are performed in Probe to identity and record components: 

1. Obtain an understanding of the group and its environment and identify all entities and business units forming part of the group.  Document details of them on 11.20G (New) Identification of components, using the new “Add Entity” feature.    Extended users are provided with additional columns to document details of entities and business units. 

 

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2. Consider whether the entities and business units within the group have similar activities or business lines, and whether the group has centralised activities or common controls. Users record whether any of the aforementioned exist in the new section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” on 10.50 Gathering of information.           A screenshot of a computer  Description automatically generated 


3. Based on their understanding of the group, users determine whether entities or business units can be considered together and assign the identified entities and business unit to components. Users add components using the new “Add Component” feature.    The description of the components added will be available for selection in a dropdown list in the “Assign to component” column. 

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Only entities and business units as well as the components added on 11.20G will be available for selection in other documents such as 10.50G and 12.20G. 
 

3.3. 14 Preliminary assessment of resources  

10.20 Engagement evaluation now also includes questions for group audit engagements to identify the components at which it is expected that audit work will be performed to determine availability of required resources and whether unrestricted access to those components and the component auditors is possible (ISA 600 (Revised) par 22).   As explained in par 3.3.13 the information may impact the decision to accept or retain the client. 

To determine the components at which it is expected that audit work will be performed, and the resources needed, users complete:  

  1. 10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures to determine per COTABD whether it is a “Consolidation balance only”, whether audit work will be performed centrally and the involvement of component auditors in RAP, taking into account whether audit work is expected to be performed centrally.   Refer par 3.3.14 below for an explanation on the completion of 10.50G.   

  1. 12.20 Audit plan and strategy and 12.20G (New) Further audit work at component level to determine the level at which further audit work will be performed.  Refer par 3.3.18 below for further detail. 

The above determination of involvement of component auditors is a preliminary determination for purposes of client acceptance and continuance. The group auditor will revisit this determination after gathering further information and performing further RAP during planning.  Users are prompted to document their understanding on the appropriate planning document, instead of 10.20 Engagement evaluation, to prevent duplication of effort.  This approach recognise that the iterative planning process may require group auditors to update their understanding as they complete the audit plan, and the documentation thereof.   

 

3.3.15 NEW Plan extent of risk assessment procedures  

RAP can be performed centrally or component level, by group auditors or component auditors or combination thereof.    Refer to par 3.3.1 for explanations of these terms. The group auditor can involve component auditors in the design and performance of risk assessment procedures.  

To assist with the determination of whether risk assessment procedures will be performed by the group auditor, component auditors or a combination, the following actions are performed: 

  1. Determine whether COTABD is a “Consolidation balance only”.   The group audit will obtain the understanding of these balances, required by the ISAs.  In the following instances, the answer to “Consolidation balance only” will be populated as “Yes” on 10.50G, because it is required that the group auditor performs audit work in accordance with relevant ISAs: 

  • Related parties  

  • Statement of Cash Flows 

The users will not be able to change the “Yes” response. 

  1. Determine whether the balance of the COTABD is based on accounting estimates or fair value measurement.    Whether the understanding of the accounting estimates will be obtained by the group auditor, component auditor or combination, will be influenced by determination of “Consolidation balance only” and whether it is expected that audit work will be performed centrally. 

  1. Determine whether audit work can be done centrally:   When users determined that there are centralised activities or common controls, users will perform the following on 10.50G (New) Plan extent of risk assessment procedures: 

  • Select the COTABD the group centralised activities or group common controls relate to.  

  • Click on “Add/Edit” and select from the list of entities or business units captured on 11.20G, the entities of business units the group centralised activities and group common controls relate to.   

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  1. Select whether it is expected that audit work will be performed centrally, taking into account the information related to similar activities and business lines, group centralised activities and group common controls.  This determination informs the determination on 11.20G whether entities and business units can be considered together with others for planning and performing audit work.  When it is expected that audit work will be performed centrally, the group auditor will obtain the understanding of the COTABD as required by the ISAs, with or without the involvement of component auditors. 

 

The selections in 10.50G (New) determine the inclusion of content in the following documents: 

  • 10.50 Gathering information and 10.51 Types and volumes of transactions.   Refer to par 3.3.15 for further information. 

  • 11.50 Information system and control activities.  Refer to par 3.3.16 for further information. 



3.3.16 Gathering information of COTABDs 

The firm can elect in FIRMSETT Probe Firm Settings to what extent the group auditor obtains an understanding of the COTABDs included in the group financial statements versus placing reliance on the work performed by component auditors to gain the understanding.  This approach considers that RAP can be done centrally or component level, and it can be performed by the group auditor, component auditors or a combination thereof, as noted above.   

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The table below explains the impact of each option in 10.50 Gathering of information and 10.51 Types and volumes of transactions: 

Election in FIRMSETT 

10.50 Gathering of information 

10.51 Types and volumes of transactions 

Required for all group audits - multiple entities 

Complete all the questions on 10.50 from the perspective of the consolidated financial statements and group audit. 

 

For example, the question “Are any assets held by third parties?” will always be included in 10.50. 

The sub-sections “Transaction and balances” will be included for all COTABDs with current year or prior year balances. 

Not required  

The questions related to specific COTABDS will only be included when the group auditor identified on 10.50G that the: 

  • COTABD are a “Consolidation balance only”, or 

  • Group auditor plan to test the COTABD centrally, i.e. the group auditor will perform work with or without component auditors.    

 

For example, the question “Are any assets held by third parties?” will only be included in 10.50 when users selected for example that Property, plant and equipment or Inventory will be audited centrally. 

The sub-sections “Transaction and balances” will be included for the specific section identified on 10.50G that the: 

  • COTABD are a “Consolidation balance only”, or 

  • Group auditor plan to test the COTABD centrally, i.e. the group auditor will perform work with or without component auditors.  

 

Elected per group audit - multiple entities 

The group auditor should answer the following question: 

 

Are we planning to complete the following from a group financial statement perspective: 

  • All the questions on 10.50 Gathering of information, and 

  • Sub-section transactions and balances for each COTABD with a CY or PY balance on 10.51? 

 

When answered “Yes”, complete all the questions on 10.50 (similar to the option in FIRMSETT – Required for all group audits). 

 

When answered “No”, the inclusion of the questions will be similar to when it was elected in FIRMSETT – Not required. 

 

When answered “Yes”, The sub-sections “Transaction and balances” will be included for all COTABDs with current year or prior year balances. (similar to the option in FIRMSETT – Required for all group audits). 

 

When answered ”No”, the inclusion of the questions will be similar to when it was elected in FIRMSETT – Not required. 

 

 

Further explanation related to Audit Group Multiple/Not required or Elected per group audit - multiple entities and “No” on 10.50: 

The questions that relate to COTABDs on 10.50 applies to some COTABDs, not all. For example, assets held by third parties relate to Property, Plant and Equipment (PPE), but not Trade and other payables. For Audit Group Multiple, the questions that relates to a COTABDs should be included on 10.50 when:  

  1. The question relates to the COTABD , and  

  1. Any of the following for the COTABD was selected on 10.50G:  

    1. Consolidation balance only, or 
    2. Plan to perform centrally.  

Reason being the group auditor obtains the understanding of the COTABD as the group auditor may perform further audit work on that COTABD pending risk identification and assessment, and determination of the selected assertion of a material COTABD without any inherent risk.  

Looking at the earlier example of the 'assets held by third parties' question. The question will not appear when users selected either 2(a) or (b) above for Trade and Other payables on 10.51, since the question does not apply to Trade and Other payables.  

In the case of PPE, the question will appear if either 2(a) or (b) was selected.  

Questions that relate to ISA requirements and questions expected to be answered by the group auditor because audit work is expected to be performed centrally, and not component level, will always be included in 10.50.  

 

3.3.17 Information system and control activities 

11.50 Information system and control activities was updated to include the following: 

  1. Centralised activities and common controls (New) 

The content of the new section “Centralised activities and common controls” will be based on the answers in section ”Plan extent of risk assessment procedures” on 10.50 Gathering of information.  

 

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When users selected in 10.50G that the centralised activities or common controls relates to a COTABD, and an inherent risk was recognised for the relevant COTABD (i.e. it is considered a SCOTABD), users will be prompted to document their understanding in the relevant SCOTABD section in 11.50.  

   

  1. For SCOTABD sections  

  • The procedures that prompt the group auditor to obtain the understanding of the information system required by ISA 315 (Revised 2019) will be included in the following instances: 

    • Users selected on 10.50G that the COTABD is a “Consolidation balance only”, or 
    • Users selected on 10.50G that the centralised activities and common controls relate to the specific COTABD. 

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Take note that the inclusion of the above content is based on the selection ‘Centralised activities’, or ‘Common controls’ in 10.50G and not ‘ Plan to perform centrally’ in 10.50G, which is the basis of the inclusion of questions in 10.50 and 10.51.  The reason for this ‘different’ treatment is that ISA 600 (Revised) par 30 (c)(i) & (ii) requires the group auditor to take responsibility for obtaining an understanding of the group’s system of internal control related to nature and extent of common controls and group centralised activities.   It is expected that the group auditor will obtain the understanding since the common controls and centralised activities is established and managed by group management.   The group auditor may elect to involve component auditors in obtaining the understanding, but it is not expected that component auditors will obtain the understanding on their own. 

 

  • For the other SCOTABD sections, the group auditor will be prompted to communicate to component auditors their responsibility to obtain an understanding. 

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3.3.18 NEW Further audit work at component level  

In 12.20 Audit plan and strategy the auditor is required to formulate an audit plan for each SCOTABD and material COTABD without an inherent risk.  Probe Audit requires the auditor, including the group auditor, to select and test at least one assertion for material COTABD for which no inherent risk has been identified. (ISA 600 (Revised) par 22).  

For each SCOTABD and material COTABD on 12.20 Audit plan and strategy the group auditor will be prompted to complete 12.20G (New) Further audit work at component level to determine at which level the audit work will be performed.     

 

12.20G (New) Further audit work at component level, is deemed an extension of 12.20 Audit plan and strategy.    The following actions will be performed: 

  1. Level at which audit work will be performed 

For each SCOTABD and material COTABD users will determine on 12.20G whether further audit work should be performed for each component identified and added on 11.20G.  Users will select from the following dropdown options: 

  • Consolidation - Group auditor 

  • Centrally - Group auditor 

  • Centrally - Component auditor with group auditor 

  • At component level -Component auditor 

  • No audit work required. 

During preliminary planning and performing risk assessment procedures, group auditors were required on 10.50G to determine whether it is a “Consolidation balance only” and to make a preliminary determination whether they plan to perform further audit work centrally.  This selection made on 10.50G will be included in each section in 12.20G to be considered by the group auditor when determining at which level further audit work should be performed.    

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For the extended users, group auditors will be prompted to consider the factors that may influence the group auditor’s determination at which components further audit work should be performed (ISA600 (Revised).A51).  

 

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For example, users are prompted to consideration whether the risk identified on the group financial statements relates to a specific entity or business unit.  Users can refer back to 11.60 Risk assessment at assertion level that provides information of whether the recorded risks relate to a specific entity or business unit.  In case of a material COTABD, this column will be pre-populated with a “N/A” response. 

 

  1. Scope of work at components and resources 

The components where further audit work is required to be performed by the component auditor, with or without the group auditor, will pull through to “Scope of work at components and resources”.  For each of these components, the group auditor determines and document the nature, timing and extent of audit work to be performed. 

For the extended users, group auditors will be prompted to  

  • Consider the factors whether it is appropriate to perform further audit procedures on the entire financial information of the component (ISA 600 (Revised).A133).     

  • Determine at which level the audit work should be performed at the component level. Users will select form entire financial information, one or more COTABD, and specific audit procedures.   

  • Document detail of the component auditors. 

The extended users are also provided with a summary of the level of audit work per COTABD that is required to be performed per component. 

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3.3.19 Audit plan and strategy 

Each COTABD now also include Group audit considerations and group audit procedures.   The selection of “Perform audit work at which level” in 12.20G (New) Further audit work at component level, will pull through to 12.20 Audit Plan and strategy.    

Two new audit procedures are added, namely “Use of component auditors” and “Consolidation process”:   

  1. Use of component auditors 

When users elected on 12.20G (New) Further audit work at components that component auditors will be used to perform further audit work, with or without the involvement of the group auditor, the new group auditor procedures “Use of component auditors” will be ticked in 12.20 Audit plan and strategy.    

  1. At component level (only) 

When users elected that audit work will only be done at component level, “Required procedures” will not be auto-ticked, “Extended analytical review”, “Extended test of detail” and “Substantive sampling” will not be available for selection.    

 

 

The audit work for the relevant COTABD will be performed at component level.  The group auditor will not perform audit work, other than “Use of component auditors” and “Consolidation process” when an inherent risk related to the consolidation process for that COTABD has been raised. 
 

  1. Centrally or centrally with component auditors 

Extended analytical review and the other audit procedures mentioned above will be available for selection when users elected “Centrally with component auditors” or “Component Auditors”. “Required  procedures” will be auto-ticked as the group auditor will perform audit work, with or without the component auditors. 

 

 

  1. Consolidation process 

“Consolidation process” in the relevant section in 12.20 will be auto-ticked when the user selected “Consolidation process” in the risk button. 

 

 

The user will be required to add audit procedures in the relevant work program to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to address the ROMM at assertion level that relates to the consolidated process.   

 

5. Significant risks 

When a significant risk was raised, the “Significant risk response” will be auto-ticked. 

6. Tests of controls 

Audit procedure “Tests of control” continue to be auto-ticked when the user indicated in the “Record Control” that reliance on control is intended. 

 

3.3.20 Use of component auditors – work programs 

When “use of component auditors’ is ticked in 12.20, audit procedure under the heading “Use of component auditors” will be added to the relevant work program.   

 

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Conclusion questions were added to consider whether the work performed by the component auditors is adequate for the purposes of the group audit. 

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Users will be required to determine the assurance obtained through the work performed by the component auditors.  Users should take assessment into account in determination of the audit risk remaining. 

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When the group auditor concluded that assurance obtained from component auditors are not adequate, the user should select “Yes” to “A need to revise audit plan?” and “General including laws and regulations” 

Under “Revised audit plan-General” a new type of audit procedure “Additional procedures” is added. 

When the user selects “Additional procedures”, the user is prompted to add audit procedure(s). 

After completion of the additional procedure(s), the group auditor will determine the assurance obtained from the additional procedures and that should be taken into account when determining the estimated audit risk remaining.     

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3.3.21 Consolidation process – work programs 

When “Consolidation process” is auto-ticked on 12.20, the relevant work program will include a prompt to add audit procedures to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to address the ROMM at assertion level that relates to the consolidated process.   

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The user will be required to complete “Assurance obtained” for “Consolidation process”. 

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3.3.22 Compliance Add – On (South Africa only) 

For engagement type “Group Audit M”, the group auditor can elect in 10.20 whether they want to include the Companies Act procedures in the engagement file. This approach recognises that the Companies Act procedures are applicable to a company.  The Companies Act procedures that address the requirements related to presentation and disclosure in the financial statement, that also applies to group financial statements, will always be included in 18.10 Financial statement presentation work program for “Group Audit M”.  

The inclusion of the Companies Act procedures for “Group Audit S” and “Audit S” is similar to the treatment in the 2023 and earlier market versions, i.e.  

  • Large – Always included. 

  • Small – Users can elect in10.20. 

 

The answer to the question in 10.20 Engagement evaluation inter alia includes questions or procedures on the following documents: 

  • 10.50 Gathering of information 

  • 10.51 Types and volumes of transactions 

  • 16.10 Accounting records work program 

  • 18.10 Financial statement preparation work program 

  • 20.10 Laws and regulations work program 

  • 750.10 Operating expenses work program 

  • 805.10 Capital or contributions work program 

 

3.4 IRBA Enhanced Audit Reporting Rule (South Africa only) 

The IRBA Rule on Enhanced Auditor Reporting for the Audits of Financial Statements of Public Interest Entities, published in Government Gazette No. 49309 dated 15 September 2023 (EAR Rule) is effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after 15 December 2024, with early adoption permitted. 

The EAR Rule prescribes additional disclosures in the independent auditor’s report on the audit of annual financial statements of Public Interest Entities (PIEs), as defined in the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised April 2023), as amended.  The Revisions to the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised April 2023) issued in November 2023 was applied. 

 

Matter identified  

ISA ref 

Comment  

10.20 Engagement evaluation  

Public interest entity (PIE) 

 

A question was added to determine whether the entity was classified as a public interest entity when it is determined to be one of the entities on the list of entities deemed to PIEs in accordance with R400.23(SA).  The list of entities deemed to be PIEs in accordance with R400.23(SA) is included as an instruction. 

 

The definition of the public interest entity included as guidance text has been updated based on the revised definition in ‘The Revisions to the IRBA Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Auditors (Revised April 2023)’ issued in November 2023. 

02.50 Consideration of assurance reports  

Public interest entity (PIE) 

 

Procedures related to the additional disclosure required in the auditor’s report of the financial statements of a PIE, were added. 

These procedures will only be included when user selected yes to the PIE question in 10.20. 

02.55 Key Audit Matters 

Key Audit Matters table 

 

When recording a KAM, users will be required to complete the following two new data fields when users answered “Yes” was  to PIE question in 10.20: 

  • Outcomes of audit procedures with respect to the key audit matter 

  • Key observations with respect to the key audit matter 

The detail will pull through to the Key Audit Matters table on 02.55, and the auditor’s report in the financial statements when user concluded that the KAM will be reported on in the Auditor’s Report. 

 

3.5 Other 

3.5.1 Financial reporting frameworks 

The IFRS Foundation® Trade Mark Guidelines, in accordance with the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Liaison Working Group Publication, have been implemented.   

The term IFRS in 10.20 was replaced with “IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board”, and similarly the term “IFRS for SME” was replaced with “IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board”. 

 

3.5.2 02.55 Key audit matters 

The following audit procedures were added to 02.55.   

  • Determine from the matters communicated with TCWG, those matters that required significant attention in performing the audit (ISA701.9). 

  • Take into account the following when determining the key audit matters to be communicated in the auditor's report: 

  • Areas of higher assessed risk of material misstatement, or significant risks. 

  • Significant judgments relating to areas in the financial statements that involved significant management judgment, including accounting estimates that have been identified as having high estimation uncertainty. 

  • The effect on the audit of significant events or transactions that occurred during the period. 

The engagement partner sign-off on 02.55 was deleted and a declaration by the engagement partner related to KAMs isare included in the “Engagement partner declaration” on 02.00. 

 

3.5.3 11.60 Uncategorised risks 

We have included additional functionality to document 11.60 that will indicate to the user when they have a risk that exists that does not belong to any of the existing sections. At the top of the document, you will see a section called uncategorised risks where these risks will be stored. To reallocate these risks to the correct section, you need to edit that risk and select the section you require it to be allocated to or you can choose to delete the risk if it no longer serves a purpose 

 

3.6 Known matters 

3.6.1 Differences between total assets and total liabilities in 10.52 and 02.40  

There is a difference between the figures of total assets in 10.52 - Preliminary analytical review and 02.40 - Evaluation of misstatements, this relates to technical assets that appear in 10.52 - Preliminary analytical review and not in 02.40 - Evaluation of misstatements. This will be fixed in the next release. 

There is a difference between the figures of total liabilities in 10.52 - Preliminary analytical review and 02.40 Evaluation of misstatements, this relates to deferred tax being offset in 02.40 - Evaluation of misstatements and not in 10.52 - Preliminary analytical review. This will be fixed in the next release. 


3.6.2 11.60 - Blank risks under Uncategorised section 

Upon opening document 11.60, you may note that you have two blank risks under the uncategorised risks section. We have noted this and it can be resolved by opening document 11.20G and closing it, then refreshing risk tables in 11.60. We will resolve this issue in the next release. 

 

3.6.3 11.60 and 10.70 – Blank risks/LTBMs identified 

When in an audit engagement, 11.60 has an issue where all newly created risks are created twice. Once for the risk you raise and a second one that appears as blank. You may delete the second one that shows as a blank risk. When in a review engagement, the same issue exists in 10.70 and can be resolved the same way by deleting the blank LTBM. We will rectify this issue in the next release. 

 

3.7 Previously reported items fixed with Hotfixes  

https://success.casewareafrica.com/articles/Knowledge/Probe-Hotfix 

The following list is a brief description of fixes that have been made though hotfixes: 

3.7.112.20 – Audit plan and strategy 

The risk assessment at financial statement levels and the overall response increase extent of work on all relevant and selected assertions, are not populating automatically from 11.20, 11.25 and 11.30. 

3.7.2 20.10 – Laws and regulations work program 

  • Identified risks table is incorrectly showing in document 20.10.  Risks at assertion level are not applicable to this work program. 

  • When updating a file, the required procedures in document 20.10 do not show. 

3.7.3 02.00 – Partner sign-off 

  • The audit risk conclusion does not completely pull through from the work programs into document 02.00 with the satisfactory/unsatisfactory selection, sign-off details, and overall comment. 

  • Whenever the user switches between 02.00 and a work program, the entire section relating to the open work program (e.g PPE or Inventories) in 02.00 hides away. Only applicable to SMALL engagements. 

 

4. Review 

No changes were made to Review in this release. 
 

5. Compilation 

No changes were made to Compilation in this release. 
 

6. Updated document summary 

Please download the full release notes to view the updated document summary. 

 


If you are a firm champion or firm template author, you will have access to your unique download package by accessing the My Software page and clicking on the download packager icon top right. If you are responsible for managing updates and have not received login details for the CaseWare Africa Success Community, click on Login (top right) and then choose the Register Now option.

If this is not successful contact our admin team at info@casewareafrica.com

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For more detailed information on these and other enhancements to the software, please go through our Release Notes.

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