Section B – TWO questions ONLY to be attempted （a) You are an audit manager in Weller &

Section B – TWO questions ONLY to be attempted

(a) You are an audit manager in Weller & Co, an audit firm which operates as part of an international network of firms. This morning you received a note from a partner regarding a potential new audit client:

‘I have been approached by the audit committee of the Plant Group, which operates in the mobile telecommunications sector. Our firm has been invited to tender for the audit of the individual and group financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2013, and I would like your help in preparing the tender document. This would be a major new client for our firm’s telecoms audit department.

The Plant Group comprises a parent company and six subsidiaries, one of which is located overseas. The audit committee is looking for a cost effective audit, and hopes that the strength of the Plant Group’s governance and internal control mean that the audit can be conducted quickly, with a proposed deadline of 31 May 2013. The Plant Group has expanded rapidly in the last few years and significant finance was raised in July 2012 through a stock exchange listing.’

Required:

Identify and explain the specific matters to be included in the tender document for the audit of the Plant Group. (8 marks)

(b) Weller & Co is facing competition from other audit firms, and the partners have been considering how the firm’s revenue could be increased. Two suggestions have been made: 1. Audit partners and managers can be encouraged to sell non-audit services to audit clients by including in their remuneration package a bonus for successful sales. 2. All audit managers should suggest to their audit clients that as well as providing the external audit service, Weller & Co can provide the internal audit service as part of an ‘extended audit’ service. Required: Comment on the ethical and professional issues raised by the suggestions to increase the firm’s revenue. (8 marks)