Question

The Audit of SSM

Background: Steve’s Shoe Makers Inc. (SSM), a company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, manufactures and distributes high-performance athletic footwear and apparel. Established in Philadelphia in 2000 as a small, family-owned business, SSM has expanded to include a wholly owned subsidiary, Steve’s Shoes LLC. SSM’s corporate management is based in Philadelphia, and the manufacturing and distribution plants are located in Houston and Los Angeles. You have been hired as SSM’s external auditor and have been assigned to test SSM’s related parties and its relationships and transactions with related parties in accordance with PCAOB AS 2410. You have spoken with SSM’s CEO, Dain Blanton, who believes that the processes and controls in place at SSM would result in the identification of any related-party relationship that would require further investigation or possible disclosure in the financial statements. Further, he has stated that the company does not have any related-party events or transactions that would need to be disclosed in the current-year annual financial statements in accordance with ASC 850. See the appendix below for SSM’s organizational structure. Management’s Processes and Controls To understand management’s processes and controls over related parties and its relationships and transactions with them, you obtain SSM’s relevant process flow narrative from management, which states the following: Before hiring a new employee, the human resources manager performs a background check. Employees hired for management positions must disclose their significant ownership interests. SSM’s legal department maintains a listing of these disclosures (“related-parties listing”) and periodically checks the disclosed relationships against SSM’s vendor and customer master file. Annually, before SSM files its Form 10-K, management signs representations indicating that to the best of its knowledge, SSM did not enter into any related-party transactions that were not disclosed in the financial statements. Management also discloses any changes in its significant equity ownership or investments at this time. A review of the representations is performed by the legal department, the related-parties listing is updated for any new related parties identified, and the records are maintained in a locked room. Risks of Material Misstatement As a result of the risk-assessment procedures performed, you have determined that the risks of material misstatement listed below apply to the audit of SSM. You have also determined that none of the identified and assessed risks of material misstatement are significant risks. (Note that there are additional risks of material misstatement regarding related parties and relationships and transactions with related parties; however, this case study only focuses on the risks outlined below.)

R_RP_1: Related parties and transactions with related parties may not be appropriately identified.

R_RP_2: Related-party transactions are not recorded in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

R_RP_3: Related-party transactions are recorded:

• For transactions that did not occur or are pending.

• At incorrect amounts.

• In the incorrect period.

R_RP_4: Related-party transactions are recorded:

• For transactions that lack a business purpose.

• Without taking into account the counterparty’s financial capability.

R_RP_5: The related-party disclosure includes transactions that:

• May not have occurred.

• Lack a business purpose.

• Are not recorded on terms equivalent to those prevailing in an arm’slength transaction and are not disclosed as such.

R_RP_6: The related-party disclosure does not sufficiently describe related-party transactions in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.

Please answer the following questions:

1) Are management’s processes and controls over related parties and related-party relationships and transactions sufficient? Why or why not?

2) What would be the implications on the audit if an undisclosed related-party transaction was identified during the completion of audit testing?

Answer 1

1) Management control with regard to identification and reporting of related party transactions

The maintains the below documentation for correct reporting of related party transctions-:

a) Risk Control Matrix along with process flow chart has been prepared by the Company.

b) Back ground check along with conflict check is done by the HR team of the Company.

c) Key managerial personnel are giving declaration at regular interval.

d) Signification change in ownership are reported as per the regulations.

Based upon above controls, we understand that the Company is having sufficient control to mitigate the risk.

2) If the auditor comes across any undisclosed related party transactions, then assessment needs to be made for failure of the control to identify such transaction. After understanding the reason of control failure, it should be identified whether this is deficiency or significant deficiency.

In case of deficiency it is the responsibility of the auditor to highlight to those cases to those charge with governance. Then management should identify the reason and accordingly fil the deisgn gap in the process chart.

Otherwise, in case of significant deficiency it needs to be reported in report and the facts should be documented in management representation letter.