Damongo Ltd (Damongo) is a computer hardware specialist and has been trading for over ten years. Damongo is the only hardware specialist listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange within five years after incorporation.
The company is funded partly through overdrafts and loans and also by several large shareholders. The year end is 31 December 2017. Damongo has experienced significant growth in previous years. However, in the current year a new competitor, HardWare Specialist Co (HardWare), has entered the market and through competitive pricing has gained considerable market share from Damongo. One of Damongo’s large customers has stopped trading with them and has moved its business to HardWare. In addition, a number of Damongo’s specialist developers have left the company and joined HardWare. Damongo has found it difficult to replace these employees due to the level of their skills and knowledge. Damongo has just received notification that its main supplier who provides the company with specialist electrical equipment has ceased trading.
Damongo is looking to develop new products to differentiate itself from the rest of its competitors. It has approached its shareholders to finance this development, however, they declined to invest further in Damongo. Damongo’s loan is long term and it has met all repayments on time. The overdraft has increased significantly over the year and the directors have informed you that the overdraft facility is due for renewal next month, and they are confident it will be renewed.
The directors have produced a cash flow forecast which shows a significantly worsening position in the coming 12 months. They are confident that the new products being developed is viable. Damongo has trading history of significant growth and they believe it is unnecessary to make any disclosures in the financial statements regarding going concern.
At the year end, Damongo received notification from one of its customers that the hardware installed for the customers’ online ordering system has not been operating correctly. As a result, the customer has lost significant revenue and has informed Damongo that they intend to take legal action against them for loss of earnings. Damongo has investigated the problem post year end and discovered that other work-in-progress is similarly affected and inventory should be written down. The Finance Director believes that as this misstatement was identified after the year end, it can be amended in the 2017 financial statements.
Required:
a) Describe THREE (3) procedures the auditors of Damongo Ltd should undertake in relation to the uncorrected inventory misstatement identified above. (6 marks)
View Solution
- The extent of the potential misstatement should be considered and therefore a large sample of inventory items should be tested to identify the possible size of the misstatement.
- The potential misstatement should be discussed with Damongo Ltd’s management in order to understand why these inventory differences are occurring.
- The misstatement should be compared to materiality to assess if the error is material individually.
- If not, then it should be added to other errors noted during the audit to assess if in aggregate the uncorrected errors are now material.
- If material, the auditors should ask the directors to adjust the inventory balances to correct the misstatements identified in the 2017 year end.
- Request a written representation from the directors about the uncorrected misstatements including the inventory errors.
- Consider the implication for the audit report if the inventory errors are material and the directors refuses to make adjustments.
(Any 3 points)