ADVANCED AUDITING AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS - I

• Auditing Standards, Statements and Guidance Notes: Engagement & Quality Control Standards, Statements and Guidance Notes on Auditing issued by the ICAI; Elements of system of quality control, leadership responsibilities for quality within the firm, Acceptance and Continuance of client’s relationships and specific engagements, Engagement Performances, etc. (SQC 1 Quality Control for Firms that Perform Audits and Reviews of Historical Financial Information and Other Assurance and Related Services Engagements).

• Audit Planning, Strategy and Execution: Planning the flow of audit work; audit strategy, audit plan, audit programme and importance of supervision; principal’s ultimate responsibility; extent of delegation; control over quality of audit work; Analytical Procedures prior to audit as well as towards finalization; Concept of Principal Auditor and Other Auditor, Acceptance as Principal Auditor, Procedures to be performed by Principal Auditor, Co-ordination between the Principal Auditor and Other Auditor (SA 600 Using the Work of Another Auditor); Concept of Internal Audit Functions and its evaluation, Using the work of the internal audit function, Using internal auditors to provide direct assistance (SA 610 Using the Work of Internal Auditors); Auditor's Expert – Meaning, Need for an Auditor’s Expert, Understanding the Auditor’s Expert, Agreement with the Auditor’s Expert, Adequacy of the Auditor’s Expert’s Work (SA 620 Using the Work of an Auditor’s Expert).
• Risk Assessment and Internal Control: Evaluation of internal control procedures; Components of internal controls; Internal control and risk assessment; Risk -based audit, audit risk analysis, general steps; Internal audit; Reporting on internal control weaknesses (SA 265 Communicating Deficiencies in Internal Control to Those Charged with Governance and Management); Framework on Reporting of Internal Controls.

• Special aspects of Auditing in an Automated Environment: Key features of automated environment, related risks and controls, Standards, Guidelines and procedures, using relevant frameworks and best practices, understanding and documenting automated environment, Enterprise Risk management overview, assessing IT-related risks and controls, evaluating risks and controls at entity level and process level, Considerations of automated environment at each phase of audit cycle, using relevant analytical procedures and tests using data analytics, key concepts of auditing in real-time automated environments such as E-Commerce, ERP, Core Banking, etc.

• Audit of Limited Companies: Application of Relevant Provisions under the Companies Act, 2013 relating to Audit and Auditors and Rules made there under; Powers/rights, duties of auditors; Branch Audit; significance of true and fair view; Dividends and divisible profits- financial, legal, and policy considerations; depreciation; Special features of audit of Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) - Eligibility for audit, appointment of auditor, remuneration, etc. Audit report under the Companies Act, 2013; Reporting under CARO.

• Audit Reports: Basic elements of auditor’s report; Types of opinion; Notes on accounts; Distinction between notes and qualifications; Distinction between audit reports and certificates; Communication to Management and those charged with Governance; Self Review threats; Drafting of different types of Audit Reports.
• Liabilities of Auditors: Professional negligence; civil liabilities; Criminal liabilities; Liabilities under different statutes - for example Income Tax Act, Companies Act.