Adequate planning benefits the audit of financial statements in several ways, including

The audit plan determines the audit’s scope, how the auditor checks the client’s accounting system and internal control system, determines the program or type of audit, and sets the audit procedures to carry out the entire audit.

What is Audit Planning?

An audit plan is a detailed strategy that sets the nature, timing, scope, and boundaries for the auditor to carry out the entire audit procedure.

An audit plan contains the nature, timing, and extent of audit procedures (including risk assessment procedures) to be performed by engagement team members to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence.

Meaning of Audit Planning

Planning the audit includes establishing the overall audit strategy for the engagement and developing an audit plan, which includes, in particular, planned risk assessment procedures and responses to material misstatement risks.

Planning is not a discrete phase of an audit but a continual and iterative process that might begin shortly after (or in connection with) the completion of the previous audit. It continues until the completion of the current audit.

A good plan and actual control of the work as per the plan will prove to be valuable evidence that the audit has been carried out according to generally accepted auditing practices if the plan and controls exercised are adequately documented.

Audit control seeks to ensure that the work is carried out as intended.

The auditor exercises control over the quality of the audit by effectively supervising the work of his assistants, coordinating work performed by others, and adequately documenting the audit matters.

The auditor should develop and document an audit plan that includes a description of:

1. The planned nature, timing, and extent of the risk assessment procedures;
2. The planned nature, timing, and extent of tests of controls and substantive procedures; and
3. Other planned audit procedures must be performed so that the engagement complies with PCAOB standards.

Role and Timing of Planning

Adequate planning benefits the audit of financial statements in several ways, including the following:

1. Helping the auditor to devote appropriate attention to important areas of the audit.
2. Helping the auditor identify and resolve potential problems on a timely basis.
3. Helping the auditor organize and manage the audit engagement is performed effectively and efficiently.
4. Assisting in selecting engagement team members with appropriate levels of capabilities and competence to respond to anticipated risks and the proper assignment of work to them.
5. Facilitating the direction and supervision of engagement team members and the review of their work.
6. Where applicable, assist in coordinating work done by auditors of components and experts.

Audit procedures should be discussed with the client’s management, staff, and audit committee to coordinate audit work, including internal audits.

However, all audit procedures remain the responsibility of the external auditors.

Planning the Audit

Audit planning involves the development of an overall strategy or game plan for the expected conduct and scope of the audit—matters such as the integrity of management, errors and irregularities, and illegal acts. The auditor should plan the audit with professional skepticism about such.

The amount of planning required in engagement will vary with the size and complexity of the client and the auditor’s knowledge of and experience with the client.

As expected, considerably more effort is needed to adequately plan an initial audit than a recurring audit.

Preliminary Engagement Activities

The auditor should perform the following activities at the beginning of the audit:

1. Perform procedures regarding the continuance of the client relationship and the specific audit engagement,
2. Determine compliance with independence and ethics requirements, and
3. Establish an understanding of the terms of the audit engagement with the audit committee.

Planning Activities

The nature and extent of planning activities depend on the company’s size and complexity, the auditor’s previous experience with the company, and changes in circumstances that occur during the audit.

When developing the audit strategy and audit plan, the auditor should evaluate whether the following matters are important to the company’s financial statements and internal control over financial reporting and, if so, how they will affect the auditor’s procedures:

1. Knowledge of the company’s internal control over financial reporting obtained during other engagements performed by the auditor;
2. Matters affecting the industry in which the company operates, such as financial reporting practices, economic conditions, laws and regulations, and technological changes;
3. Matters relating to the company’s business, including its organization, operating characteristics, and capital structure;
4. The extent of recent changes, if any, in the company, its operations, or its internal control over financial reporting;
5. The auditor’s preliminary judgments about materiality, risk, and, in integrated audits, other factors relating to the determination of material weaknesses;
6. Control deficiencies previously communicated to the audit committee or management;
7. Legal or regulatory matters of which the company is aware;
8. The type and extent of available evidence related to the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting;
9. Preliminary judgments about the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting;
10. Public information about the company relevant to the evaluation of the likelihood of material financial statement misstatements and the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting;
11. Knowledge about risks related to the company is evaluated as part of the auditor’s client acceptance and retention evaluation; and
12. The relative complexity of the company’s operations.

What are the benefits of adequate planning of the audit of financial statements?

What are the benefits of planning an audit?

What benefits does the auditor derive from planning audits?

What are the factors to be considered by the auditor in planning their audit?