magnitude of a potential misstatement, the recorded amount is considered the maximum amount by which an account balance or total of transactions can be overstated. However, understatements could cause a larger misstatement. (AU-C 265.A6–.A7)
The auditor must also consider whether there is a reasonable possibility that the entity’s controls will fail to prevent, or detect and correct, a misstatement. Notice that the determination of severity of a deficiency does not depend on whether the misstatement actually occurred. (AU-C 265.A5)
Possibility of the misstatement. The possibility of a misstatement is a continuous spectrum that ranges from “remote” to “reasonably possible” to “probable.” The following diagram illustrates this range, with “probable” as somewhat less than 100% certainty and “remote” as greater than a 0% chance, while “reasonably possible” is when the chance is more than remote.
The reasonable possibility that one or more deficiencies will result in a financial statement misstatement is affected by risk factors. Risk factors include the following:
The nature of the financial statement, transaction types, account balances, disclosures, and assertions
The susceptibility of assets or liabilities to loss or fraud
The cause and frequency of the exceptions detected as a result of the deficiency
The extent of judgment required to determine amounts, as well as the level of subjectivity and complexity in these decisions
The interaction of controls with each other
The interaction of deficiencies with each other
The future consequences of the deficiency
The importance of the controls to the financial reporting process
(AU-C 265.A8)
One can evaluate whether a deficiency presents a reasonable possibility of misstatement without quantifying a specific range for the probability of occurrence. It is quite possible that the probability of a small misstatement will exceed the probability of a large misstatement. (AU-C 265.A9)
Magnitude of the misstatement. The magnitude of a misstatement also is a continuous spectrum with two key thresholds, “inconsequential” to “material,” as illustrated in the following diagram.
The combination of possibility and magnitude. The evaluation of control deficiencies requires the auditor to consider both the possibility and the magnitude of the misstatement. Combining the previous two diagrams illustrates this concept.
When a control deficiency exists, there is a chance that the internal control system will fail to either prevent or detect a misstatement. This diagram illustrates that if the possibility of the misstatement being included in the financial statements is greater than remote and the magnitude of the misstatement is greater than inconsequential, then the deficiency is at least a significant deficiency. If the magnitude of the potential misstatement is greater than material, then a material weakness exists.
Indicators of Material Weakness
The following are indicators of material weaknesses in internal controls:
Fraud by senior management, even if immaterial
Restatement of previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction of a material misstatement due to error or fraud
Identification of a material misstatement that would not have been detected and corrected by the entity’s internal controls
Ineffective oversight of financial reporting and internal controls
(AU-C 265.A11)
Communication of Internal Control Related Matters
Significant deficiencies and material weaknesses must be communicated in writing to management and those charged with governance as a part of each audit. [AU-C 265.11–.12(a)] In this context, the appropriate level of management is one that has the responsibility and authority to take action to correct the deficiency. This is normally the CEO or CFO. For other deficiencies, it may be appropriate to communicate with personnel directly involved in the affected areas with the authority to take action. (AU-C 265.A21)
The auditor may communicate matters in writing or orally that he or she does not consider to be significant deficiencies but which nonetheless may be of benefit to the entity. If the communication is oral, it should be documented. [AU-C 265.12(b)] The auditor is not required to communicate such matters if they have been communicated by the auditor in a prior period or by others, such as internal auditors. (AU-C 265.A26)
If significant deficiencies and material weaknesses were not remediated following previous audits, this communication should repeat the description or reference the prior communications. While management may have made a conscious decision to accept the risk of a control deficiency, the auditor must still communicate the issue regardless of management’s decision. (AU-C 265.A20)
To avoid potential misunderstanding or misuse, the auditor should not issue a written communication that no significant deficiencies were identified during the audit. (AU-C 265.16) The auditor may issue a written communication that there were no material deficiencies identified. (AU-C 265.15)
Timing
Communication of internal control related matters should be made no later than 60 days following the report release date. (AU-C 265.13) However, it is best to make this communication by the report release date in order to allow those charged with governance more time to discharge their oversight responsibilities. (AU-C 265.A16) For significant issues in need of immediate correction, the auditor may choose to communicate those issues during the audit and can do so other than in writing; however, even if remediated, these issues should still be included in a written communication at the end of the audit. (AU-C 265.A17)
Content
The written communication should include the following items:
Definitions of material weakness and significant deficiency
Description of significant deficiencies and material weaknesses and their potential effects
Information that enables those charged with governance and management to understand the context of the communications, particularly statements that:The auditor is expressing an opinion on the financial statements.The audit included consideration of internal control in order to design audit procedures, not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on internal control.The auditor is not expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control.The auditor’s consideration of internal control may not identify all significant deficiencies or material control weaknesses.
An appropriate alert in accordance with AU-C 905, Alert That Restricts the Use of the Auditor’s Written Communication
(AU-C 265.14)
The content of the communication can contain additional topics, such as recommendations for improvement in such areas as administrative or operational efficiency, as well as less than significant deficiencies or immaterial weaknesses. (AU-C 265.A30) The auditor