Performance Auditing an Introduction

Contextualising Performance Audit

It is important that prior to introducing the subject of performance auditing that it be correctly contextualised in relation to its integration with other audits. The various types of auditing may inter alia be categorised as follows:

Financial Auditing

The assessment of whether the financial statements of an entity fairly present its financial position at a given point in time. To achieve this opinion, the entity’s accounting and financial management systems are interrogated and assessed against predetermined standards.

Compliance Auditing

The process of determining whether a process or transaction executed by an entity has met the applicable legislative and/or regulatory guidelines that are applicable to the entity.

Audit of Predetermined Objectives

The process of determining whether reliance in all material aspects when measured against a set of predetermined criteria can be placed on the reported performance against predetermined objectives in the annual performance report of an entity.

Information Systems Auditing

The assessment of whether information technology investments made by an entity have contributed to the reduction of costs, enhanced service delivery and the quality of information being produced.

Forensic Auditing

An examination and evaluation of an entity’s financial information and accounting procedures to collect evidence for the prosecution or investigation of financial crimes such as theft and fraud. Forensic audits may be conducted to determine if wrongdoing occurred, or to gather evidence for the case against an alleged criminal.

Now that we have been able to contextualise performance auditing within the audit matrix, we will attempt to provide more context to performance auditing, defining it in more detail, introducing the standards against which performance auditing is conducted and a brief chronology on how the performance auditing process is applied.

Definition of Performance Auditing

Performance auditing may thus be defined as an independent auditing process to evaluate the measures instituted by management to ensure that resources have been procured economically and are used efficiently and effectively.

The objective of performance auditing includes the following three assertions:

The main objective of performance auditing is to promote constructive economical, effective and efficient governance. It also contributes to accountability and transparency and promotes accountability by assisting those charged with governance and oversight responsibilities to improve performance. It promotes transparency by affording identified stakeholders an insight into the management and outcomes of different activities. It thus serves as a basis for learning and identifying potential improvements for the entity being audited.

Performance Audit Standards

Performance audits are benchmarked against the International Standards and Guidelines of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAI), which are issued by the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). The following standards and guidance are normally complied with in conducting a performance audit:

  • ISSAI 300 – Fundamental Principles of Performance Auditing
  • ISSAI 3000 – Standards for Performance Auditing
  • ISSAI 3100 – Central Concepts for Performance Auditing

ISSAI 300

Provides the framework, the general principles and an overview of the nature and the elements for performance audits. It is used as the basis from which to develop performance audit standards.

ISSAI 3000

Provides the features and principles of performance auditing and a basis for good performance audit practices; 1.2 states that “performance auditing is not overly subject to specific requirements and expectations. While financial auditing tends to apply relatively fixed standards, performance auditing is more flexible in its choice of subjects, audit objects, methods, and opinions. Performance auditing is not a regular audit with formalised opinions. It is an independent examination made on a non-recurring basis. It is by nature wide ranging and open to interpretations. It must have at its disposal a wide selection of investigative and evaluative methods and operate from a quite different knowledge base to that of traditional auditing. It is not a checklist-based form of auditing.”

ISSAI 3100

Provides the guidelines which outline a common understanding of what defines high quality work in performance auditing.

The Performance Audit Process

When preparing to conduct a performance audit, the following broad processes are generally applied to ensure that the standards as mentioned above are achieved.

Most audit types, including performance auditing, comprise of three main phases:

  • Planning
  • Execution
  • Reporting

Planning Phase

The starting point in the performance audit strategic planning process is deciding what to audit from a myriad of possible activities occurring within an entity. Performance auditing should be directed toward areas where an independent audit may support the oversight function in promoting accountability, economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of resources at its disposal.

In determining possible areas for audit, general criterion can be used to provide guidance for areas to be focussed on in selecting an area to be audited. This criterion may be inter alia broadly described as follows:

  • Added value – where the subject has not been covered previously or in earlier audits, the greater the chance of the audit subject adding value to the entity;
  • Important problems or known problem areas – the greater the risk of consequences in terms of economy, efficiency and effectiveness the more important the problems tend to be;
  • Risk or uncertainty – the financial or budgetary amounts involved are substantial, areas which are traditionally prone to risk such as for example procurement, new or urgent activities, management structures are complex, no reliable and updated information, etc.

Once the strategic planning process has been completed, it is important that an annual plan be compiled for performance audit activities to be carried out during a financial year.

Audit Considerations for the Planning of a Performance Audit

  • Identification of important aspects of the environment in which the entity operates
  • Developing an understanding of the accountability relationships
  • Specifying the audit objectives and the tests necessary to meet them
  • Identifying key management systems and controls and carrying out a preliminary assessment to identify both strengths and weaknesses
  • Determining the materiality (both quantitative and qualitative) of matters to be considered
  • Assessing the extent of reliance that might be placed on other auditors, for example internal auditors
  • Determining the most efficient and effective audit approach

Planning Steps Included in the Audit

  • Collect information about entity and its organisation
  • Define the objectives and scope of the audit
  • Undertake a preliminary analysis to determine the approach to be adopted and the nature and extent of enquiries to be undertaken at a later stage
  • Highlight special problems anticipated during the planning of the audit
  • Familiarise the entity with the scope, objectives and assessment criteria of the audit and where necessary discuss it with them
  • Assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations when necessary to satisfy the audit objectives

Planning Procedures

  • Obtain sound understanding and knowledge of the business;
  • Identify symptoms
  • Select a potential focus area
  • Motivate the potential focus area
  • Prepare an audit planning memorandum
  • Prepare audit questions
  • Prepare audit criteria

The planning phase of a performance audit is critical to its success and at least 40 to 45% of the audit time should be spent on this phase.

Execution Phase

During the execution phase, the auditor designs tests and procedures to obtain evidence in the most cost-effective manner. Information is gathered, evaluated for its appropriateness and it is then determined whether it is sufficient to support observations about the entity’s performance.

Execution Phase Activities

  • Design audit procedures and tests
  • Carry out audit procedures and tests (audit evidence)
  • Analyse the evidence and draw conclusions – evaluate actual performance against the audit criteria that were developed
  • Evaluate the existence of sufficient and appropriate evidence
  • Develop audit findings, causes and effects

The execution phase of a performance audit should not exceed 30% of the total audit time spent on the audit.

Reporting Phase

A written report should be prepared at the end of each audit; its content should be easy to understand and free from vagueness and ambiguity and include information which is supported by competent and relevant evidence. Regarding performance audits, the report should include all significant instances of non-compliance that are pertinent to the audit objectives.

In order to recognise reasonable user needs, the report may need to have regard to expanded reporting periods or cycles.

In a performance audit, the auditor reports on economy and efficiency with which resources are acquired and used, and the effectiveness with which objectives are met. The report should not concentrate solely on criticism of the past but should be constructive.

The reporting phase of a performance audit should not exceed 25% of the total audit time spent on the audit.

In the next publication, we will provide a real-life example of a performance audit that was conducted by Nexia SAB&T, which will demonstrate how these concepts were applied

Nexia SAB&T’s Performance Audit Offering

Nexia SAB&T looks forward to assisting you with your performance audit needs. For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact Us

Naeem Hassim
naeem.hassim@nexia-sabt.co.za
www.nexia-sabt.co.za
Contact: +27 12 682 8800

Ndumi Medupe
ndumi@ nexia-sabt.co.za
www.nexia-sabt.co.za
Contact: +27 12 682 8800

 

IFRIC 22 – Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration

IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration clarifies the accounting for transactions that include the receipt or payment of advance consideration in a foreign currency. IFRIC 22 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018.

What is the interpretation about?

IAS 21, The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates requires an entity to record a foreign currency transaction, on initial recognition in its functional currency by applying to the foreign currency amount, the spot rate at the date of transaction. However, there are circumstances when an entity pays or receives consideration in advance in a foreign currency. This gives rise to a non-monetary asset or liability before recognition of the related asset, expense or income.

Scope of IFRIC 22

  • This Interpretation applies to a foreign currency transaction (or part of it) when an entity recognises a non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from the payment or receipt of advance consideration before the entity recognises the related asset, expense or income (or part of it).
  • This Interpretation does not apply when an entity measures the related asset, expense or income on initial recognition:
    • at fair value (FV); or
    • at the FV of the consideration paid or received at a date other than the date of initial recognition of the non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from advance consideration (for example, the measurement of goodwill applying IFRS 3 Business Combinations).
  • An entity is not required to apply this Interpretation to income taxes or insurance contracts (including reinsurance contracts) that it issues or reinsurance contracts that it holds.

What is the Date of Transaction?

The ‘date of the transaction’ for the purpose of determining the exchange rate to use on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income (or part of it) is the date on which an entity initially recognises the non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from the payment or receipt of advance consideration. In case there are multiple payments or receipts in advance, the entity should determine a date of transaction for each payment or receipt of advance consideration.

Illustrative Examples

Example 1: On 1/2/2017, Entity A enters into a contract with Supplier B to purchase machinery. Entity A pays Supplier B in advance $1000 on 1/3/2017 and takes delivery of the machinery on 27/3/2017.

Entity A would recognise a non-monetary asset converting the $1000 at the spot exchange rate on 1/3/2017. When Entity A receives delivery of machinery on 27/3/2017, it will derecognise the non-monetary asset and recognise the machinery as an asset (applying IAS 16) at the same exchange rate used at the date of initial recognition (1/3/2017).

Example 2: On 1/2/2017 Entity B enters into a contract to supply machinery for $10,000. The terms of the contract stipulate that an advance payment of 40% should be paid on 1/3/2017 and balance on 30/4/2017. The machinery will be delivered on 1/4/2017.

On 1/3/2017 Entity B receives $4000 and recognizes a non-monetary liability by converting the advance receipt at the spot exchange rate on 1/3/2017.

On 1/4/2017 Entity B:

  • derecognizes the contract liability of $4000 and recognizes revenue using the exchange rate on 1/3/2017; and
  • recognizes revenue of $6000 and a corresponding receivable using the exchange rate on that date (1/4/2017).

The receivable of $6000 recognized on 1/4/2017 is a monetary item. Entity B updates the translated amount of the receivable until the receivable is settled.

Effective Date and transitional provisions

An entity shall apply this Interpretation for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity applies this Interpretation for an earlier period, it shall disclose that fact.

An entity could apply IFRIC 22 initially either:

  • Retrospectively applying IAS 8, Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, or
  • Prospectively to all assets, expenses and incomes in the scope of the Interpretation initially recognised on or after
    • The beginning of the reporting period in which an entity first applies the interpretation or;
    • The beginning of a prior reporting period presented as comparative information in the financial statements of the reporting period in which an entity first applies the interpretation.

On prospective application of IFRIC 22, an entity should apply it to assets, expenses and incomes initially recognised on or after the beginning of the reporting period as given above for which non-monetary assets and non-monetary liabilities arising from advance considerations have been recognised before that date.