Medium2 marksMultiple Choice
Audit Framework and RegulationEthicsSafeguardsValuation Services

ACCA · Question 02 · Audit Framework and Regulation

CASE SCENARIO: AquaPure Utilities Co
AquaPure Utilities Co is a recently privatized water utility company. You are an audit manager at Blue & Co, responsible for the audit of AquaPure for the year ended 31 December 20X5. AquaPure operates highly specialized water treatment facilities. Management has requested that Blue & Co provide a valuation service for a newly constructed, complex water filtration plant, as AquaPure lacks the internal expertise to value it for inclusion in the financial statements. The filtration plant represents 15% of AquaPure's total assets. Furthermore, during the year, AquaPure was fined by the environmental regulator for a minor chemical spill, which the financial controller has refused to disclose in the financial statements, arguing it is not material by size.

QUESTION:
Given that the water filtration plant represents 15% of total assets and involves significant subjectivity, what is the most appropriate course of action for Blue & Co regarding the valuation engagement?

Answer options:

A.

Accept the engagement but use a separate team of professionals to perform the valuation.

B.

Accept the engagement and have an independent partner review the valuation work.

C.

Decline the valuation engagement.

D.

Accept the engagement provided AquaPure's management takes full responsibility for the final valuation figure.

How to approach this question

Assess the materiality (15% of assets is highly material) and the subjectivity of the valuation. Apply the ethical code rules regarding material valuations for audit clients.

Full Answer

C.Decline the valuation engagement.✓ Correct
The IESBA Code prohibits audit firms from providing valuation services to audit clients that are public interest entities (which a privatized utility likely is) if the valuation involves a significant degree of subjectivity and has a material effect on the financial statements. No safeguards can reduce this threat to an acceptable level.

Common mistakes

Assuming that using separate teams (Chinese walls) is a universal fix for all ethical threats.

Practice the full ACCA AA — Audit and Assurance Practice Exam 6

18 questions · hints · full answers · grading

More questions from this exam