| The reason clients want Audited financial | | | | inventory is on site, they should have the |
| statements is to provide credibility for their | | | | personnel who performed the original inventory |
| business. Only a certified public accountant (CPA) | | | | count accompany the accountant on their test |
| can perform the audit, but there are steps that | | | | counts since they are most familiar with the |
| the client can perform to reduce the cost of and | | | | layout and locations of inventory. |
| time necessary for the audit to be completed. | | | | The accountant needs to inquire with the client's |
| The accountant performing the audit will requests | | | | lawyers and document any active or pending |
| financial reports from the company to review. | | | | litigation, claims, or assessments. The client should |
| These reports include the income statement, | | | | collect all documentation related to any litigation, |
| balance sheet, and statement of cash flow along | | | | claims, and assessments and provide their |
| with financial documentation to support these | | | | lawyers contact information. |
| reports. If the client has the required financial | | | | The accounting estimates made by management |
| documents and reports prepared and available for | | | | will need to be evaluated by the CPA. The client |
| the accountant to review, this will save time and | | | | should provide documentation for the estimates, |
| money, preventing the CPA from needing | | | | factors and assumptions which affect the |
| together this information themselves. | | | | estimates, procedures used to prepare estimates |
| The accounts receivable will need to be confirmed. | | | | in the financial statement presentation, and |
| Having a prepared accounts receivable detail | | | | comparisons of past estimates and actual results |
| schedule which ties into the general ledger balance | | | | to support the reasonableness of their current |
| will make it easier for the accountant to confirm | | | | estimates. |
| the accounts receivable. In addition the client | | | | Lastly the accountant needs to assess the degree |
| should prepare a list of names and addresses of | | | | of risk that fraud will cause a misstatement in the |
| all customers and outside entities to give to the | | | | financial statements, document any fraud risk |
| accountant for confirming receivables, business | | | | factors, and detail the client's response to these |
| activities, and account balances. | | | | risk factors. The client should provide |
| The accountant will need to observe the | | | | documentation of any fraud that has occurred, |
| inventory count. The client should have the names | | | | how they have identified any fraud risk factors, |
| and addresses of public warehouses where their | | | | and any anti-fraud programs that have been put |
| inventory is stored readily available. If the | | | | into place. |