Question 1
(30 marks)
You are an audit supervisor of Christoff & Co and you are planning the audit of Hilifa
Co, a listed company, for the year ending 31 March 2023. The company manufactures
computer components and forecast profit before tax is N$33.6 million and total assets
are N$79.3 million.
Hilifa Co distributes its products through wholesalers as well as via its own website.
The website was upgraded during the year at a cost of N$1.1 million. Additionally, the
company entered into a transaction in February to purchase a new warehouse which
will cost N$3.2 million. Hilifa Co's legal advisers are working to ensure that the legal
process will be completed by the year end. The company issued N$5 million of
irredeemable preference shares to finance the warehouse purchase.
During the year the finance director has increased the useful economic lives of fixtures
and fittings from three to four years as he felt this was a more appropriate period. The
finance director has informed the engagement partner that a revised credit period has
been agreed with one of its wholesale customers, as they have been experiencing
difficulties with repaying the balance of N$1.2 million owing to Hilifa Co. In January
2023, Hilifa Co introduced a new bonus based on sales targets for its sales staff. This
has resulted in a significant number of new wholesale customer accounts being
opened by sales staff. The new customers have been given favourable credit terms
as an introductory offer, provided goods are purchased within a two-month period. As
a result, revenue has increased by 5% on the prior year.
The company has launched several new products this year and all but one of these
new launches have been successful. Feedback on product Luge, launched four
months ago, has been mixed, and the company has just received notice from one of
their customers, Piet Co, of intended legal action. They are alleging the product sold
to them was faulty, resulting in a significant loss of information and an ongoing
detrimental impact on profits. As a precaution, sales of the Luge product have been
halted and a product recall has been initiated for any Luge products sold in the last
four months.
The finance director is keen to announce the company's financial results to the stock
market earlier than last year and in order to facilitate this, he has asked if the audit
could be completed in a shorter timescale. In addition, the company is intending to
propose a final dividend once the financial statements are finalised.
Hilifa Co's finance director has informed the audit engagement partner that one of the
company's non-executive directors (NEDs) has just resigned, and he has enquired if
the partners at Christoff & Co can help Hilifa Co in recruiting a new NED.
Specifically, he has requested the engagement quality control reviewer, who was until
last year the audit engagement partner on Hilifa Co, assist the company in this
recruitment. Christoff & Co also provides taxation services for Hilifa Co in the form of
tax return preparation along with some tax planning advice. The finance director has
recommended to the audit committee of Hilifa Co that this year's audit fee should be
based on the company's profit before tax. At today's date, 20% of last year's audit fee
is still outstanding and was due to be paid three months ago.
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