Auditing
CHAPTER
AUDIT PLANNING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
THE FALL OF ENRON: DID ANYONE UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS?
8
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to
8-1 Discuss why adequate audit planning is essential. Make client acceptance decisions and perform initial audit planning. Gain an understanding of the client’s business and industry. Assess client business risk. Perform preliminary analytical procedures. State the purposes of analytical procedures and the timing of each purpose. Select the most appropriate analytical procedure from among the five major types. Compute common financial ratios. 8-2 8-3
The bankruptcy of Enron Corporation, at one time the nation’s largest energy wholesaling company, represents the biggest corporate collapse in American history. Despite being listed as No. 7 on the Fortune 500 list with a market capitalization of $75 billion before its collapse, the meltdown of Enron was rapid. The fall began in October 2001 when Enron officials reported a shocking $618 million quarterly loss related to allegedly mysterious and hidden related party partnerships with company insiders. Then, in early November 2001, company officials were forced to admit that they had falsely claimed almost $600 million in earnings dating back to 1997, requiring the restatement of four years of audited financial statements. By the end of 2001, the company was in bankruptcy. Enron was created in 1985 out of a merger of two gas pipelines, and was a pioneer in trading natural gas and electricity in the newly deregulated utilities markets. In its earlier years, Enron made its money from hard assets like pipelines. However, by the end of the 1990s, 80% of Enron’s earnings came from a more vague business known as “wholesale energy operations and services.” Enron had built new markets, such as trading of weather securities. In early 2001, speculation about Enron’s business dealings began to surface. One highly regarded investment banker publicly
AUDIT PLANNING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
THE FALL OF ENRON: DID ANYONE UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS?
8
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to
8-1 Discuss why adequate audit planning is essential. Make client acceptance decisions and perform initial audit planning. Gain an understanding of the client’s business and industry. Assess client business risk. Perform preliminary analytical procedures. State the purposes of analytical procedures and the timing of each purpose. Select the most appropriate analytical procedure from among the five major types. Compute common financial ratios. 8-2 8-3
The bankruptcy of Enron Corporation, at one time the nation’s largest energy wholesaling company, represents the biggest corporate collapse in American history. Despite being listed as No. 7 on the Fortune 500 list with a market capitalization of $75 billion before its collapse, the meltdown of Enron was rapid. The fall began in October 2001 when Enron officials reported a shocking $618 million quarterly loss related to allegedly mysterious and hidden related party partnerships with company insiders. Then, in early November 2001, company officials were forced to admit that they had falsely claimed almost $600 million in earnings dating back to 1997, requiring the restatement of four years of audited financial statements. By the end of 2001, the company was in bankruptcy. Enron was created in 1985 out of a merger of two gas pipelines, and was a pioneer in trading natural gas and electricity in the newly deregulated utilities markets. In its earlier years, Enron made its money from hard assets like pipelines. However, by the end of the 1990s, 80% of Enron’s earnings came from a more vague business known as “wholesale energy operations and services.” Enron had built new markets, such as trading of weather securities. In early 2001, speculation about Enron’s business dealings began to surface. One highly regarded investment banker publicly