Independent Auditor’s Report - Circumstances for modified op...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to identify situations that require a modification to the independent auditor’s report. You will distinguish between qualified, adverse, and disclaimer of opinion, explain the reasons for such modifications, and apply the concepts of materiality and pervasiveness when assessing errors or limitations. This knowledge will help you answer ACCA FAU exam questions on audit reports with confidence.

ACCA Foundations in Audit (FAU) Syllabus

For ACCA Foundations in Audit (FAU), you are required to understand when and why an auditor issues a modified audit opinion. This article helps you revise the following key points:

• Circumstances in which the auditor should modify their opinion in the independent auditor’s report
• The types of modified audit opinions: qualified (‘except for’), adverse, and disclaimer
• The meaning and application of materiality and pervasiveness in audit reporting
• How to distinguish between a material misstatement and an inability to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence
• The impact of modifications on the audit report content

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. Which type of audit opinion is given when there is a material but not pervasive misstatement in the financial statements?
   1. Unmodified opinion
   2. Qualified (‘except for’) opinion
   3. Adverse opinion
   4. Disclaimer of opinion
2. When would an auditor issue a disclaimer of opinion?
   1. There is a material misstatement in one note
   2. There is an inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence and the possible effects are material and pervasive
   3. There is an insignificant error in the cash balance
   4. When management corrects all errors before sign-off

3. True or false? An adverse opinion is issued when financial statements as a whole are materially misstated due to issues affecting multiple areas.

4. Briefly explain the term 'pervasive' in the context of modifications to the auditor’s opinion.

Introduction

Most audits conclude with an unmodified (clean) opinion, stating that the financial statements present a true and fair view. However, there are rare situations when this is not appropriate. When auditors find serious problems—such as significant misstatements or limitations during the audit—they may need to issue a modified opinion to alert users. Understanding when and why such modifications are needed, and how they are presented in the independent auditor’s report, is a critical part of the audit process and frequently tested in ACCA FAU exams.

CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING A MODIFIED OPINION

An auditor modifies their opinion only in certain circumstances, usually if:

• There is a material misstatement in the financial statements, or
• The auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence.

The nature and severity of the problem determines the type of modification.

Key Term: modified opinion
An opinion expressed by the auditor that is not unmodified, including qualified, adverse, or disclaimer of opinion.

REASONS FOR MODIFICATION

1. Material Misstatement

If the auditor finds a material misstatement, such as non-compliance with accounting standards (e.g., failure to write down obsolete inventory), and management refuses to correct it, the auditor must decide if the error is also pervasive.

Key Term: material misstatement
An error or omission in the financial statements that could influence the decisions of users.

2. Inability to Obtain Sufficient Appropriate Evidence

If the auditor cannot get enough reliable evidence—such as being denied access to records, not attending an inventory count, or loss of records—this limitation may prevent the auditor forming a proper opinion.

Key Term: sufficient appropriate audit evidence
Information collected by the auditor that is adequate in quantity and quality to support the audit opinion.

Key Term: inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence
A situation where the auditor cannot access enough valid information to form an opinion.

ASSESSING MATERIALITY AND PERVASIVENESS

Materiality relates to the importance of an error or limitation. Pervasiveness describes the extent to which a problem affects the financial statements as a whole.

Key Term: materiality
The significance of an error or omission that could influence the economic decisions of users.

Key Term: pervasiveness
The extent to which a matter affects numerous elements or the financial statements as a whole.

If a problem is material but confined to a single area, it is not pervasive. If it impacts many areas or distorts the overall true and fair view, it is pervasive.

TYPES OF MODIFIED AUDIT OPINIONS

There are three main types of modified opinions:

1. Qualified (‘Except for’) Opinion

This is issued when there is a material misstatement or limitation, but the effect is not pervasive. The auditor’s report states "except for" the specific matter, the statements are true and fair.

2. Adverse Opinion

If the misstatement is both material and pervasive—meaning the financial statements as a whole are unreliable—an adverse opinion is issued. The report clearly states that the financial statements do not present a true and fair view.

3. Disclaimer of Opinion

When the auditor cannot obtain sufficient audit evidence and believes the possible effects are both material and pervasive, they issue a disclaimer of opinion. This means the auditor cannot form, and does not express, any opinion on the financial statements.

Key Term: disclaimer of opinion
The auditor’s statement that no opinion is expressed due to insufficient audit evidence, where the impact could be material and pervasive.

Key Term: adverse opinion
The opinion given when the auditor concludes that material misstatements are so significant and widespread that the financial statements do not present a true and fair view.

Key Term: qualified (‘except for’) opinion
An opinion stating that, except for a specific matter described, the financial statements are otherwise properly presented.

DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE MODIFICATION

The type of opinion depends on whether there is a misstatement or a limitation and whether it is material and/or pervasive. This is summarised below.

The auditor must describe the reasons for the modification in the report, usually under "Basis for Qualified/Adverse/Disclaimer of Opinion".

Worked Example 1.1

A company refuses to write down slow-moving inventory valued at $200,000, although evidence suggests its recoverable value is only $30,000. This affects only inventory and net profit.

What opinion should the auditor issue?

Answer:
The auditor should issue a qualified (‘except for’) opinion if the misstatement is material but not pervasive—for example, if inventory is the only problem area. The report will state that except for the overstatement of inventory, the statements present fairly.

Worked Example 1.2

An auditor is denied access to all bank records and cannot verify cash or loan balances, which are significant. Further, major accounting records are missing.

What is the appropriate opinion?

Answer:
The inability to obtain audit evidence over several key balances is both material and pervasive. The auditor should issue a disclaimer of opinion, explaining they cannot form an opinion due to lack of sufficient evidence.

Worked Example 1.3

A company prepares its accounts on a going concern basis, despite significant evidence of impending liquidation, and refuses to amend disclosures. The issues affect all statements and notes.

What should the auditor do?

Answer:
The misstatement is material and pervasive, as the going concern basis is inappropriate. The auditor should issue an adverse opinion, stating the financial statements do not present a true and fair view.

Exam Warning

Do not confuse a qualified opinion with a disclaimer of opinion. Qualified opinions state "except for" a specific matter; a disclaimer is given when the auditor cannot form any opinion at all because of a lack of evidence over multiple key areas.

Summary

Auditors issue a modified opinion only when justified by a material error or by major limitations in the audit. The exact type depends on the nature and spread of the problem. Clear understanding and correct use of these concepts is essential for the FAU exam.

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• State when an auditor must modify their opinion in the audit report
• Explain the differences between qualified (‘except for’), adverse, and disclaimer of opinion
• Apply the concepts of materiality and pervasiveness to audit problems
• Distinguish between a material misstatement and an inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence
• Identify where to describe reasons for modification in the audit report

Key Terms and Concepts

• modified opinion
• material misstatement
• sufficient appropriate audit evidence
• inability to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence
• materiality
• pervasiveness
• disclaimer of opinion
• adverse opinion
• qualified (‘except for’) opinion