Audit of the Inventory

and Warehousing Cycle

Chapter 21
Learning Objective 1

Describe the business functions

and the related documents and
records in the inventory and
warehousing cycle.
 Flow of Inventory and Costs
Raw Materials Work-in-Process
Beginning Raw Beginning Cost of
inventory materials inventory goods
used manufactured
Purchases Ending
inventory
Ending
inventory
Cost of
Direct Labor Finished Goods goods sold
Actual Applied Beginning Cost of
inventory goods sold
Manufacturing Overhead
Ending
Actual Applied inventory
Learning Objective 2

Describe how e-commerce

affects inventory management.
 How E-Commerce Affects
Inventory Management
The Internet enables companies to provide
complete descriptions of their inventory
on a real-time basis.

The use of the Internet and other e-commerce

applications may lead to financial reporting
risks if access to inventory databases and
systems is not adequately controlled.
Learning Objective 3

Explain the five parts of the audit

of the inventory and warehousing
cycle.
 Functions in the Cycle
Process Receive Store Process Store Ship
purchase raw raw the finished finished
orders materials materials goods goods goods

Put Put Put

Flow Receive Ship
materials materials completed
of raw finished
in in goods in
Inventory materials goods
storage production storage
 Audit of Inventory
Part of audit Cycle in which tested
Acquire and record Acquisition and
raw materials, labor, payment plus
and overhead payroll and personnel
Internally transfer Inventory and
assets and costs warehousing
 Audit of Inventory
Part of audit Cycle in which tested
Ship goods and record Sales and collection
revenue and costs
Physically observe Inventory and
inventory warehousing
Price and compile Inventory and
inventory warehousing
Learning Objective 4

Design and perform audit tests

of cost accounting.
 Cost Accounting Controls

1. Physical controls over raw materials,

work in process, and finished goods inventory

2. Controls over the related costs

 Methodology for Designing Controls
and Substantive Tests
Understand internal control –
cost accounting system

Assess planned control risk –

cost accounting system

Determine extent of testing controls

Design tests of controls and Audit procedures

substantive tests of transactions Sample size
for the cost accounting system
to meet transaction-related Items to select
audit objectives Timing
 Tests of Cost Accounting
 Physical controls over inventory

 Documents and records for transferring inventory

 Perpetual inventory master files

 Unit cost records

Learning Objective 5

Apply analytical procedures to

the accounts in the inventory
and warehousing cycle.
 Analytical Procedures: Inventory
and Warehousing Cycle
Analytical procedure Possible misstatement
Compare gross margin Overstatement or
percentage with that of understatement of
previous years inventory and cost
of goods sold
Compare inventory turnover Obsolete inventory
(cost of goods sold divided by overstatement or
average inventory) with that understatement
of previous year of inventory
 Analytical Procedures: Inventory
and Warehousing Cycle
Analytical procedure Possible misstatement
Compare unit costs of Overstatement or
inventory with those understatement of unit
of previous years costs, which affect
inventory and cost of
goods sold
Compare extended inventory Misstatements in
value with that of previous compilation, unit costs, or
years extensions, which affect
inventory and cost of
goods sold
 Analytical Procedures: Inventory
and Warehousing Cycle
Analytical procedure Possible misstatement
Compare current year Misstatements of unit costs
manufacturing costs with of inventory, especially
those of previous years direct labor and
(variable costs should be manufacturing overhead,
adjusted for changes which affect inventory and
in volume) cost of goods sold
 Methodology for Designing
Tests of Balances – Inventory
Identify client
business risks Phase I
affecting inventory
Set tolerable misstatement
and assess inherent Phase I
risk for inventor
Assess control
risk for Phase I
several cycles
 Methodology for Designing
Tests of Balances – Inventory
Design and perform
tests of controls and
substantive tests Phase II
of transactions
for several cycles
 Methodology for Designing
Tests of Balances – Inventory
Design and perform
analytical procedures Phase III
for inventory

Design tests of Audit procedures

details of inventory Sample size
to satisfy balance- Phase III
related audit Items to select
objectives Timing
Learning Objective 6

Design and perform physical

observation audit tests
for inventory.
 Controls Over Perpetual
Inventory Master Files
 Proper instructions for the physical count
 Supervision by responsible personnel
 Independent interval verification of the counts
 Independent reconciliations of the physical
counts with perpetual inventory master files
 Adequate control over count sheets or tags
Audit Decisions
 Timing

 Sample size

 Selection of items
 Physical Observation Tests

The most important part of the observation of

inventory is determining whether the physical
count is being taken in accordance with the
client’s instructions.
 Balance-related Audit
Objectives
Existence:
Inventory as recorded on tags exist.
Completeness:
Existing inventory is counted and tagged.
Accuracy:
Inventory is counted accurately.
Classification:
Inventory is classified correctly on the tags.
 Balance-Related Audit
Objectives
Cutoff:
Transactions are recorded in the proper period.
Realizable value:
Obsolete and unusable inventory items are
excluded or noted.
Rights:
The client has rights to inventory recorded
on tags.
Learning Objective 7

Design and perform audit tests

of pricing and compilation
for inventory.
Audit of Pricing and
Compilation
Inventory price tests

 Pricing and compilation controls

 Pricing and compilation procedures

 Valuation of inventory
Balance-Related Objectives:
Inventory Pricing and Compilation
 Detail tie-in
 Existence
 Completeness
 Accuracy
 Classification
 Realizable value
 Rights
Valuation of Inventory
 Pricing purchased inventory

 Pricing manufactured inventory

 Cost or market
Learning Objective 8

Integrate the various parts of

the audit of the inventory
and warehousing cycle.
 Interrelationship of Various
Audit Tests
Tests of acquisition
and payment cycle

Raw materials Work in process

Acquisitions of Other manufacturing
raw materials costs

Raw material used Raw material used

 Interrelationship of Various
Audit Tests
Tests of payroll and
personnel cycle

Work in process Work in process

Direct labor Indirect labor
 Interrelationship of Various
Audit Tests
Inventory tests
 Tests of cost accounting records
 Tests of physical inventory observation
 Tests of pricing and compilation

Raw materials Work in process

Ending inventory Ending inventory

Finished goods
Ending inventory
 Interrelationship of Various
Audit Tests
Work in process Finished goods
Cost of goods Cost of goods
manufactured manufactured

Finished goods
Tests of
sales and Cost of goods sold
collection cycle
End of Chapter 21