When determining the need to use the work of an expert the auditor would consider the following excep?

Auditor expert definition

An individual or organization possessing expertise in a field other than accounting or auditing, whose work in that field is used by the auditor to assist the auditor in obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence. An auditor’s expert may be either an auditor’s internal expert who is a partner or staff, including temporary staff, of the auditor’s firm or a network firm, or an auditor’s external expert.

Scope of this ISA 620

ISA 620 deals with the auditor’s responsibilities relating to the work of an individual or organization in a field of expertise other than accounting or auditing, when that work is used to assist the auditor in obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence.

The Auditor’s Responsibility for the Audit Opinion

The auditor has sole responsibility for the audit opinion expressed, and that responsibility is not reduced by the auditor’s use of the work of an auditor’s expert. Nonetheless, if the auditor using the work of an auditor’s expert, having followed this ISA, concludes that the work of that expert is adequate for the auditor’s purposes, the auditor may accept that expert’s findings or conclusions in the expert’s field as appropriate audit evidence.

Effective Date on or after 15 December 2009

Objective

The objectives of the auditor are:

• To determine whether to use the work of an auditor’s expert; and
• If using the work of an auditor’s expert, to determine whether that work is adequate for the auditor’s purposes.

Definitions

For definitions refer definitions section.

Requirements

Determining the Need for an Auditor’s Expert

If expertise in a field other than accounting or auditing is necessary to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence, the auditor shall determine whether to use the work of an auditor’s expert.

Nature, Timing and Extent of Audit Procedures

In determining the nature, timing and extent of those procedures, the auditor shall consider matters including;

• The nature of the matter to which that expert’s work relates;
• The risks of material misstatement in the matter to which that expert’s work relates;
• The significance of that expert’s work in the context of the audit;
• The auditor’s knowledge of and experience with previous work performed by that expert; and
• Whether that expert is subject to the auditor’s firm’s quality control policies and procedures.

The Competence, Capabilities and Objectivity of the Auditor’s Expert

The auditor shall evaluate whether the auditor’s expert has the necessary competence, capabilities and objectivity for the auditor’s purposes. In the case of an auditor’s external expert, the evaluation of objectivity shall include inquiry regarding interests and relationships that may create a threat to that expert’s objectivity.

Obtaining an Understanding of the Field of Expertise of the Auditor’s Expert

The auditor shall obtain a sufficient understanding of the field of expertise of the auditor’s expert to enable the auditor to;

• Determine the nature, scope and objectives of that expert’s work for the auditor’s purposes; and
• Evaluate the adequacy of that work for the auditor’s purposes.

Agreement with the Auditor’s Expert

The auditor shall agree, in writing when appropriate, on the following matters with the auditor’s expert:

• The nature, scope and objectives of that expert’s work;
• The respective roles and responsibilities of the auditor and that expert;
• The nature, timing and extent of communication between the auditor and that expert, including the form of any report to be provided by that expert; and
• The need for the auditor’s expert to observe confidentiality requirements.

Evaluating the Adequacy of the Auditor’s Expert’s Work

The auditor shall evaluate the adequacy of the auditor’s expert’s work for the auditor’s purposes, including:

• The relevance and reasonableness of that expert’s findings or conclusions, and their consistency with other audit evidence;
• If that expert’s work involves use of significant assumptions and methods, the relevance and reasonableness of those assumptions and methods in the circumstances; and
• If that expert’s work involves the use of source data that is significant to that expert’s work, the relevance, completeness, and accuracy of that source data.

If the auditor determines that the work of the auditor’s expert is not adequate for the auditor’s purposes, the auditor shall:

• Agree with that expert on the nature and extent of further work to be performed by that expert; or
• Perform additional audit procedures appropriate to the circumstances.

Reference to the Auditor’s Expert in the Auditor’s Report

The auditor shall not refer to the work of an auditor’s expert in an auditor’s report containing an unmodified opinion unless required by law or regulation to do so. If such reference is required by law or regulation, the auditor shall indicate in the auditor’s report that the reference does not reduce the auditor’s responsibility for the auditor’s opinion.

If the auditor makes reference to the work of an auditor’s expert in the auditor’s report because such reference is relevant to an understanding of a modification to the auditor’s opinion, the auditor shall indicate in the auditor’s report that such reference does not reduce the auditor’s responsibility for that opinion.

When determining the need to use the work of an expert the auditor would consider the following?

What should the auditor consider before relying on the work of an expert?

When may the auditor refer to an experts work in the audit report?

When might an auditor use an expert opinion?