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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.

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Group Internal Audit

AUDIT PROGRAM

FIXED ASSETS

Client/Project: Audit component Prepared by: Period under review


Control Objective

Date:

Test Of Control

Test Ref.

Ref. Findings

A GENERAL 1. Assess adequacy of relevant Fixed Assets Policies and Procedures. Flowchart/Documentation to gain understanding of the processes contained in this function Ensure that only valid items are capitalised. Agreement of information between FAR and Financial system if two separate systems used. 1. 2. 1. Obtain and review all the relevant policies and procedures for the Fixed Asset Management process. Make an assessment of the adequacy of these policies and procedures in addressing the major aspects of control in this area. Prepare a flowchart of information regarding procedures, approvals and documents used in the fixed asset management process. Scrutinize the fixed assets register for items that should not be capitalized but expensed instead. Compare net book value of fixed assets in FAR to that of the Financial system. q Ensure agreement between the two.

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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.za>

PURCHASING AND MAINTAINING THE CAPITAL ASSETS BUDGET 5. Proper authorization for purchases. 1. On a sample basis, select 5 capital asset acquisitions q Determine if the asset purchase requisition was properly approved q Determine if the purchase requisition was approved in a timely basis per policy q Was the budget reviewed for compliance? q Do requisitions for assets indicate whether the item is an addition, replacement or improvement? q Who makes the above determination? q Are assets recorded in the fixed assets register as such (i.e. Addition, replacement, improvement) Check how many employees are authorized to approve capital asset purchases. The number should be limited to as few as practicably possible to reduce the opportunities to make unauthorized purchases. Inquire whether the capital budgets are compared to actual expenditures on a monthly basis and significant differences analyzed. Because most capital expenditure is anticipated in advance, comparing budget to actual amounts can help detect misuse of funds. Determine whet her the purchasing function is performed independently of the receiving and recording of acquisition functions. Document the division of duties.

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Limit the number of employees authorized to approve capital asset purchases Maintenance of the capital assets budget

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Segregation of duties.

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RECEIVING 7. Efficient receiving of assets 1. On a sample basis select 5 capital asset acquisitions and perform the following procedures: q Check that the delivery note properly date stamped upon receipt. q Check for evidence that the asset was physically inspected and compared to the delivery note. q Was the delivery note forwarded to the accounts department on a timely basis?

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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.za>

CAPITAL ASSET TRACKING AND MONITORING 8. Can company assets be adequately identified for inventory purposes? 9. Establish responsibility for keeping log of inventory numbers 10. Establish how inventory numbers are allocated i.e. Manual or electronic. 11. Establish who has responsibility for ensuring that inventory for capital assets is conducted on a timely basis. 12. Establish how often capital assets are inventoried and what are the procedures.

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Select, on a random sample basis, 5 capital assets from the Fixed Asset Register for appropriate tracking and monitoring and perform the following tests: q Test existence by tracing the 5 items from the Register to the floor. Select on the same basis another 5 items from the floor and trace to the Register. (test for completeness) For the assets chosen in number 1 above, establish whether the assets were tagged with a visible asset number. Perform a general review of the Fixed Asset Register. q Assess completeness with which information regarding the asset is recorded q What type of documentation exists on capital assets purchases? q Does each asset master record include insurance information, warranty information, maintenance schedules and/or leasing information? What type of preventative maintenance standards/policies exists for all types of capital assets? q How is maintenance tracked per individual asset? q Is it tracked? What are the policies for requesting, receiving, tracking and recording a transferred asset? Test the selected capital assets from no 1 above for q Insurance information q Warranty information q Maintenance schedules and/or leasing information

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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.za>

RECORDING AND REPORTING 13. Establish whether the company has formal capitalization and depreciation policies. 14. Establish whether the company has standards for depreciable lives and salvage values. 15. Review adequacy of processes relating to movement of assets between regions/divisions. 1. 2. 3. 4. Select 5 capital assets from the fixed assets register on a random basis. Make inquiries of management/relevant staff about the policies governing the distinction between expenditures to be capitalized and those to be charged to repairs and maintenance. How are detailed asset records maintained? What system is used? (automated IS or manual) From the sample selected above determine if each assets record includes: q Inventory/asset number q Location q Description of the asset q Serial number q Make note of any exceptions to the above. Is the fixed asset register regularly reconciled to the general ledger q Who is responsible for this procedure q How often is this procedure performed? What is the policy for fully depreciated property? q Is it written off or carried in the books until retired from service? How are leased assets accounted for? Do asset records distinguish between leased and owned assets? Are asset values based on historical cost or revalued amounts? q If revalued amounts used, are the proper accounting standards followed?

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Review the policies and procedures relating to movement of assets between regions/divisions/departments 10. Assess and report on adequacy of these procedures as well as the adequacy of reporting of these movements and updating the fixed assets register. 11. Determine from inquiries how often capital asset inventories are taken. 12. Document the process of taking inventory. 13. Obtain records of the latest capital assets inventory and perform the following tests: q Determine who is responsible for taking inventory q Check that the physical inventory records for that period agreed to the theoretical inventory records. q Review the reconciliation above for completeness of information. q Check that the reconciliation was reviewed and approved by an independent senior of the company.

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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.za>

DISPOSALS AND RETIREMENTS

16. Determine whether the company has adequate and effective disposal policies and procedures, which will aid in maintaining accurate fixed asset records.

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Review the policies for disposing of/ retiring capital assets Review the authorization policies for capital asset disposal/ retirements. Review the policies for reporting items that are retired or abandoned. Make a note of how applicable gains/losses are recognized. On a sample basis, select 5 retired capital assets from the fixed assets records and perform the following tests: q Assess whether the assets retirement was properly approved and whether this was done on a timely basis. q Establish whether record of the asset retired was properly removed from the general ledger and fixed asset register (if no longer in use) q Check whether any applicable gains and losses were recognized and reported on a timely basis. Ensure that only a specific employee/employees have access to the asset records for performing the asset retirement function.

DEPRECIATION 17. Test adequacy of depreciation provision. 1. 2. Download file containing monthly depreciation run to excel (dependant on practicality) Sort the spreadsheet by q All assets with zero book value at beginning of the period q Depreciation provided for the month. q Ensure that depreciation provision not overstated by providing depreciation on assets with zero book value. Sort the spreadsheet by: q All assets with a book value at the beginning of the period q All assets for which depreciation provision is zero q Ensure that depreciation provision not understated by not providing depreciation for assets having a book value Compare depreciation rates per policy and procedure manual of VSE to that of the Vodacom Group. q Ensure uniformity between the two. Sort spreadsheet above by: q Asset type/category q Deprecation rates used Review Fixed Assets policy documents and notes depreciation rates specified per asset category. On a sample basis, assess whether correct depreciation rates have been used to calculate the depreciation provision.
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18. Test applicability of depreciation rates used

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Contributed August 3, 2001 by Wilna Meiring <Meirinwi@vodacom.co.za>

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