Question

Bling-Bling Jewellery Company Limited (“BB”) has been engaging in selling jewellery. It keeps a substantial amount of gem stones as inventory. The gem stones are recognized as raw material in the financial statements, and the amount of the gem stones is considered as material for the financial statements. Lee, Wong & Partners (“Lee Wong”) is the auditor of BB for its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. Michael Lau, the CFO of BB, understands that Lee Wong also provides valuation services. He proposes to the audit partner to invite Lee Wong to provide an independent valuation report of the gem stones and the valuation fee would be around 30% of the proposed audit fee for the year ended 31 December 2020. Meanwhile, the proposed audit fee for the year ended 31 December 2020 would be reduced by 20%. If the audit fee is not reduced, BB may engage another audit firm to be the auditor of the company instead.

Required: (a) Identify the ethical issues faced by Lee Wong and propose appropriate safeguards to respond to each ethical issue. After Lee Wong finishes the audit for BB’s financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019, Michael invites the audit team for dinner as a token of appreciation. A box of six red wines is served during the dinner and two bottles are consumed. Michael gives the remaining four bottles to the audit team after the dinner.

Required: (b) Explain whether the audit team can accept the wine left over at the dinner. Subsequent to the financial year ended 31 December 2020, BB has opened an online shop to attract more customers. However, there have been many news reports that customers receive fake gem stones when they purchase from the online shop. They feel cheated and would take legal action against BB. Before the case has been put to the court, the CEO has transferred all the assets of BB to a company controlled by his relative.

Required: (c) Determine the areas that Lee Wong would consider in assessing whether to continue the existing audit engagement with BB.

Answer 1

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