Assignment title: Management
SAuditing and Assurance Assignment-
Required:
1. You are a part of the team responsible for planning the Woolworths (parent and the
consolidated economic entity) audit engagement for 2016. You have been assigned to gather
relevant background information and prepare a report for a meeting with your audit partner and
audit managers. Your report must address the following issues:
a. What are the major sources of Woolworths revenue?
b. What are the areas in which Woolworths conducts its operations?
c. Which particular laws/regulations (other than financial related categories which include
legislations such as: Corporation Act 2001, Australian taxation laws, etc.) affect its operations?
d. Who are its primary competitors (major and minor)?
e. What is Woolworths market share?
The answers for above questions should be reflective of your in-depth understanding of how the
company operates.
2. Identify and explain SIX significant business risk factors that the auditor needs to consider for
the Woolworth group engagement.
3. Complete the below table
Formula Results
2015
Results
2014
Liquidity
Gearing ratio Total liabilities/total equity
Debt ratio Total liabilities/total
assets
Current ratio Current
assets/current liabilities
Quick ratio Cash and trade and other
receivables/current
liabilities
Profitability
EBIT to sales
(%)
Per annual report (%)
Ordinary
earnings per
share
Per annual report(cents)
Managerial
efficiency
Days sales of
inventory*
{Inventory/cost of
sales}x365
*(This is used
as a liquidity
ratio as well as
being an
indicator of
managerial
efficiency.)
Return on
equity
Per annual report (%)
Cost
of
doing business
Per annual report (%)
Commentary on financial performance: Using the data in above table, as well as your knowledge
of the Woolworths Group and its environment (from your research in
Q.1 and 2 and/or other applicable research) discuss the below factors which have impacted the
Woolworths Group's:
Short-term liquidity
Long-term liquidity
Profitability
Efficiency
Overall conclusion on financial position
4. Based on your business risk analysis (Q. 2), analytical procedures (Q3) and your understanding
of Woolworths Group and its environment, list and explain at least Three accounts to be at risk of
material misstatement (key audit risk areas). You also need to identify the assertion most affected
by the risks identified.
5. Recently Woolworths Group Limited announced that it will be either selling or shutting down its
Master's chain (a joint venture between Woolworths and US partner Lowe's). You need to identify
why it ended up as a bad investment decision for Woolworths Group Limited?