Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Audit Planning Report for the year ended December 31, 2018
Executive summary
Audit and business risk
Our audit is risk-focused. In planning our audit we have taken into account key areas of focus for financial reporting. These include:
– Tangible Capital Assets & Amortization expense,
– Accounts Payable & Accrued Liabilities,
– Salary & Wages Expense including payroll accruals
KPMG team
The KPMG team will be led by Matthew Betik. Brendan Hall will be the Senior Manager on the file assisting the audit team to complete the audit and preparation of financial statements.
Effective communication
We are committed to transparent and thorough reporting of issues to senior management, and the Board.
Audit Materiality
Materiality has been determined based on prior year total revenue which approximates $26 million dollars. We have reviewed the scope of work and have determined materiality to be $650,000 for the year ending December 31, 2018.
Independence
We are independent and have extensive quality control and conflict checking processes in place. We provide complete transparency on all services and follow Audit Committee approved protocols.
Current developments
Appendix 4 outlines current developments with respect to accounting standards that may have an impact on the Health Unit in future periods.
This Audit Planning Report should not be used for any other purpose or by anyone other than the Board. KPMG shall have no responsibility or liability for loss or damages or claims, if any, to or by any third party as this Audit Planning Report has not been prepared for, and is not intended for, and should not be used by, any third party or for any other purpose.
Audit approach
Professional standards presume the risk of fraudulent revenue recognition and the risk of management override of controls exist in all companies.
The risk of fraudulent recognition can be rebutted, but the risk of management override of control cannot, since management is typically in a unique position to perpetrate fraud because of its ability
to manipulate accounting records and prepare fraudulent financial statements by overriding controls that otherwise appear to be operating effectively
| Professional requirements | Why | Our audit approach |
|---|---|---|
|
Fraud risk from revenue recognition |
This is a presumed fraud risk |
Verifying appropriate revenue cut-off to ensure revenue has been recorded in the correct year. |
|
Fraud risk from management override of controls |
This is a presumed fraud risk. We have not identified any specific additional risks of management override relating to this audit. |
As the risk is not rebuttable, our audit methodology incorporates the required procedures in professional standards to address this risk. These procedures include testing of journal entries and other adjustments, performing a retrospective review of estimates |
| Other areas of focus | Why | Our audi approach |
|---|---|---|
|
Tangible Capital Assets |
Significant due to size of account and the magnitude of activities during the year (additions, disposals, etc…) |
|
|
Payroll Expenditures |
Represents the largest class of expenditures for the Health Unit |
|
|
Accounts Payable |
Significant due to the size of the account and the risk of completeness at year-end |
|
|
Cash |
Significant bank balances maintained (in excess of $7.6M PY) |
|
Materiality
Professional standards require us to re-assess materiality at the completion of our audit based on period-end results or new information in order to confirm whether the amount determined for planning purposes remains appropriate.
Our assessment of misstatements, if any, in amounts or disclosures at the completion of our audit will include the consideration of both quantitative and qualitative factors.
The first step is the determination of the amounts used for planning purposes as follows.
The determination of materiality requires professional judgment and is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments including the nature of account balances and financial statement disclosures.
| Materiality determination | Comments | Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Metrics |
Based off of total revenue |
$26M |
|
Benchmark |
Based on prior year balance |
$26M |
|
Materiality |
Determined to plan and perform the audit and to evaluate the effects of identified misstatements on the audit and of any uncorrected misstatements on the financial statements. The corresponding amount for the prior year’s audit was $650,000. |
$650,000 |
|
% of Benchmark |
Typically between the range of 1-3% |
2.5% |
|
Performance materiality |
Used 75% of materiality, and used primarily to determine the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures. |
$485,000 |
|
Audit Misstatement Posting Threshold (AMPT) |
Threshold used to accumulate misstatements identified during the audit. Reclassification audit misstatement posting threshold has been set at $90,000. |
$32,000 |
Value for fees
The value of our audit services
We recognize that the primary objective of our engagement is the completion of an audit of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with professional standards. We also believe that our role as external auditor of the Health Unit and the access to information and people in conjunction with our audit procedures, place us in a position to provide other forms of value. We know that you expect this of us.
We want to ensure we understand your expectations. To facilitate a discussion (either in the upcoming meeting or in separate discussions), we have outlined some of the attributes of our team and our processes that we believe enhance the value of our audit service. We recognize that certain of these items are necessary components of a rigorous audit. We welcome your feedback.
- Extensive industry experience on our audit team – as outlined in our team summary, the senior members of our team have extensive experience in audits of municipal clients and municipally owned businesses. This experience ensures that we are well positioned to identify and discuss observations and insights that are important to you;
In determining the fees for our services, we have considered the nature, extent and timing of our planned audit procedures as described above. Our fees for the 2018 audit will be in accordance with our quoted fees in the most recent proposal for external audit services. The fee for 2018 are as follows:
Financial Statement Audit: $17,200
Program Audit: $2,086
Matters that could impact our fee
The proposed fees outlined above are based on the assumptions described in the engagement letter. The critical assumptions, and factors that cause a change in our fees, include:
- Significant changes in the nature or size of the operations of the Company beyond those contemplated in our planning processes;
- Changes in professional standards or requirements arising as a result of changes in professional standards or the interpretation thereof;
- Changes in the time of our work;
Audit cycle and timetable
Our key activities during the year are designed to achieve our one principal objective:
To provide a robust audit, efficiently delivered by a high quality team focused on key issues.
Our timeline is in line with prior year, with significant risks taken into account during planning.
Ongoing communication with Audit Committee and Senior Management:
- Strategy (Fall 2018)
- Planning (Dec 2018)
- Interim fieldwork (Audit plan discussion and internal planning for audit in winter 2019. Audit Plan presented Feb 12, 2019).
- Final fieldwork and reporting (Spring 2019. Audit findings discussion and issuance of audit report on financial statements – April, 2019).
- Statutory / Other Reporting
- Debrief
Appendix 1: Audit quality and risk management
KPMG maintains a system of quality control designed to reflect our drive and determination to deliver independent, unbiased advice and opinions, and also meet the requirements of Canadian professional standards.
Quality control is fundamental to our business and is the responsibility of every partner and employee. The following diagram summarises the six key elements of our quality control systems.
Visit our Audit Quality Resources page for more information including access to our audit quality report, Audit quality: Our hands-on process.
Audit quality and risk management:
- Independence, integrity, ethics and objectivity
- Personnel management
- Acceptance & continuance of clients / engagements
- Engagement performance standards
- Independent monitoring
- Other risk management quality controls
Other controls include:
- Technical department and specialist resources provide real-time support to audit teams in the field.
- We conduct regular reviews of engagements and partners. Review teams are independent and the work of every audit partner is reviewed at least once every three years.
- We have policies and guidance to ensure that work performed by engagement personnel meets applicable professional standards, regulatory requirements and the firm’s standards of quality.
- All KPMG partners and staff are required to act with integrity and objectivity and comply with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards at all times.
- We do not offer services that would impair our independence.
- The processes we employ to help retain and develop people include:
- Assignment based on skills and experience;
- Rotation of partners;
- Performance evaluation;
- Development and training; and
- Appropriate supervision and coaching.
- We have policies and procedures for deciding whether to accept or continue a client relationship or to perform a specific engagement for that client.
- Existing audit relationships are reviewed annually and evaluated to identify instances where we should discontinue our professional association with the client.
Appendix 2: KPMG’s audit approach and methodology
Technology-enabled audit workflow (eAudIT)
Engagement Setup
- Tailor the eAudIT workflow to your circumstances
- Access global knowledge specific to your industry
- Team selection and timetable
Completion
- Tailor the eAudIT workflow to your circumstances
- Update risk assessment
- Perform completion procedures and overall evaluation of results and financial statements
- Form and issue audit opinion on financial statements
- Obtain written representation from management
- Required Council communications
- Debrief audit process
Risk Assessment
- Tailor the eAudIT workflow to your circumstances
- Understand your business and financial processes
- Identify significant risks
- Determine audit approach
- Evaluate design and implementation of internal controls (as required or considered necessary)
Testing
- Tailor the eAudIT workflow to your circumstances
- Perform tests of operating effectiveness of internal controls (as required or considered necessary)
- Perform substantive tests
Appendix 3: Required communications
In accordance with professional standards, there are a number of communications that are required during the course of our audit. These include:
- Engagement letter – the objectives of the audit, our responsibilities in carrying out our audit, as well as management’s responsibilities, are set out in the engagement letter and any subsequent amendment letters
- Audit planning report – as attached
- Required inquiries – professional standards require that during the planning of our audit we obtain your views on risk of fraud and other matters. We make similar inquiries to management as part of our planning process; responses to these will assist us in planning our overall audit strategy and audit approach accordingly
- Management representation letter – we will obtain from management certain representations at the completion of the annual audit. In accordance with professional standards, copies of the representation letter will be provided to the Audit Committee
- Audit findings report – at the completion of our audit, we will provide a report to the Audit Committee
- CPAB Big Four Firm Public Report (November 2015) – Please refer to http://www.cpab- ccrc.ca/Documents/Annual%20Reports/CPAB_2015_Big%20Four_Report_E N_Final.pdf
Appendix 4: Current Developments
|
PS 3280, Asset Retirement Obligations |
This standard describes how to account for and report asset retirement obligations associated with tangible capital assets. This standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning on or after April 1, 2021 (the Health Unit’s December 31, 2022 yearend). Implications: The Health Unit will have to identify if they have any asset retirement obligations. |
|
PS 3041, Portfolio investments |
This section revises and replaces PS 3040, Portfolio Investments. It describes how to account for and report portfolio investments. |
|
PS 3400, Revenue |
Currently the Public Sector Accounting Handbook has two sections that address two major sources or revenue, government transfers and tax revenue. This new standard addresses the recognition, measurement and presentation of revenues that are common in the public sector other than government transfers and tax revenue. PSAB has approved this section, in the fourth quarter of 2018 the final standard will be released. |
