During the audit, what level of judgment and skepticism is Aerus' auditor expected to exercise?
Aerus Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that
includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the financial statements.
In performing an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, we:
- Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements.
- Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 74–305)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditor is expected to exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. This means the auditor should have a questioning mind and critically assess the audit evidence.
The auditor's responsibilities include identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. They design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, such as examining evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements on a test basis. The auditor also obtains an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit to design appropriate procedures, though they do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of Aerus's internal control.
Furthermore, the auditor evaluates the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as the overall presentation of the financial statements. They also conclude whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about Aerus's ability to continue as a going concern. These factors ensure that the auditor approaches the audit with a critical and objective mindset, providing a reasonable level of assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement.