What is the auditor's responsibility regarding internal controls during the audit of Browns Chicken?
Browns_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In performing an audit in accordance with generally accepted accounting 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 Brown's Chicken, LLC'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 Brown's Chicken, LLC's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
We are required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control related matters that we identified during the audit.
Source: Item 21 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (FDD page 42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Browns Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditor's responsibility regarding internal controls is to obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit. This understanding is used to design audit procedures that are appropriate for the circumstances. However, the audit is not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of Browns Chicken's internal control, and the auditor will not express such an opinion.
The auditor's focus is on designing audit procedures that address the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. Understanding internal controls helps the auditor assess these risks and determine the necessary audit steps. The auditor's procedures include examining evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements on a test basis.
Furthermore, the auditor is required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control related matters identified during the audit. This communication ensures that relevant parties are informed of any important issues that arise during the audit process.