What is the auditor's responsibility in evaluating Checkersrallys' ability to continue as a going concern?
Checkersrallys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In performing an audit in accordance with US GAAS, we:
- Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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.
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 91)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Checkersrallys's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditor's responsibility is to conclude whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. This involves exercising professional judgment and maintaining professional skepticism throughout the audit. The auditor must evaluate if Checkersrallys can continue operating for at least one year after the financial statements are issued.
To reach this conclusion, the auditor must identify and assess 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, including 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 audit procedures, though they do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of Checkersrallys'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. 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 process helps ensure that the financial statements provide a fair and accurate representation of Checkersrallys's financial position and ability to continue as a viable business.