What is the auditor's responsibility regarding the detection of error in Checkersrallys' financial statements?
Checkersrallys Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
evaluate whether 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 one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued.
Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free of 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 quarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS 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 GAAS, 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 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 obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes their opinion. While reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, it is not absolute, and there is no guarantee that an audit conducted following GAAS (Generally Accepted Auditing Standards) will always detect a material misstatement. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error because fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
In assessing the financial statements, the auditor will exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. They will 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. These procedures include examining evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements on a test basis. The auditor will also obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit to design appropriate audit procedures, but not to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control.
The auditor will evaluate 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 will also conclude whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. Finally, 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.
For a prospective Checkersrallys franchisee, this means that the financial statements have been examined by an independent auditor, but there is still a risk that material misstatements, especially those resulting from fraud, may not be detected. Franchisees should understand the limitations of an audit and consider this when making investment decisions. They should also be aware that the auditor's report provides an opinion on the fairness of the financial statements, but it is not a guarantee of the company's financial health or future performance.