During the audit of City Wide, what should be evaluated regarding accounting policies and estimates made by management?
City_Wide Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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 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 65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Wide's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, during the audit of the consolidated financial statements, the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by City Wide's management should be evaluated. The auditor must also exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
Specifically, the auditor needs to 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. These procedures include examining evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements on a test basis. The auditor also needs to obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances.
Furthermore, the auditor must conclude whether there are conditions or events that raise substantial doubt about City Wide's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period. The auditor is also 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 ensures that all relevant aspects of the financial statements are thoroughly reviewed and assessed for accuracy and reliability.