factual

What is the auditor's objective in auditing Fly Fitness's financial statements?

Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

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 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, including omissions, are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable use based on the financial statements.

In performing an audit 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\neffectiveness of Fly Fitness Franchise LLC's internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is\nexpressed.
  • 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 Fly Fitness Franchise LLC's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.

We are required to communicate those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and time 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 44)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditor's primary objective is to gain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements, whether caused by fraud or error. The auditor also aims to issue a report that includes their opinion on the financial statements. This means the auditor assesses if the financial information accurately reflects Fly Fitness's financial position and performance.

However, the FDD clarifies that reasonable assurance is not absolute. An audit conducted according to generally accepted auditing standards does not guarantee the detection of every material misstatement. The risk of not detecting a misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than that of error because fraud may involve intentional concealment or misrepresentation.

The auditor's responsibilities include exercising professional judgment and skepticism, identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement, obtaining an understanding of internal controls, evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies, and concluding on Fly Fitness's ability to continue as a going concern. They are also required to communicate significant audit findings and internal control matters to those charged with governance.

For a prospective Fly Fitness franchisee, this information indicates the level of scrutiny applied to the franchisor's financial statements. While an audit provides a degree of confidence in the accuracy of the financials, it is not a guarantee. Franchisees should still carefully review the financial statements and consider seeking independent financial advice.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.