What ethical responsibilities are the auditors of Remax required to meet in relation to their audits?
Remax 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 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.
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 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 108–334)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Remax's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the auditors performing audits must adhere to several ethical responsibilities. These responsibilities are centered around maintaining professional judgment and skepticism, assessing risks of material misstatement, and understanding internal controls. The auditors must also evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management. These procedures are designed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the financial statements.
Specifically, the auditors are required to exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. This means they must remain objective and critically assess the information provided to them. They need to 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.
Furthermore, the auditors must obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. However, the auditors are not required to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control. The auditors must 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. Finally, the auditors must 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.
Remax's auditors are 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 communication ensures transparency and accountability in the audit process. These ethical responsibilities are in line with standard auditing practices and aim to provide assurance that the financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.