What You Need to Know About Auditing Receivables & Revenues

By Charles Hall | Auditing

Mar 23

Today we take a look at auditing receivables and revenues.

Revenues are the lifeblood of any organization. Without cash inflows, the entity may cease to exist. So, it’s important that each business generate sales or some type of revenue. For you, the auditor, it’s important to verify the revenue.

Along with revenues, auditors need to prove receivables. Why? Some companies manipulate their earnings by inflating their period-end receivables.  When trade receivables increase, revenues increase. So, a company can increase its net income by recording nonexistent receivables.

In this post, we’ll answer questions such as, “should I confirm receivables or examine subsequent receipts?” and “why should I assume that revenues are overstated?”

Auditing Receivables and Revenues

How to Audit Receivables and Revenues — An Overview

In this post, we will cover the following:

  1. Primary accounts receivable and revenue assertions
  2. Accounts receivable and revenue walkthrough
  3. Directional risk for accounts receivable and revenues
  4. Primary risks for accounts receivable and revenues
  5. Common accounts receivable and revenue control deficiencies
  6. Risk of material misstatement for accounts receivable and revenues
  7. Substantive procedures for accounts receivable and revenues
  8. Common accounts receivable and revenue work papers

Primary Assertions

First, let’s look at assertions.

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The primary relevant accounts receivable and revenue assertions are:

  • Existence and occurrence
  • Completeness
  • Accuracy
  • Valuation
  • Cutoff

Of these assertions, I believe—in general—existence (of receivables), occurrence (of revenues) and valuation (of receivables) are most important. So, clients assert that:

  • Receivables exist
  • Receivables are properly valued, and
  • Revenues occurred

Accuracy comes into play if the customer has complex receivable transactions. Additionally, the cutoff assertion is often relevant, especially if the client has incentives to inflate the receivables balance (e.g., bonuses triggered at certain income levels).

When auditing receivables and revenues, consider these assertions.

Accounts Receivable and Revenue Walkthrough

Second, think about performing your risk assessment work in light of the relevant assertions.

As we perform walkthroughs of accounts receivable and revenue, we are looking for ways they are overstated (though they can also be understated as well). We are asking, “What can go wrong, whether intentionally or by mistake?”

Revenue walkthrough

In performing accounts receivable and revenue walkthroughs, ask questions such as:

  • Are receivables subsidiary ledgers reconciled to the general ledger?
  • Is a consistent allowance methodology used?
  • What method is used to compute the allowance and is it reasonable?
  • Who records and approves the allowance?
  • Who reviews aged receivables?
  • What controls ensure that revenues are recorded in the right period?
  • Is there adequate segregation of duties between persons recording, billing, and collecting payments? Who reconciles the related records?
  • What software is used to track billings and collections?
  • Are there any decentralized collection locations?
  • When are revenues recognized and is the recognition in accordance with the reporting framework?
  • What receivables and revenue reports are provided to the owners or the governing body?

As we ask questions, we also inspect documents (e.g., aged receivable reports) and make observations (e.g., who collects the payments?).

If controls weaknesses exist, we create audit procedures to respond to them. For example, if—during the walkthrough—we see inconsistent allowance methods, we will perform more substantive work to prove the allowance balances.

Directional Risk for Accounts Receivable and Revenues

Third, consider directional risk when auditing receivables and revenues.

How to audit receivables

The directional risk for accounts receivable and revenue is an overstatement. So, in performing your audit procedures, perform procedures to ensure that accounts receivables and revenues are not overstated. For example, review the cutoff procedures at period-end. Be sure that no subsequent period revenues are recorded in the current fiscal year. 

Audit standards require that auditors review estimates for management bias. So, consider the current year allowance and bad debt write-offs in light of the prior year allowance. This retrospective review allows the auditor to see if the current estimate is fair. The threat is that management might reduce allowances to inflate earnings.

Moreover, the audit standards state there is a presumption (unless rebutted) that revenues are overstated. Therefore, we are to assume revenues are overstated, unless we can explain why they are not.

Primary Risks for Accounts Receivable and Revenues

Fourth, think about the risks related to receivables and revenues.

The main risks are:

  1. The company intentionally overstates accounts receivable and revenue 
  2. Company employees steal collections 
  3. Without proper cutoff, an overstatement of accounts receivables and revenue occurs 
  4. Allowances are understated
  5. Revenue recognition

Risks related to revenue also vary from company to company. For example, one telecommunications company might sell bundled services while another may not. Revenue recognition is more complex (risky) for the company selling bundled services.

Also, revenue risks vary from industry to industry. For example, the allowance for uncollectible is normally a high risk area for healthcare entities, but may not be so for other industries.

Common Accounts Receivable and Revenue Control Deficiencies

Fifth, think about the control deficiencies noted during your walkthroughs and other risk assessment work.

In smaller entities, the following control deficiencies are common:

  • One person performs one or more of the following: 
    • bills customers
    • receipts monies
    • makes deposits 
    • records those payments in the general ledger
    • reconciles the related bank account
  • The person computing allowances doesn’t possess sufficient knowledge to do so correctly
  • No surprise audits of receivables and revenues 
  • Multiple people work from one cash drawer
  • Receipts are not appropriately issued
  • Receipts are not reconciled to daily collections
  • Daily receipts are not reviewed by a second person
  • No one reconciles subsidiary receivable ledgers to the general ledger
  • Individuals with the ability to adjust customer receivable accounts (with no second-person approval or review) also collect cash 
  • Inconsistent bad debt recognition with no second-person review process
  • The revenue recognition policy may not be clear and may not be in accordance with the reporting framework

Risk of Material Misstatement for Accounts Receivable and Revenues

Sixth, now it’s time to assess your risks.

In smaller engagements, I usually assess control risk at high for each assertion. Controls must be tested to support any lower control risk assessments. Assessing risks at high is often more efficient than testing controls.

When control risk is assessed at high, inherent risk becomes the driver of the risk of material misstatement (inherent risk X control risk = risk of material misstatement). The assertions that concern me the most (those with higher inherent risks) are existence, occurrence, and valuation. So my RMM for these assertions is usually moderate to high.

My response to higher risk assessments is to perform certain substantive procedures: namely, receivable confirmations and tests of subsequent collections. As RMM increases, I send more confirmations and examine more subsequent collections.

Additionally, I thoroughly test management’s allowance computation. I pay particular attention to uncollected amounts beyond 90 days. Uncollected amounts beyond 90 days should usually be heavily reserved. And amounts beyond 120 days should—generally—be fully reserved.  

Substantive Procedures

And finally, it’s time to determine your substantive procedures in light of your identified risks.

how to audit receivables

My customary audit procedures when auditing receivables and revenues are as follows:

  1. Confirm accounts receivable balances (especially larger amounts)
  2. Vouch subsequent period collections, making sure the subsequent collections relate to the period-end balances (sampling can be used)
  3. Thoroughly review allowance computations to see if they are consistent with prior years; compare allowance percentages to industry averages; agree to supporting documentation (e.g., histories of uncollectible amounts); recompute the related numbers
  4. Create comparative summaries of all significant revenue accounts, comparing the current year amounts with historical data (three or more years if possible)
  5. Create summaries of average per customer income and compare with prior years (you may want to do this by specific revenue categories)
  6. Compute average profit margins by sales categories and compare with previous years

Additionally, I add extended procedures to my audit program if there are high risks of material misstatement such as significant risks. For example, if a company sells bundled goods, I test how the company apportions the revenue recognition. Or if there are no segregation of duties, I add fraud-related procedures such as testing daily cash collections. The additional procedures address the root of the identified risks.

Revenue work papers

Common Work Papers

My accounts receivable and revenue work papers frequently include the following:

  • An understanding of accounts receivable and revenue-related internal controls
  • Risk assessment of accounts receivable and revenue at the assertion level
  • Documentation of any control deficiencies
  • Accounts receivable and revenue audit program
  • A detail of receivables comprising amounts on the general ledger
  • Copies of confirmations sent
  • A summary of confirmations received
  • Subsequent collections work papers
  • Allowance work paper
  • Revenue comparison work papers

In Summary

In this chapter, we’ve looked at the following for receivables and revenues:

  • How to perform risk assessment procedures,
  • Relevant assertions,
  • Risk assessments (as a result of the risk assessment procedures), and
  • Substantive procedures

Next, we’ll see how to audit investments.

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About the Author

Charles Hall is a practicing CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. For the last thirty-five years, he has primarily audited governments, nonprofits, and small businesses. He is the author of The Little Book of Local Government Fraud Prevention, The Why and How of Auditing, Audit Risk Assessment Made Easy, and Preparation of Financial Statements & Compilation Engagements. He frequently speaks at continuing education events. Charles consults with other CPA firms, assisting them with auditing and accounting issues.

  • […] review the revenue cycle processes and controls with a walkthrough. Consider the related risks of material misstatement, and plan your tests. […]

  • […] See my full article regarding how to audit receivables and revenues. […]

  • Charles Hall says:

    Glad you did, Noah.

  • Noah Kawa says:

    I search for Auditing Accounts Receivable and Revenue Walkthrough questions and I get everything I need, appreciated it very much.

  • Michael Muramuzi says:

    Hi Charles,
    I appreciate your step by step guidance and would want this looked at in the same manner but when it come to public sector audit Revenue is given little or no attention.
    Majorly because Governments are the biggest sources of revenue and they seem not to bother about the sourcing of these revenues.

  • Charles Hall says:

    I am glad, Courage. Thanks.

  • Charles Hall says:

    Thanks, Charles. Kind of you.

  • Charles Hall says:

    Clifford, you are correct. There is no inventory chapter. Sorry, but I have not written anything regarding inventory.

  • Clifford Blanche says:

    I have noticed that you did not cover the audit of inventory in your book. Where can I find your work on the audit of inventory?

  • CHARLES KABUI says:

    CPA CHARLES Thankyou for sharing your auditing knowledge .Great information on how to audit receivables and revenue ,very helpful.
    Thankyou

  • Courage Anani (CA, Ghana) says:

    Thanks CPA Charles, your post is insightful. I have gained a great direction for my next audit assignment on reconciling customer balances with tally cards of our sales force.

  • Charles Hall says:

    Thank you, John. I wish you well as you start your career. It’s an exciting time to be in public accounting. So many possibilities.

  • John R. Diaz says:

    Hello Mr. Hall,

    Thank you for 30-plus years of your audit knowledge. During my research, I have often come across your blog and found the content most helpful.

    I’m in my last class in obtaining my Masters in Accounting w/a concentration in Auditing. I will order your book now however, I have this premonition, I should have ordered your book sooner. Great content, I look forward to reading more.

    John R. Diaz

  • Charles Hall says:

    Thanks, Anety. Glad you found the article helpful. Blessings. Charles

  • Anety says:

    Thanks sir for your kind heart
    Ofcourse audit of revenue was very tough to me but now I really understand it very well
    May God bless you more sir🍓🍓

  • Charles Hall says:

    Thanks, Robert.

  • Robert says:

    Greetings

    CPA Charles Hall

    Thank you for the invaluable advice.

    Robert Majara

  • Charles Hall says:

    Thanks for the kind words, Maggie. I am so glad you found it helpful. Have a good day.

  • Maggie Cox says:

    Well written post, I found this post through a google search when trying to get other perspectives on applicable risks to the accounts receivable process. I appreciated the very straightforward comprehensive, but precise focus on the subject. I am working on improving various audit programs I utilize and how I structure work papers and this article helps me understand relevant risks and areas of consideration for accounts receivable.

    Thanks!

  • Thank you, Charles, for your informative and educational post.

  • Charles Hall says:

    Yes, Fausto. The AICPA is definitely leaning into risk assessment. Thanks for your kind comments.

  • Excellent post Charles. You provide a logical and practical approach to auditing receivables/revenues. I recently received a peer review update from the AICPA which made it clear that peer review will be focusing heavily on proper risk assessment from planning to the audit program through the procedures. Auditors would do well to follow your straight forward approach. Thanks again!

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