Problem
You are an audit manager with Clarke & Johnson (CJI). For the past years CJ has been the auditor of luxury Travel Holidays LTD (LTH), a travel company. Geoff, the audit partner, has asked you the to contact Chris, LTH's CEO, with a view to CJ being re-engaged as the auditor for the upcoming audit of the 30 June 2015 financial report.
Geoff has also indicated that intends to allocate Michael, a first-year accountant, and Annette, an accountant in CJ's tax advisory department, to the LTH audit for the first time. Geoff suggested that you discuss the audit with each of these staff, with a view to identifying any independence issues. You held talks with Chris, Michael and Annette of these conversations were as follows:
1. Conversation with Chris, situation 1
Chris stated: ‘The board of directors were impressed with last year's audit and would like to propose reappointing CJ as the auditor of the 30 June 2015 financial report audit. The board would also like to invite Geoff to give a speech about LTH at the next travel agency seminar, to assist in promoting LTH's business to attract more investors.
I understand that this is outside CJ's normal practice; however, the board expressed the view that it will be very difficult for LTH to continue any business engagements with CJ should Geoff refuse to provide such assistance'.
2. Conversation with Chris, situation 2
Chris stated: ‘ To express our sincerity towards CJ and Geoff, and to maintain the good relationship in anticipation of another smooth audit for 2015, LTH would like to present a complimentary 14-day holiday package voucher for four people to the Greek isles for both Geoff's and your family. All expenses, including accommodation and travelling cost, will be paid by LTH'.
3. Conversation with Michael
Michael stated: ‘I am very excited to be part of the audit team. I believe that I will be a valuable asset to the team, as my dad is LTH's financial controller. He is responsible for the preparation of LTH's financial report.'
4. Conversation with Annette
Annette stated: ‘I am glad that I have been allocated to this year's LTH's audit team. It's going to be a very efficient audit this year! I was on a temporary assignment at LTH's just a month ago, helping LTH with its tax calculations and preparing accounting entries that will be reflected in the 30 June 2015 financial report, so I don't think there will be much audit work required around the tax accounts. It will be great to catch up with everybody at LTH again, as they are so easy to work with.'
Required:
(a) For each situation, identify and evaluate any threats in relation to auditor independence.
(b) Identify any safeguards to those threats identified above.