Scope Limitations
21.84 The audit team is required to obtain sufficient appropriate evidence to afford a reasonable basis for an opinion on the financial statements under audit. A scope limitation occurs when sufficient evidential matter does or did exist, but was not available to the audit team, or the audit team was unable to perform alternative procedures to obtain the audit evidence needed. Scope limitations, whether imposed by management or those charged with governance or by circumstances, such as the timing of the audit team’s work or inadequate accounting records, require the audit team to qualify or disclaim an opinion.
21.85 If management or those charged with governance impose a scope limitation that the audit team believes will result in a disclaimer of opinion, the firm should not accept the engagement, unless required by law or regulation to do so. If management or those charged with governance impose a scope limitation during the course of the audit, and the matter is both material and pervasive, the audit team should withdraw, where practicable or possible under applicable law or regulation.
21.86 Scope limitations imposed by management or those charged with governance most commonly concern the omission of audit procedures related to matters such as:
• beginning balances in new engagements
• inventory observation
• external confirmations
• branches or subsidiaries
• actuarial valuations for benefit obligations
• examination of securities (or confirmation, if held by an outside custodian)