The workpaper should be prepared by the auditor in-charge whenever inventory is a significant item in the balance sheet. [Our attendance at the inventory count is a rebuttable procedure when inventory is a significant account (KAM 3801)]. As it is a planning document, it should be done prior to inventory count attendance. Staff should be briefed as to the purpose of the particular inventory count attendance as being compliance or substantive in nature. They should also be clear as to our responsibilities as observers for audit purposes and not "stocktakers" in place of the client's management responsibilities.
Everyone involved in the inventory count observation should be made aware of the contents of this workpaper prior to attendance