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1172 Modifications to Audit Documentation After Final Assembly
Sep-2015

Overview

Auditors are not to delete or discard audit documentation from the final audit file.

This section outlines how to proceed when additions and amendments to documentation are required after the assembly of the final audit file has been completed.

CPA Canada Copyright

CPA Canada Assurance Standards

Office

Annual Audit

Performance Audit, Special Examination, and Other Assurance Engagements

CSQM 1.31(f) Engagement documentation is assembled on a timely basis after the date of the engagement report, and is appropriately maintained and retained to meet the needs of the firm and comply with law, regulation, relevant ethical requirements, or professional standards. (Ref: Para. A83-A85)

CSQM 1.A85. Law, regulation or professional standards may prescribe the retention periods for engagement documentation. If the retention periods are not prescribed, the firm may consider the nature of the engagements performed by the firm and the firm's circumstances, including whether the engagement documentation is needed to provide a record of matters of continuing significance to future engagements. In the case of engagements conducted under the CASs or CSAEs, the retention period is ordinarily no shorter than five years from the date of the engagement report, or, if later, the date of the auditor's report on the group financial statements, when applicable.

CAS 230.15 After the assembly of the final audit file has been completed, the auditor shall not delete or discard audit documentation of any nature before the end of its retention period. (Ref: Para. A23)

CAS 230.A23 CSQM 1 (or requirements that are at least as demanding) requires firms’ systems of quality management to establish a quality objective to address the appropriate maintenance and retention of engagement documentation to meet the needs of the firm and to comply with law, regulation, relevant ethical requirements, or professional standards. The retention period for audit engagements ordinarily is no shorter than five years from the date of the auditor's report, or, if later, the date of the auditor's report on the group financial statements, when applicable.

CAS 230.16 In circumstances other than those envisaged in paragraph 13 where the auditor finds it necessary to modify existing audit documentation or add new audit documentation after the assembly of the final audit file has been completed, the auditor shall, regardless of the nature of the modifications or additions, document: (Ref: Para. A24)

(a) The specific reasons for making them; and

(b) When and by whom they were made and reviewed.

CAS 230. A24 An example of a circumstance in which the auditor may find it necessary to modify existing audit documentation or add new audit documentation after file assembly has been completed is the need to clarify existing audit documentation arising from comments received during monitoring activities or external inspections.

CSAE 3001.85 After the assembly of the final engagement file has been completed, the practitioner shall not delete or discard engagement documentation of any nature before the end of its retention period. (Ref: Para. A205)

CSAE 3001.A205 CSQM 1 (or other requirements that are at least as demanding as CSQM 1) requires firms to establish a quality objective that addresses the maintenance and retention of engagement documentation to meet the needs of the firm and comply with law, regulation, relevant ethical requirements or professional standards. The retention period for assurance engagements ordinarily is no shorter than five years from the date of the assurance report.

CSAE 3001.86 If the practitioner finds it necessary to amend existing engagement documentation or add new engagement documentation after the assembly of the final engagement file has been completed the practitioner shall, regardless of the nature of the amendments or additions, document:

(a) The specific reasons for making the amendments or additions; and

(b) When, and by whom, they were made and reviewed.

OAG Policy

After the assembly of the final audit file has been completed, the auditor shall not delete or discard audit documentation before the end of its retention period. [Nov-2011]

Where the auditor finds it necessary to make additions (including amendments) to engagement documentation after the assembly of the final engagement file has been completed, the auditor shall

obtain approval from the engagement leader for the documentation changes,
document the specific reasons for the additions or amendments,
document when and by whom the additions or amendments were made and reviewed, and
document the engagement leader’s approval obtained above. [Apr-2015]

OAG Guidance

Note: This section does not address situations where an auditor is performing new or additional audit procedures or drawing new conclusions after the date of the auditor's report. OAG Audit 1173 Matters arising after the date of the assurance engagement report, provides guidance on this scenario.

Modifications to audit documentation after final assembly

Modifications to audit documentation after the date of assembly of the final audit file are permitted where the policies stated in this section are respected and are documented in either

a paper file, if documentation is above “Protected B”; or
an unfinalized audit file in the audit working paper software, which will then be re-finalized.

Unfinalizing an audit file to record additions (including amendments) to audit documentation should occur in limited circumstances. OAG Audit 1171 provides guidance on documenting matters outstanding at the file finalization deadline.

Audit Guidance

Our System of Quality Management

Other Guidance

Guidance on Managing Audit Records

1172 Modifications to Audit Documentation After Final Assembly Sep-2015