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Overview
- The financial statements for your company are usually posted in Item 8 of the SEC 10-K document.
- Search for the auditor’s report.
- Consider the topic of internal control and who is responsible for Internal Control. The auditor’s report describes their role in evaluating internal control but internal control is the responsibility of company management. Notice how these concepts are described as you read the auditor’s report and the letter from management (that management ‘signs’ with their names.
- For your SEC 10-K report, as you read the auditor’s report, consider information identified as Critical Audit Matters (CAM). Are there any CAM items? What are they (use the section titles)?
Discussion Requirements
1. Answer the following questions.
2. Do not cut and paste from your company SEC report.
- What is the name of the auditor?
- Looking at their signature, what city do you see?
- The first page of the SEC 10-K is very standard and lists two key locations. Using this information, post the state of incorporation and the city and state of the corporate headquarters for your SEC 10-K.
- Returning to Item 8, near the auditor’s report (this is the letter they sign, giving their opinion on whether the financial statements are fairly presented in adherence with U.S. GAAP), locate the letter regarding internal control. This letter is signed by the company’s management. What are their names and titles? Some companies list all officers whereas others list only the chief executive officer (CEO) and the chief financial officer (CFO). The SEC only requires the signatures of the CEO and CFO.
- List the topic headings from the auditors’ report on Critical Audit Matters. Examples might be Internal Control or Inventory or Goodwill Impairment. Critical Audit Matters are near the end of the report. The report is actually a letter from the audit firm to the company Board of Directors.
