List the matters you need to communicate to those charged with governance, with the date you plan to do it, who will receive it and whether it is done. The tool shows what is overdue, what has no date and which completed items lack a record of when and to whom.
The sample lists common matters. Replace it with the matters that apply to your engagement under the current standards on auditing and any law that applies to the entity.
| Matter | Planned | Status | To | Flag | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditor responsibilities and independence | 2020-09-10 | Done | Audit committee chair | Done | Communicated after the planned date |
| Planned scope and timing of the audit | 2020-09-10 | Done | Audit committee chair | Done | Communicated after the planned date |
| Significant risks identified | 2020-09-20 | Done | Audit committee chair | Done | Done but no date recorded |
| Significant findings from the audit | 2020-10-25 | Pending | - | Overdue | Planned date has passed; Recipient not yet identified |
| Uncorrected misstatements | 2020-10-25 | Pending | - | Overdue | Planned date has passed; Recipient not yet identified |
| Going concern observations | 2020-10-25 | Pending | Board | Overdue | Planned date has passed |
| Significant difficulties during the audit | - | Pending | - | No date | No planned date; Recipient not yet identified |
| Written representations requested | 2020-10-30 | Pending | - | Overdue | Planned date has passed; Recipient not yet identified |
The standard on communication with those charged with governance expects the auditor to tell them about the auditor's responsibilities, the planned scope and timing and significant findings, and to keep a record of it. Writing the matters down with a planned date, a recipient and a done date makes gaps visible before the audit is signed.
Each line is a matter to be communicated. You enter the planned date, the status, who it goes to and when it was done.
A matter whose status is on your done list is done. Otherwise a past planned date is overdue and a missing planned date is flagged. Done items with no date or no recipient are listed as incomplete records.
Download the Excel file to hold on file with a column for the working paper reference.
Significant risks were discussed with the audit committee chair, but the date was not noted.
