In January 2015 the IAASB issued ISA 701, Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor’s Report. This standard is required to be applied to the audit of all listed entities. The objectives of ISA 701 are for the auditor to:

• determine those matters which are to be regarded as KAM; and

• communicate those matters in the auditor’s report.

The term ‘key audit matters’ is defined in ISA 701 as:

‘Those matters that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period. Key audit matters are selected from matters communicated with those charged with governance.’ (1)

DETERMINATION OF KAM

The definition in paragraph 8 of ISA 701 states that KAM are selected from matters which are communicated with those charged with governance. Matters which are discussed with those charged with governance are then evaluated by the auditor who then determines those matters which required significant auditor attention during the course of the audit. There are three matters which the ISA requires the auditor to take into account when making this determination:

1. Areas which were considered to be susceptible to higher risks of material misstatement or which were deemed to be ‘significant risks’ in accordance with ISA 315 (Revised), Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement through Understanding the Entity and Its Environment.

2. Significant auditor judgments in relation to areas of the financial statements that involved significant management judgment. This might include accounting estimates which have been identified by the auditor as having a high degree of estimation uncertainty.

3. The effect on the audit of significant events or transactions that have taken place during the period.

The auditor must determine which matters are of most significance in the audit of the financial statements and these will be regarded as KAM.

COMMUNICATING KAM

Once the auditor has determined which matters will be included as KAM, the auditor must ensure that each matter is appropriately described in the auditor’s report including a description of:

1. Why the matter was determined to be one of most significance and therefore a key audit matter, and

2. How the matter was addressed in the audit (which may include a description of the auditor’s approach, a brief overview of procedures performed with an indication of their outcome and any other key observations in respect of the matter).