Technical Guide on

Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Stock and Receivables Audit

ISBN : 978-81-8441-505-6

Price : ` 150/-
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
2012

(Set up by an Act of Parliament)

www.icai.org New Delhi
February/2012/1,000 (New)
 Technical Guide on Stock and
Receivables Audit

DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in this Technical Guide are those of author(s).
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India may not necessarily
subscribe to the views expressed by the author(s).

Internal Audit Standards Board

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
(Set up by an Act of Parliament)
New Delhi
© The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

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Edition : February, 2012

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Website : www.icai.org

Price : ` 150/- (including CD)

ISBN : 978-81-8441-505-6

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February/2012/1,000 Copies
 Foreword
In any business or organization, all functions are interlinked and connected to
each other and are often overlapping. Some key aspects like, supply chain
management, logistics and inventory form the backbone of the business delivery
function. Inventory management is a very important function that determines the
health of the supply chain as well as it impacts the financial health of the balance
sheet. Finance against such inventories by banks is generally granted in the
shape of cash credit facility where drawings will be permitted against stocks of
goods. It is a running account facility where deposits and withdrawals are
permitted. Stock audit acts as a warning signal to those accounts which are likely
to turn into NPA. Stock audit also helps in prevention and early detection of
frauds.
I congratulate CA. Rajkumar S. Adukia, Chairman, Internal Audit Standards
Board and other members of the Board for bringing out this “Technical Guide on
Stock and Receivable Audit” on a timely basis. This Technical Guide will help the
members to take care that the requirements of the banks or any other
organization are met with and an early detection of the lapses and
inconsistencies is done.
I am sure that this Technical Guide would serve the members as a one stop
practical guide for performing an effective stock and receivable audit and
ensuring the quantity, quality, composition and actual value of the stock and the
debtors.
February 8, 2012 CA. G. Ramaswamy
New Delhi President, ICAI
 Preface
In the era of ever changing global business environment, a healthy as well as
well balanced banking system is considered to be quite essential for any
economy striving for growth and prosperity in the world of modern finance.
The Indian banking system has witnesses numerous reforms and changes
over the past two decades. Indian banks have enlarged their business
portfolios not only in the domestic market but also in global competitive
market.
The auditor of the bank today, be it at branch level or the head office level, is
faced with challenges of the growing complexities in the operating
environment of banks, attributable to not only the transactional, customer,
regional spread of the activities of the bank, frequent regulatory directions
issued by the banking regulator coupled with increasing use of sophisticated
technology not only for providing services but also for accounting.
In the above scenario, for the internal auditors of banks to be able to provide
quality in the audit services, requires proper understanding of the bank and
its environment and application of that knowledge is indispensable.
Considering this, the Internal Audit Standards Board of the ICAI is issuing
this publication “Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit” to provide
extensive knowledge to the members restricted not only to circulars issued
by the Reserve Bank of India but extends to knowledge of the industry,
regulatory and other external factors, including financial reporting framework,
nature of the client, viz., its operations, ownership and governance structure,
sources of its finances, selection and application of accounting policies, its
objectives, including those related to its business risk, etc. This publication is
a comprehensive, self contained in itself, touching upon almost all critical
aspects in stock and receivable audit of banks. For easy understanding and
practical implementation, the publication contains a variety of checklists and
is written in a very lucid and logically flowing manner.
At this juncture, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to CA. Pankaj Kumar
Adukia and his study group members for sparing time out of their
professional and personal occupation and sharing wealth of their experience
in the area of stock audit in the form of this publication.
I also wish to thank CA. G. Ramaswamy, President and CA. Jaydeep N.
Shah, Vice President for their continuous support and encouragement to the
initiatives of the Board. I must also thank my colleagues from the Council at
the Internal Audit Standards Board, viz., CA. P. Rajendra Kumar, Vice
Chairman, CA. Amarjit Chopra, CA. Shiwaji B. Zaware, CA. Ravi Holani,
CA. Anuj Goyal, CA. Nilesh S. Vikamsey, CA. Vijay K. Garg, CA. Atul C.
Bheda, CA. J. Venkateswarlu, CA. Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, Shri Prithvi
Haldea, Smt. Usha Narayanan, Smt. Usha Sankar, Shri Manoj Kumar and
Shri Sidharth Birla for their vision and support. I also wish to place on record
my gratitude for the co-opted members on the Board, viz., CA. Madhu Sudan
Goyal, CA. Rohit Choksi, CA. Ketan Vikamsey, and CA. Pankaj Kumar
Adukia as also special invitees on the Board, viz., CA. Anil Kumar Jain,
CA. Ajay Minocha, CA. Sumit Behl and CA. R. Subramaniam for their
invaluable guidance as also their dedication and support to the various
initiatives of the Board.
I firmly believe that this publication would serve as basic guide for the
members and other readers interested in the subject.

February 5, 2012 CA. Rajkumar S. Adukia

Mumbai Chairman
Internal Audit Standards Board

vi
 Executive Summary
1. One of the primary objectives of the banks is to lend money against
security. The banks and financial institutions lend money against
hypothecation and pledge of stocks, book debts and securities. It is in the
interest of the banks to monitor the activities of the borrower so as to ensure
that the money has been applied for the purpose it was borrowed for and the
public funds are not been squandered. It also has to ensure that the money
is safe and there is adequate margin for the recovery of the loan.
2. Stocks and Debtors are two very important areas requiring attention
because they are the essence of every business activity and they provide the
true indication of strength and vitality of a business. The primary objective of
verification, from any point of view, is to ascertain whether they are realizable
in cash for the value stated. The best symptom for this is a good, healthy,
regular movement of both. The thrust of any stock verification process is to
verify the system followed or the procedure adopted to compile the quantities
of stocks as on a given date and the rate applied for evaluation. The audit
objectives remain the same though the accounting procedures vary from
business to business, country to country, and product to product.
This book endeavors to provide the readers with a practical guidance on the
various aspects of an audit of inventory and book debts.

vii
 Glossary
Cash Credit A credit facility under which a customer draws up to
the preset limit, subject to availability of sufficient
security with the bank. The difference between an
overdraft and cash credit account is that while the
former is extended more to individuals, and less for
business, the latter is extended only to business
bodies. The cash credit facility is unique to India, as
in most of the countries it is called overdraft.
Further the cash credit facility is more or less on a
permanent basis so long as the business is going on.
Internationally, at the end of specific period the
overdraft facility is withdrawn and the customer is
required to pay back the amount lent by the bank.
The purpose of cash credit is for working capital. The
operations are similar to overdraft.
Cash credit facility is of two types (depending upon
the type of charge on goods taken as security by
bank.)
(i) Cash Credit - Pledge: when the possession of
the goods is with the bank and drawings in the
account are linked with actual movement of
goods from/to the possession of the bank. The
physical control of the goods is exercised by the
bank.
(ii) Cash Credit:- Hypothecation: when the
possession of the goods remains with the
borrower and a floating charge over the stocks is
created in favour of the bank. The borrower has
complete control over the goods and the drawings
in the account are permitted on the basis of stock
statements submitted by the borrower.
Causes of NPA NPA arises due to a number of factors or causes like:-
(i) Speculation: Investing in high risk assets to
earn high income.
(ii) Default: Willful default by the borrowers.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(iii) Fraudulent Practices: Fraudulent Practices like

advancing loans to ineligible persons,
advances without security or references, etc.
(iv) Diversion of Funds: Most of the funds are
diverted for unnecessary expansion and
diversion of business.
(v) Internal Reasons: Many internal reasons like
inefficient management, inappropriate
technology, labour problems, marketing failure,
etc. resulting in poor performance of the
companies.
(vi) External Reasons: External reasons like a
recession in the economy, infrastructural
problems, price rise, delay in release of
sanctioned limits by banks, delays in
settlements of payments by government, natural
calamities, etc.
Charge on Assets A charge means an interest or right which a lender or
of a Company creditor obtains in the property of the company
by way of security that the company will pay back
the debt. Charges are of following two
types:
(i) Fixed charge: Such a charge is against a
specific clearly identifiable and defined property.
The property under charge is identified at the
time of creation of charge. The nature and
identity of the property does not change during
the existence of the charge. The company can
transfer the property charged only subject to
that charge so that the charge holder or
mortgage must be paid first whatever is due to
him before disposing off that property.
(ii) Floating charge: Such a charge is available only
to companies as borrower. A Floating charge is
attached to any definite property but covers the
property of a fluctuating nature such as, stock-
in-trade, debtors, etc. It attaches to the property
charged in the varying conditions in which
happens to be from time to time. Such a charge

x
 Glossary

remains dormant until the undertaking charge

ceases to be a going concern or until the person
in whose favor charge created takes steps to
crystallize the floating charge. A floating charge
on crystallization becomes a fixed charge.
Consortium This approach to lending was introduced by the RBI
Lending in 1974. Accordingly, more than one bank finances, a
single borrower requiring large credit limit. It
(a) enables banks to spread risk of lending,
(b) broke the monopoly of big banks to have large
accounts, (c) enables banks to share experience and
expertise, (d) introduces uniformity in approaches to
lending, (e) enables banks to pool resources, and
(f) checks multiple financing of the same account.
Each consortium has a lead bank, which has the
largest share in the loan, which processes the loans
low rates proposal, which calls the meetings of the
consortium for sanction of limits and review of
accounts, which obtains RBI permission for credit
limits, and which conducts joint inspection of the
borrowers activities. The borrower executes a single
set of documents with the lead bank. It obtains the
letter of authority from member banks and releases
the initial requirements of the borrower. Thereafter it
obtains reimbursements from the member banks to
the extent of their shares in advance. If the member
banks delays the reimbursement beyond a week, the
lead bank was entitled to charge a penal interest for
the period of delay. This arrangement was also
called a Single Window Lending.
Creditors An entity (person or institution) that extends credit by
giving another entity permission to borrow money
with a stipulation for repayment at a later date.
Debtors/ A person or entity that owes an amount of money or
Receivables favor to.
Drawing Power It is the limit up to which the borrower can utilize the
cash credit. Drawing power is required to be arrived
at based on the stock statement which is current. If

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

the outstanding exceeds the drawing power, it will

attract penal interest .The outstanding in the account
based on drawing power calculated from stock
statements older than three months, would be
deemed as irregular. While calculating drawing
power based on stock and debtors statements, care
must be taken to exclude old, obsolete and non-
moving stock and long outstanding debtors.
Inventories Inventories denotes tangible property held for sale in
the ordinary course of business or in the process of
production for such sale or for consumption in the
production of goods or services for sale, including
maintenance supplies and consumables stores and
spare parts meant for replacement in the normal
course.
Paid inventories refers to the inventories which is
fully paid, i.e., excluding Sundry creditors.
Limit Sanctioned This refers to the extent of facility granted to the
borrower based on his working capital requirements
and securities offered. In the case of cash credit, it is
the limit up to which the borrower can withdraw from
his borrowal account. The extent to which the
borrower draws up to his pre set limit depicts the
utilized amount.
Margin Money Margin money is like a security deposit retained by
the bank till the loan is fully settled.
The credit limit is sanctioned by the banks after
retaining a margin on the value of the security
offered. The percentage of margin requirements
varies as per RBI guidelines.
Memorandum of A company must make a report to the Registrar of
Satisfaction payment of satisfying in full of any charge registered
under this act. The satisfaction of charges must be
filed with the Registrar within 30 days from the date
of such a payment of charge. On receipt of intimation
to the company, the Registrar gives notice to the
charge-holder calling upon him to show cause within

xii
 Glossary

time not exceeding 14 days as why the payment of

satisfaction should not be registered. If no cause is
shown within the time stipulated above the Registrar
must enter the satisfaction of the payment of charge.
If some cause is shown, the Registrar must record
note to that effect in the register and inform the
company accordingly.
Mortgage A mortgage is the transfer of an interest is specific
immovable property for the purpose of securing the
payment of money advanced or to be advanced by
way of loan, an existing or future debt, or the
performance of an engagement which may give rise
to a pecuniary liability. The transferor is called a
mortgagor, the transferee a mortgagee; the principal
money and interest of which payment is secured for
the time being are called the mortgage-money and
the instrument (if any) by which the transfer is
effected is called a mortgage-deed.
Non Performing A debt obligation where the borrower has
Asset not paid any previously agreed upon interest and
principal repayments to the designated lender for an
extended period of time. The non performing asset
is, therefore, not yielding any income to the lender in
the form of principal and interest payments.
If the customers do not repay principal amount and
interest for a certain period of time then such loans
become non-performing assets (NPA). Thus non-
performing assets are basically non-performing
loans.
In India, the time frame given for classifying the asset
as NPA is 180 days as compared to 45 days to 90
days of international norms.
Out of Order/ An account should be treated as 'out of order' if the
Irregular Account outstanding balance remains continuously in excess
of the sanctioned limit/drawing power. In cases,
where the outstanding balance in the principal
operating account is less than the sanctioned limit/
drawing power, but there are no credits continuously
for six months as on the date of Balance Sheet or

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

credits are not enough to cover the interest debited

during the same period, these accounts should be
treated as 'out of order'.
Overdue Account Any amount due to the bank under any credit facility
is ‘overdue’ if it is not paid on the due date fixed by
the bank.
Pledge It is a bailment of property as a security for debt/
amount borrowed.
RBI’s Non- RBI projected banks’ balance sheets for 2011-12 and
performing Asset finds that at end-March 2012, the level of gross non-
Projections for performing assets (NPAs) will rise to 2.92% of
March’ 12 advances, assuming the tighter provisioning
requirements made by the central bank and 30% of
standard restructured assets turning into NPAs.
Stock Statements It is a statement (normally in a prescribed format of
the lending bank) showing the details of the various
items of stock. It should clearly indicate the
movement of the stock during the period. Stock
which has not been paid for has to be excluded.
Stock statements are to be signed by an authorized
signatory and submitted to the banks at intervals
stipulated in the sanction letter.
Non- submission of stock statements on time will
attract penal interest.
Types of NPA NPA have been divided or classified into following
four types:
(i) Standard Assets: A standard asset is a
performing asset. Standard assets generate
continuous income and repayments as and
when they fall due. Such assets carry a normal
risk and are not NPA in the real sense. So, no
special provisions are required for Standard
Assets.
(ii) Sub-Standard Assets: All those assets (loans
and advances) which are considered as non-
performing for a period of 18 months are called
as Sub-Standard assets.

xiv
 Glossary

(iii) Doubtful Assets: All those assets which are

considered as non-performing for period of more
than 18 months are called as Doubtful Assets.
(iv) Loss Assets: All those assets which cannot be
recovered are called as Loss Assets.
Working Capital There are two measures of working capital: gross
working capital and net working capital. Gross
working capital is the total of the current assets. Net
working capital is the difference between the total of
current assets and the total of current liabilities.

xv
 Contents
Foreword ....................................................................................................iii
Preface......................................................................................................... v
Executive Summary .................................................................................. vii
Glossary ..................................................................................................... ix

Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................. 1-8

Stock Audit ........................................................................................................... 2
Appointment of Stock Auditors and Periodicity of Audit........................................ 3
Steps Involved in Stock Audit ............................................................................... 4
Format for Stock Audit.......................................................................................... 5
Common Irregularities/ Observations in Stock Audit ............................................ 6
Findings of Stock Audit......................................................................................... 8
Chapter 2: Inventories and Receivable Audit ............................................. 9-10
Meaning of Inventories ......................................................................................... 9
Meaning of Debtors .............................................................................................. 9
Cash-Credit Facility .............................................................................................. 9
Inventories/ Receivables Audit ........................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Mortgage.................................................................................... 11-14
Meaning of Mortgage.......................................................................................... 11
Types of Mortgage.............................................................................................. 11
Difference between Mortgage and Pledge ......................................................... 13
Charge................................................................................................................ 13
Difference between Mortgage and Charge......................................................... 14

xvii
Chapter 4: Charge ....................................................................................... 15-23
Charge as Defined in Section 100 of Transfer of
Properties Act, 1882 ........................................................................................... 15
Important Provisions Contained in Section 125 of the
Companies Act, 1956 ......................................................................................... 15
Registration of Charge........................................................................................ 17
Objective of Registration .................................................................................... 17
Charges Requiring Registration ......................................................................... 17
Consequences of Non-filing ............................................................................... 19
Date of Creation of Charge................................................................................. 20
Procedure of Filing of Particulars of Creation of Charge .................................... 20
Certificate of Registration ................................................................................... 21
Penalties under Section 142 of the Companies Act, 1956 ................................. 21
Significance of MCA 21 for Banks and Financial Institutions.............................. 22
Chapter 5: Need, Scope and Applicability of Stock Audit ....................... 24-27
Objectives of Stock Audit.................................................................................... 24
Scope of Stock Audit ......................................................................................... 24
Purpose of Stock Audit ....................................................................................... 24
Need of Stock Audit............................................................................................ 26
Special Consideration while Conducting Stock Audit ........................................ 27
Chapter 6: Responsibility of the Auditor................................................... 28-29
Chapter 7: ICAI Pronouncements .............................................................. 30-34
Relevant Engagement Standards....................................................................... 30
Chapter 8: Audit Process............................................................................ 35-48
Pre-commencement .......................................................................................... 35
Understanding the Entity .................................................................................... 36
Audit Planning .................................................................................................... 36
Substantive Procedures ..................................................................................... 37
Reporting............................................................................................................ 48
Chapter 9: Significant Observations in Cash-Credit Accounts.................... 49

xviii
Chapter 10: Inadequacy of Stock Audit..................................................... 50-51
Remedies ........................................................................................................... 50
Chapter 11: Physical Verification of Inventories ...................................... 52-56
Maintenance of Records..................................................................................... 52
Conducting Physical Verification ........................................................................ 53
Frequency of Counts .......................................................................................... 54
Process of Verification........................................................................................ 54
Discrepancies on Verification of Inventory ......................................................... 56
Chapter 12: Valuation of Inventories ......................................................... 57-65
Actual Cost of Inventories................................................................................... 57
Market Price of Inventories................................................................................. 59
Valuation of Different Types of Inventories......................................................... 59
Valuation of Obsolete/ Dormant/ Slow-moving Excess
Inventories.......................................................................................................... 61
Controls .............................................................................................................. 63
Auditor’ Duty with regard to the Valuation of Stock ............................................ 64
Chapter 13: Verification of Securities........................................................ 66-68
Securities- Definition........................................................................................... 66
Scope of Audit .................................................................................................... 66
Reporting............................................................................................................ 67
Audit of Securities............................................................................................... 68
Chapter 14: Analytical Review Procedures............................................... 69-74
Chapter 15: Planning of Physical Inventory.............................................. 75-76
General Planning................................................................................................ 75
Cut-off Procedure ............................................................................................... 75
Chapter 16: Stocktaking ............................................................................. 77-82
Stocktaking......................................................................................................... 77
Objectives of Stocktaking ................................................................................... 77
Types of Stocktaking .......................................................................................... 78
Methods of Stocktaking ...................................................................................... 79

xix
Purpose of Stocktaking....................................................................................... 80
Procedures of Stocktaking.................................................................................. 80
Conclusion.......................................................................................................... 82
Chapter 17: Relevant RBI Notifications ..................................................... 83-88
Annexure.................................................................................................... 91-137
Annexure I
Format of Stock Audit Report ............................................................................ 91
Annexure II
Checklist for Inventories and Receivables Audit............................................... 107
Annexure III
Specimen Engagement Letter .......................................................................... 121
Annexure IV
Specimen Management Representation Letter ............................................... 123
Annexure V
Specimen Letter of Confirmation from Third Party ........................................... 128
Annexure VI
Specimen Letter of Confirmation of Inventories Held by Others....................... 129
Annexure VII
Specimen Letter of Confirmation of Inventories
Held by the Entity on Behalf of Others ............................................................. 130
Annexure VIII
Specimen Inventories/ Receivables Audit Report............................................. 131

xx
 Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 The most essential components, which form a significant portion of the
total assets of an entity, in general, and current assets, in particular are
Inventories and Debtors. They are considered as the lifeblood of every
business activity since they are the indicators of good health of the company.
The basic objective of verification of the assets is to indicate their physical
existence and safety aspects.
In view of such magnitude entities obtain loans from banks in the form of
cash credit against hypothecation of inventories and debtors. Consequently,
the importance of the physical verification of inventories, their valuation and
security aspects is not overemphasized, but rightly stated. The banks would
like to get an assurance that the loans that have been made are backed by
security that have a proper repaying capacity. Audit in banks is useful not
only from the point of view of the management, who is the appointing
authority but also from the point of other equally interested parties , who are
interested for their different objectives, viz., the Government, Public, RBI,
Investors, Depositors and Analysts.
1.2 In order to get an assurance that the norms stated in the loan sanction
form have not been disregarded, the bank appoints an external auditor, who
is an independent person. The auditor undertaking such responsibility should
take care that the requirements of the banks are met with and an early
detection of the lapses and inconsistencies is done.
1.3 The main purpose of conducting the inventories audit in banks is to get
an assurance that the security against which the loan is sanctioned
represents the quality and quantity it claims to possess. With this assurance,
the purpose of the inventories audit as required by the bank is served. The
examination of the securities against which the loan has been sanctioned
consists of not only physical verification of the securities but also includes
verification of aspects, such as Ownership, valuation and proper storage.
The auditor’s role assumes great significance, in this regard as his report is
considered as veritable and neutral. He is, therefore, expected to be
objective and unbiased while undertaking the inventories audit.
1.4 Inventory and debtors, usually, account for a major part of the assets
of an entity. Not only that, more than any other asset they indicate the

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

financial health of the company. Hence, it becomes essential that a proper

management control and accounting exists for these items.
1.5 Audit of inventory is undertaken for two major purposes:
(i) Audit of stocks of entity for financial reporting -Verification as part of
existence of assets and maintenance of records.
(ii) Stock audit from the view point of the lender/ banks.
The difference in objective of the audit makes the process of audit different
for both purposes hence they are discussed separately below.
Stock Audit
1.6 Working capital investment is the lifeblood of a company. Without it, a
company cannot stay in business. The most critical use of working capital is
providing the ongoing investment in short-term assets that a company needs
to operate. A business requires a minimum cash balance to meet basic day-
to-day expenses and to provide a reserve for unexpected costs. It also needs
working capital for prepaid business costs, such as, licenses, insurance
policies, or security deposits. Furthermore, all businesses from a
professional firm’s stock of office supply to the large inventories needed by
manufacturers, retail and wholesalers invest some amount in inventory.
Without some amount of working capital finance, businesses could not open
and operate.
1.7 A second purpose of working capital is addressing seasonal or cyclical
financing needs. Here, working capital finance supports the build-up of short-
term assets needed to generate revenue, but which come before the receipt
of cash. Since most businesses do not receive prepayment for goods and
services, they need to finance these purchase, production, sales, and
collection costs prior to receiving payment from customers.
1.8 The major forms of debt used to finance working capital are as follow:
Overdraft
This is an open-ended loan with a borrowing limit that the business can draw
against or repay at any time during the loan period. This arrangement allows
a company flexibility to borrow funds when the need arises for the exact
amount required. Interest is paid only on the amount borrowed, typically, on
a monthly basis. This can be either unsecured, if no specific collateral is
pledged for repayment, or secured by specific assets such as accounts
receivable or inventory. The standard term is 1 year with renewal subject to
the lender’s annual review and approval.

2
 Introduction

Factoring
It is a financial transaction where an entity sells its accounts receivable to a
third party, collector (factor at a discount) in exchange for immediate money.
Factoring differs from a bank loan in three main ways. First, the emphasis is
on the value of the receivables, not the firm’s credit worthiness. Secondly,
factoring is not a loan – it is the purchase of a financial asset (the
receivable). Finally, a bank loan involves two parties whereas factoring
involves three. Factor bears collection risk. Company is made payment
based on average collection period less a collection fee. Collection amount
can be paid in advance with an interest charge.
Term Loan
Principal repaid over several years based on a fixed schedule. Loan amount
tied to collateral value. Can be fully amortized or a balloon loan. Typical term
is three to seven years.
Inventory Loan
Loan secured by inventory. The loan amount is based on a percentage of
inventory value. Lender receives security interest in inventory and may take
physical control. The inventory is released on loan repayment.
This is a common form of working capital finance. It is in the form of cash
credit against the security of hypothecation of stock and debtors. Also,
borrowers have to submit the details of stock and debtors every month on
the basis of which Drawing Power after reducing the prescribed margin is
calculated by the banks. Stock and debtors being the primary security,
bankers need to ascertain the genuineness & correctness of such
statements. The auditor has to conduct stock audit at specified intervals
specifically, where the exposure exceeds the predetermined threshold limit.

Appointment of Stock Auditors and Periodicity of

Audit
1.9 The appointment of stock auditors is generally, made by the regional
or zonal offices, in case of nationalized banks, while in case of co-op banks
sometimes concurrent auditors only are asked to conduct stock audit of
select borrowers of the branch. Terms of appointment are prescribed by such
offices which sometimes involves conducting of stock audit as one time
exercise only while in others it may be a contract for two half yearly visits
during a particular financial year, of which first visit to be conducted before
September and second visit before March. The stock audit involves audit of

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

latest stock and debtors information of the borrower and the report should
give the position of stock and debtors ideally on the date of visit. Further it
will also make examination of past data submitted by the borrower to the
bank and appearing in the books of accounts of the borrower, to check
reliability of information submitted by the borrower.

Steps Involved in Stock Audit

1.10 Stock audit is necessarily required to be conducted at the borrowers
place for obvious reasons. But before visiting the borrower, understanding
the entity, its banking operations and financial affairs is must.
Therefore, it is advisable to visit the respective branch where the borrower is
having the account so as to gather the information relating to sanction,
account operations, nature of business, performance of the borrower and
other fundamental information along with the comments/ observations noted
by other auditors (like Internal Inspectors, Concurrent Auditors, etc.) to have
a brief understanding about the borrower and its financial affairs.
(i) Visit to Borrower’s Branch
o Banks, generally, has the system of maintaining two folders (in
few cases only one folder) for each borrower of which one is
used for keeping original documents executed by the borrower
(viz. Demand Promissory Note, Hypothecation Deed, Guarantee
Bond, etc.) while other folder contains Application Form, Project
Report, Sanction Letter, Audited Financial Statements, Previous
Stock Audit Report, etc. Stock statements submitted each
month by the borrower are filed with the correspondence file or
may be kept in a single file meant for keeping stock statements
of all the borrowers. Scrutiny of both the files along with the
account operations and DP Register with reference to terms of
Sanction helps stock auditor to gain insight about the borrower’
affairs and conduct of the account.
(ii) Visit to borrower and verification of stock
o Once the basic information is collected from the bank branch, it
is time to visit the borrower. It is advisable to carry audit
questionnaire at the time of visit so that no important point /
area is missed out. Visit to borrower involves verification of
stock and debtors, inquiry about MIS and internal control, future
projections and financial plans of the borrower and analysis of
past results and bank operations.

4
 Introduction

o Although audit is related to stock and debtors only,

understanding of overall financial scenario and inquiry as to
sister concerns & their businesses may also help the stock
auditor to finalize the report in a better manner.
(iii) Preparation of Audit Report and discussion about audit findings
o After conclusion of visits, stock audit report in the prescribed
format, if available is to be prepared. In the absence of format,
questionnaire prepared can itself also act as a report format.
However, at the end of the questionnaire or in the covering letter
itself (where auditor has to report in bank specified format)
summary of major adverse findings (or points for future action)
must be submitted by the auditor. Before submission of audit
report, discussion about audit findings with the monitoring
branch as well as borrower may be a good practice which may
bring further clarity in reporting. But, it should be done
depending upon the circumstances of case in hand.

Format for Stock Audit

1.11 Format for stock audit report may vary from bank to bank. Some banks
have customized stock audit report formats while others may hint only the
important areas to be reported by stock auditors. Irrespective of the formats,
it is good to have questionnaire to be prepared by stock auditor covering
following important areas of stock audit:
(i) Compliance with terms and conditions of sanction.
(ii) Timely and adequate submission of stock statements & other
important financial information.
(iii) Account operations – overdrawing, credit summation and cash
withdrawals.
(iv) Drawing power calculations by banks and by the auditors &
discrepancies, if any along with the reasons.
(v) Physical maintenance and storage of stock and adequacy of facilities
at the borrowers place.
(vi) Systems/ procedures implemented by borrower to identify the slow and
non-moving stock items.
(vii) Borrower’s Management information system, its adequacy and Internal
controls to safeguard stock.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(viii) Method of valuation of stock, time interval for valuation and adequacy
and sufficiency of procedures thereof.
(ix) Insurance of stock.
(x) Verification of Debtors.
The list of common irregularities/ observations given below will give the
better idea about preparation of stock audit questionnaire on above stated
areas.

Common Irregularities/ Observations in Stock

Audit
1.12 The common irregularities that may be observed during stock audit
can be summarized as follows:
Observations about Observations About Observations about
Statement Account Operations Insurance Coverage
Submission &
Scrutiny
• Stock Book Debts • Operations in the • Under insurance of
statements not accounts not stock.
submitted / not scrutinized with • Insurance expired
submitted in time. reference to and not renewed.
• Inadequate details projections, QIS
statements, • Premium for
viz. rate, quantity renewal policy paid
and amount of audited accounts,
etc. but policy not on
different type of record.
stock items not • Defects pointed
stated in the out by the • Insurance Policy
statement. Internal Auditors/ without Bank
Inspectors/ Clause.
• Scrutiny of stock
statements not Concurrent • No coverage of all
done. Auditors are not risks as per
complied with. sanction.
• DP Register not
written up to date. • No/ belated • Wrong items/
review/ renewal description of
• Age wise analysis of A/C. goods on insurance
of Debtors not policy.
given/ done. • All sales as per
Debtors over 90 financial • Location of goods
statements not

6
 Introduction

days (or as per routed through wrongly stated.

sanction) account. • All locations of
considered for • Account not stock not covered.
drawing power. operated actively.
• Drawing power not • Cash withdrawal
correctly during current
calculated. period is
• Latest visit report abnormal.
by branch official • Frequent
not on record. overdrawing in
the account.
• Balance over
drawing power
although within
Sanctioned Limit.
Observations about Observations about General Observations
Verification of Stock Verification of
and Creditors Sundry Debtors
• Stock book not • Existence of long • Diversion of funds
maintained/ not pending debtors. and inter account
updated. • Long pending transfers are not
• Obsolete stock not debtors shown as properly monitored.
excluded from below 90 days • Borrower having
stock figures debts to bank. operations with
submitted to bank. • Increase in the other bank for
• Deteriorating stock average which permission of
turnover ratio. collection period lender not
of debtors. obtained.
• Stock figures
submitted at the • Dispute with • Bank name plate
year end and as debtors and not displayed.
per financial pending court
statement not cases.
matching. • Amount
• Stock debtors as receivable from
per statements Sister concern
submitted and as considered for
per books not calculation of

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

matching. drawing power.

• Confirmation for • Advances
inventory with received from
third party not debtors not
obtained or reported resulting
physical into lower DP
verification of than calculated
Inventory not by bank.
done.
• Material received
from third parties
for job work not
excluded while
calculating
drawing power.

Above list is illustrative only and not the exhaustive one. In actual practice,
there may be other observations/ irregularities over and above stated in the
list.

Findings of Stock Audit

1.13 Stock audit is one of the important tools of credit monitoring for the
bank. Apart from ensuring safety of realizable security, it also helps the bank
to discipline the borrower or may act as a warning signal against probable
future NPA. It may aid the bank to take timely remedial measures to avoid
substantial future losses. It also highlights the weaknesses, if any, in the
existing monitoring system of the branch through comments about
maintenance of DP register, scrutiny of statements, review of accounts and
compliance of audit findings.
Over and above, stock audit also has the utility for the borrower. Comments
about insurance inadequacies, wrong product description and locations
stated in the policies, if rectified timely may save the borrower from avoidable
future losses.
Therefore, Statutory Audit where there is thrust only on the compliance under
respective statute, the Stock Audit is a knowledge value addition exercise for
both – bankers as well as borrowers.

8
 Chapter 2
Inventories and Receivable Audit
Meaning of Inventories
2.1 Inventories denotes tangible property held for sale in the ordinary
course of business or in the process of production for such sale or for
consumption in the production of goods or services for sale, including
maintenance supplies and consumables stores and spare parts meant for
replacement in the normal course.
Inventories, thus, normally comprises of:
(a) stores,
(b) spares parts,
(c) loose tools,
(d) Maintenance supplies,
(e) raw materials including components,
(f) work in process,
(g) finished goods including by-products,
(h) Waste or by-products, etc.

Meaning of Debtors
2.2 A debt represent the amount due to an entity for goods sold or a
service rendered or in respect of other similar contractual obligations but
amount includes such amounts which are in the nature of loans and
advances. Debtors are represented only by documentary evidence in the
form of invoices and they don’t have any physical existence.

Cash-credit Facility
2.3 A major part of working capital requirement of any unit would consist
of maintenance of Inventories of raw materials, semi finished goods, finished
goods, stores and spares, etc. In trading concern, the requirement of funds
will be to maintain adequate inventories in trade. Finance against such
inventories by banks is, generally, granted in the shape of cash credit facility
where drawings will be permitted against Inventories of goods. It is a running
account facility where deposits and withdrawals are permitted.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

2.4 Cash credit facility is of two types (depending upon the type of charge
on goods taken as security by bank.):
(i) Pledge: When the possession of the goods is with the bank and
drawings in the account are linked with actual movement of goods
from/to the possession of the bank. The physical control of the goods
is exercised by the bank.
(ii) Hypothecation: when the possession of the goods remains with the
borrower and a floating charge over the inventories is created in favour
of the bank. The borrower has complete control over the goods and
the drawings in the account are permitted on the basis of Inventories
statements submitted by the borrower.

Inventories/ Receivables Audit

2.5 The term ‘Inventories Audit’ in the context of banks refers to
verification and valuation of the entire amount of current assets, current
liabilities, loans and advances, diversion of funds, application of funds,
accuracy of Inventories statements, arriving at the revised drawing power
and any other matter connected with the credit administration by the banks.
2.6 The main thrust in inventories audit, therefore, is towards
authentication of the quantity, quality, composition and valuation of the
inventories and debtors.

10
 Chapter 3
Mortgage
Meaning of Mortgage
3.1 Mortgage is a transfer of interest in specific immovable property for the
purpose securing payment of money advanced, or to be advanced by way of
loan, an existing or future debt, or the performance of an engagement, which
may give rise to a financial liability.
3.2 The transferor is called a Mortgagor and the transferee is a
Mortgagee, the principal money and interest of which payment is secured for
the time being are called mortgage money, and the instrument, if any, by
which the transfer is effected is called a Mortgage Deed.
3.3 Section 58 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 deals with mortgage.
Accordingly, the necessary ingredients of a mortgage are as follows:
(i) Transfer of interest in specific immovable property
(ii) Transfer is for the purpose of securing the payment of money advanced
or to be advanced by way of loan.
(iii) It may be existing and future debt.
(iv) It may be also for performance of an engagement, which may lead to
financial liability.

Types of Mortgage
3.4 Mortgage are of following types:
(i) Simple Mortgage,
(ii) English Mortgage,
(iii) Equitable Mortgage or Mortgage by deposit of title deeds,
(iv) Usufructuary Mortgage,
(v) Mortgage by Conditional Sale,
(vi) Anomalous Mortgage

Simple Mortgage
Where, without delivering possession of the mortgaged property, the
mortgagor binds himself personally to pay the mortgage-money, and agrees,

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

expressly or impliedly, that in the event of his failing to pay according to his
contract, the mortgages shall have a right to cause the mortgaged property to
be sold and the proceeds of sale to be applied, so far as may be necessary,
in payment of the mortgage-money, the transaction is called a simple
mortgage and the mortgagee a simple mortgagee.

English Mortgage
Where the mortgagor binds himself to repay the mortgage-money on a
certain date, and transfers the mortgaged property absolutely to the
mortgagee, but subject to a proviso that he will re-transfer it to the mortgagor
upon payment of the mortgage-money as agreed, the transaction is called an
English mortgage.

Equitable Mortgage or Mortgage by Deposit of the All

Deeds
Where a person in any of the following towns, namely, the towns of Calcutta,
Madras and Bombay, and in any other town which the State Government
concerned may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf,
delivers to a creditor or his agent documents of title to immovable property,
with intent to create a security thereon, the transaction is called a mortgage
by deposit of title-deeds.

Mortgage by Conditional Sale

Where the mortgagor ostensibly sells the mortgaged property:
• on condition that on default of payment of the mortgage-money on a
certain date the sale shall become absolute, or
• on condition that on such payment being made the sale shall become
void, or
• on condition that on such payment being made the buyer shall transfer
the property to the seller,
The transaction is called a mortgage by conditional sale and the mortgagee a
mortgagee by conditional sale.
Provided that no such transaction shall be deemed to be a mortgage, unless
the condition is embodied in the document which effects or purports to effect
the sale.

12
 Mortgage

Usufructuary Mortgage
Where the mortgagor delivers possession or expressly or by implication
binds himself to deliver possession of the mortgaged property to the
mortgagee, and authorizes him to retain such possession until payment of
the mortgage-money, and to receive the rents and profits accruing from the
property or any part of such rents and profits and to appropriate the same in
lieu of interest, or in payment of the mortgage-money, or partly in lieu of
interest or partly in payment of the mortgage-money, the transaction is called
an usufructuary mortgage and the mortgagee an usufructuary mortgagee.

Anomalous Mortgage
A mortgage which is not a simple mortgage, a mortgage by conditional sale,
a usufructuary mortgage, an English mortgage or a mortgage by deposit of
title-deeds within the meaning of this section is called an anomalous
mortgage.

Difference between Mortgage and Pledge

3.5 Mortgages are dealt as per Transfer of Property Act, 1882 whereas
Indian Contract Act, 1872 deals with pledge.
Pledge is the bailment of goods, as security for payment of debt,
performance of promise. The creditor holds the possession of goods as
security, but has no right of foreclosure; as there is no transfer of ownership.
The right of enjoyment of property is not given to the pledge.
While, transfer of possession is very important in case of pledge it is not
necessarily so in case of mortgage (depending upon type of mortgage).
In mortgage there is transfer of interest, whereas in case of pledge, the
pledgee has only special right of detaining the goods till repayment of loan.
Mortgagor has right of redemption and mortgagee has right of foreclosure,
where as the pledgee does not have right of foreclosure.

Charge
3.6 The word Charge is not defined in the Companies Act. Section 124
merely states the expression ‘charge’ includes mortgage. However, Section
100 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 defines “charge’. These two
provisions give a fair idea that Charge is nothing but security of its property,
etc. by the Company in favour of creditor with the intent of securing his debt.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Difference between Mortgage and Charge

3.7 In Raja Sri Shiva Prasad v. Beni Madhab AIR 1922 Pat. 529, Das J.
stated that the broad distinction between a “mortgage” and “charge” is:
“Whereas a charge only gives a right to payment out of a particular fund or
particular property without transferring that fund or property, a mortgage is in
essence a transfer of an interest in specific immovable property.”
In other words:
• A “mortgage” effectuates transfer of property or an interest therein but
there is no such transfer in “charge”.
• In every “mortgage” there is “charge” but in “charge” there is no
“mortgage”.

14
 Chapter 4
Charge
Charge as Defined in Section 100 of Transfer of
Property Act, 1882
4.1 Where immovable property of one person is by act of parties or
operation of law made security for the payment of money to another, and the
transaction does not amount to a mortgage, the latter person is said to have
a charge on the property; and all the provisions hereinbefore contained which
apply to a simple mortgage shall, so far as may be, apply to such charge.
Nothing in this section applies to the charge of a trustee on the trust-property
for expenses properly incurred in the execution of his trust, and, save as
otherwise expressly provided by any law for the time being in force, no
charge shall be enforced against any property in the hands of a person to
whom such property has been transferred for consideration and without
notice of the charge.

Important Provisions contained in Section 125 of

the Companies Act, 1956
4.2 Certain charges to be void against liquidator or creditors unless
registered:
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, every charge created on or after
the 1st day of April, 1914, by a company and being a charge to which
this section applies shall, so far as any security on the company’s
property or undertaking is conferred thereby, be void against the
liquidator and any creditor of the company, unless the prescribed
particulars of the charge, together with the instrument, if any, by which
the charge is created or evidenced, or a copy thereof verified in the
prescribed manner, are filed with the Registrar for registration in the
manner required by this Act within thirty days after the date of its
creation.
Provided that the Registrar may allow the particulars and instrument or
copy as aforesaid to be filed within thirty days next following the expiry
of the said period of thirty days on payment of such additional fee not
exceeding ten times the amount of fee specified in Schedule X as the
Registrar may determine, if the company satisfies the Registrar that it

15
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

had sufficient cause for not filing the particulars and instrument or
copy within that period.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall prejudice any contract or obligation for
the repayment of the money secured by the charge.
(3) When a charge becomes void under this section, the money secured
thereby shall immediately become payable.
(4) This section applies to the following charges:
(a) A charge for the purpose of securing any issue of debentures;
(b) A charge on uncalled share capital of the company;
(c) A charge on any immovable property, wherever situate, or any
interest therein;
(d) A charge on any book debts of the company;
(e) A charge, not being a pledge, on any movable property of the
company;
(f) A floating charge on the undertaking or any property of the
company including Stock-in-trade;
(g) A charge on calls made but not paid;
(h) A charge on a ship or any share in a ship;
(i) A charge on goodwill, on a patent or a license under a patent,
on a trade mark, or on a copyright or a license under a
copyright.
(5) In the case of a charge created out of India and comprising solely
property situated outside India, thirty days after the date on which the
instrument creating or evidencing the charge or a copy thereof could,
in due course of post and if dispatched with due diligence, have been
received in India, shall be substituted for thirty days after the date of
the creation of the charge, as the time within which the particulars and
instrument or copy are to be filed with the Registrar.
(6) Where a charge is created in India but comprises property outside
India, the instrument creating or purporting to create the charge under
this section or a copy thereof verified in the prescribed manner, may
be filed for registration, notwithstanding that further proceedings may
be necessary to make the charge valid or effectual according to the
law of the country in which the property is situated

16
 Charge

(7) Where a negotiable instrument has been given to secure the payment
of any book debts of a company, the deposit of the instrument for the
purpose of securing an advance to the company shall not, for the
purposes of this section, be treated as a charge on those book debts.
(8) The holding of debentures entitling the holder to a charge on
immovable property shall not, for the purposes of this section, be
deemed to be an interest in immovable property.

Registration of Charge
4.3 A transaction or an arrangement that amounts to a charge, requires
registration under the Companies Act only if it satisfies the conditions laid
down in Section 125.
Such charge should be one among the kinds enumerated in Sub-section (4)
of Section 125. Needless to state, a mortgage of every kind is a charge that
requires registration.

Objective of Registration
4.4 The objective of Registration of a charge is to give public notice which
can be achieved:
(i) By requiring the companies to maintain record of charges and make it
available for inspection to the members of the public.
(ii) By requiring the registrar of companies to maintain record of the
Charges filed by the companies and make it available for public
inspection.
The registration of a charge thus, is intended to give notice to people who
may not otherwise be aware of it, particularly, to persons who may advance
money to the company, and it may also serve the purpose of preventing a
fraudulent and belated claim of a charge in the event of liquidation.

Charge Requiring Registration

4.5 Charges which require registration are as follows:
(i) Section 125 enumerates the following charges which require
registration.
(a) A charge for the purpose of securing any issue of debentures;
(b) A charge on uncalled share capital or the company;

17
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(c) A charge on any immovable property, wherever situated, or any

interest therein;
(d) A charge on any book debts of the company;
(e) A charge, not being a pledge, on any movable property of the
Company;
(f) A floating charge on the undertaking or any property of the
company including stock in trade;
(g) A charge on calls made but not paid;
(h) A charge on a ship or any share in a ship;
(i) A charge on goodwill, on a patent or license, on a trade mark, or
on a copy right or a license under a copyright.
(ii) A charge created without executing any instrument also requires
registration.
Execution of an instrument for creating a charge is not a condition
precedent for the requirement of registration.
(iii) A resolution of the Board of Directors can be taken to be fact of
creation of a Charge.
(iv) A charge created by operation of law or by an order of the court and
not by a contract is not a charge created by the company. It therefore
does not need registration as Section 125 is applicable only to the
charges created by the company itself.
(v) A charge on any movable property also requires registration (except a
charge by way of pledge of movable property) vide Clause (e) of Sub-
section (4). Thus, hypothecation of movable property is a charge that
requires registration so long as it is not a pledge.
(vi) A charge on book debts requires registration vide clause (d).
(vii) Pledge of promissory notes by endorsement thereof by a company in
favour of its creditor does not require registration. If a transaction
satisfies all the requirements of a valid pledge, it would be eligible for
exemption from registration under Clause (c) of Sub-section (4) of
Section 125; even it is also in the nature of mortgage. The reason for
exempting pledge from registration is that in pledge the debtor parts
with the possession of the property and passes it on to the creditor
which is a sufficient notice of creation of a charge and, therefore, no
registration of such a charge is necessary

18
 Charge

(viii) A pledge of fixed deposit receipts with a Bank for obtaining a loan
does not require registration. The Department of Company Affairs is of
the view that registration of pledge, though not mandatory, is
permissible at the instance of the company or of any interested person
(ix) A charge on future debts will be void if it is not registered. However,
absolute assignment of a future debt is not a charge and a document
making such assignment does not require registration.

Consequences of Non-Filing
4.6 The consequences of non-filing are as follows:
(i) Charge requiring registration is void against the liquidator and any
creditor of the Company if prescribed particulars are not filed with the
Registrar of Companies (RoC) within thirty days of the date of creation
of Charge.
(ii) The words “Filing” and “Registration” are not synonymous and
interchangeable. Filing is the delivering of particulars of Charges to the
ROC. The term Registration denotes the registration of the Charge by
the ROC office in its records as per provisions of Companies Act,
1956.
(iii) It is only the omission to file the particulars of a charge within 30
days. Charge void or within next 30 days with the permission of ROC.
(iv) Charge is valid even if RoC does not register it or makes unreasonable
delay in registering it, provided the particulars thereof have been filed
duly within thirty days.

Filing Defective Particulars

4.7 Regulation 17 of the Companies Regulations, 1956 provides that:
(i) RoC shall examine, or cause to be examined, every document
received in his office.
(ii) If any such document is found to be defective or incomplete in any
respect, the RoC shall direct the company to rectify the defect or
complete and no such document shall be registered and recorded until
the defect has been so rectified or the document has been completed
as the case may be.
(iii) RoC is, thus under an obligation to inform the Company about the
defects.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(iv) However, the document shall be treated as filed on the date on which
it was initially filed and not on the date it was rectified.

Date of Creation of Charge

4.8 The date mentioned in the instrument being the date of execution
thereof would be taken to be the date of creation of Charge. The period of 30
days would start from such date.
In the cases of mortgage of deposit of title deeds, it is the date on which the
title deeds are actually deposited and not the date of the Memorandum of the
deposit, even if the date of the memorandum is subsequent to the date of
deposit of the title deeds.

Procedure for Filing of Particulars of Creation of

Charge
4.9 The Companies (Central Government’s) General Rules and Forms,
1956 read with Sections 125, 127, 128, 130, 132, 135 and 138 of the
Companies Act, 1956 provides the procedure to file the documents. The
Ministry of Company Affairs vide its Notification No.GSR 56 (E) dated
12.2.2006 has issued the Companies (Central Government’s) General Rules
and Forms (Amendment) Rules, 2006. Accordingly, in place of physical filing
of documents, the e-filing has been made mandatory to all incorporated
companies whether private or public, listed or unlisted without any sectoral
preferences.
(i) The prescribed particulars together with copy of the instrument
creating the charge or Modification thereof or satisfaction of charge the
following Forms shall be filed with the ROC through electronic media
or through any other computer readable media:
Form No. 8: Creation of original Charge and Modification of charges.
Form No.10: Particulars for registration of charges for debentures.
(Both creation and modification covered).
Form No.13: Register of charges [merged with Form No.8 in the new
system].
Form No. 17: Memorandum of complete satisfaction of charge.
(ii) A copy of every instrument evidencing any charge or modification of
charge and required to be filed with the Registrar in pursuance of
Section 125, 127, 128 or 135 shall be verified as follows:

20
 Charge

(a) Where the instrument or deed relates solely to property situate

outside India, a copy shall be verified by a certificate either
under the seal of the company, or under the hand of a
responsible officer of the company, or under the hand of some
person interested in the mortgage or charge on behalf of any
person other than the company, stating that it is a true copy.
(b) Where the instrument or deed relates, whether wholly or partly,
to property situated in India, the copy shall be verified by a
certificate of a responsible officer of the company stating that it
is true copy or by a certificate of a public officer given under and
in accordance with the provisions of Section 76 of the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872.
(iii) Form 8 or Form 10 or Form 17 as the case may be, shall be signed on
behalf of the company and the charge-holder. The electronic-form
shall be authenticated by authorized signatories using digital
signatures, as defined in the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Certificate of Registration
4.10 As per Section 132 of the Companies Act, 1956 The Registrar shall
give a certificate under his hand of the registration of any charge registered
in pursuance of this Part, stating the amounts thereby secured; and the
certificate shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements of this Part as
to registration have been complied with.

Penalties under Section 142 of Companies Act,

1956
4.11 If default is made in filing with the Registrar for registration the
particulars:
(a) Of any charge created by the company;
(b) Of the payment or satisfaction of a debt in respect of which a charge
has been registered under this Part; or
(c) Of the issues of debentures of a series.
Requiring registration with the Registrar under the provisions of the Act, then,
unless the registration has been effected on the application of some other
person, the company, and every officer of the company or other person who
is in default, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees for every day during which the default continues.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Subject as aforesaid, if any company makes default in complying with any of

the other requirements of this Act as to the registration with the Registrar of
any charge created by the company or of any fact connected therewith, the
company, and every officer of the company who is in default, shall, without
prejudice to any other liability, be punishable with fine which may extend to
ten thousand rupees.

Significance of MCA 21 for Banks and Financial

Institutions
4.12 The Charge Registration information is an invaluable input for credit
evaluation. MCA 21 serves the interests of the Banks and Financial
Institutions through the process of "Registration of Charges".

Steps already taken by the Ministry of Company Affairs

4.13 With an Endeavour to improve and refine the charge registration
process and enhance the value that can be derived by the financial services
industry, following measures have been implemented by the Ministry of
Company Affairs:
(i) Digitization of more than 10 million pages related to all subsisting
charges and established inter-linkage between the charge data within
a given company (including creation of an Index of charges);
(ii) Simplification and unification of charge related forms including
adapting the same for electronic filing. These have been duly notified
and have come into force from 28th Feb, 2006;
(iii) Facility of authenticating these e-forms using digital signatures in
accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000;
(iv) Cross-referencing of charge creation document at the time of filing
anew charge document involving subsequent modification or
satisfaction;
(v) Introduction of concise, structured yet comprehensive Instrument of
Charge containing/ evidencing basic information in place of diverse
elaborate contracts.

22
 Charge

Steps to be taken by the Banks and Financial Institutions

4.14 The following are the guidelines given by the Ministry of Company
Affairs to the Banks and financial institutions:
(i) Ensure that newly notified e-forms are used henceforth. Copies of the
new e-forms and procedures for e-filing can be obtained from MCA
portal www.mca.gov.in.
(ii) Ensure that all e-forms that will henceforth be used for filing, are
authenticated using a digital signature.
(iii) Ensure that the authorized officers of your Bank or institution obtain
Digital Signature Certificates authenticating all relevant e-forms for the
purposes of registration of a charge with the ROC.
(iv) Encourage the borrowers to register creation/modification/satisfaction
of charges in a timely manner. In particular, encourage the charges to
be satisfied as there are a number of cases which are probably closed
and the same has not been done.
(v) While Ministry has taken due care to ensure completeness and
accuracy of data; it is very likely that there could be errors of omission
and commission in an exercise of this enormity. Please review the
existing charge data and highlight any discrepancies/errors to the
concerned ROC, so that the same can be corrected to ensure the
reliability of data.
(vi) Proactively support the enhancement of the Instrument of Charge and
enforce this as a standard across all charge transactions this will
facilitate us not only collation of data, but also explore the possibility
for use of sophisticated data mining technology/ tools (the current data
is largely unstructured and unfit for analysis).
(vii) Disseminate this information widely within your enterprise and facilitate
quick adoption.

23
 Chapter 5
Need, Scope and Applicability of
Stock Audit
This chapter throws light on the procedure of stock/ inventory audit, its
objectives and utility.

Objectives of Stock Audit

5.1 The various purposes expected to be achieved through stock audit
may be summarized as follows:
(i) To ensure proper preservation/ storage and handling of stock.
(ii) To identify whether there exist any obsolete stock and if yes, whether
it has been segregated and written off.
(iii) To verify whether the stock is adequately insured against fire and
other natural calamities (in appropriate cases against other risks like,
theft, burglary, marine, riots, etc. as per sanction).
(iv) To ascertain whether physical stock tally with the stock statement
submitted to the banker.
(v) To ascertain whether hypothecated stock is realizable.
(vi) To confirm that stock is owned by the borrower and finance is made
against value of paid stock only.
(vii) To examine the age wise debtors outstanding as per books and as per
statement submitted by the bank, steps taken for recovery of long
pending debtors and likely instances of debtors turning bad, if any.
Like any other audit, the rationale for conducting inventories audit also lies in
prevention and early detection of frauds and errors. Inventories audit acts as
a safeguard against occurrence of both internal and external frauds.

Scope of Stock Audit

5.2 The scope of the audit covers all the aspects that have a direct impact
on the working capital of the unit as well as the aspects relating to
Inventories that have a bearing on the bank finance. In other words, it deals
with the matters that have an effect on the security and liquidity in view of the
banker.

24
 Need, Scope and Applicability of Stock Audit

It encompasses the following aspects:

(i) Physical verification of inventories.
(ii) Verification of condition of storage.
(iii) Valuation of inventories and pointing out variances.
(iv) Valuation of obsolete/ non-moving Inventories.
(v) Age-wise categorization of inventories.
(vi) Evaluation of the Inventories management by the company.
(vii) Reconciliation of Inventories statements submitted with the accounting
records maintained by borrowers particularly, relating to quantity, rate,
value of inventories, age, marketability, etc.
(viii) Verification and evaluation of sundry creditors indicating separately
those relating to Inventories and their relationship with bank finance.
(ix) Commenting upon the sources of the raw materials, i.e., whether any
credit is available for the material and which of the items are available
against cash payments.
(x) Review of the Inventories valuation system.
(xi) Age-wise and value-wise qualification of debtors.
(xii) Determination of the drawing power.
(xiii) Determining adequacy of the insurance cover.
(xiv) Verification of documents/ securities.
(xv) Commenting upon the comparative Profitability and Inventories ratio.
(xvi) Ensuring that the compliance of the terms and conditions of limit
sanctioned.
(xvii) Verification of transactions with sister concerns, unsecured Loans to
Directors and others.
(xviii) Any other matters of interest to the bank.

Purpose of Stock Audit

5.3 Stock audit is essential for the following purposes:
(i) To give the bankers an assurance regarding the following:
(a) That a suitable environment for preservation of Inventories
exists.

25
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(b) That a responsible person for safeguarding the inventories is

always present.
(c) That degraded inventories have been written off.
(d) That adequate safeguards exist against fire and natural
calamities.
(e) That physical inventories tally with the inventories statements
submitted to bank.
(f) That the pledged/ hypothecated inventories is realizable.
(g) That inventories is owned by the borrower.
(h) That all sanction terms have been adhered to.
(i) That inventories are not stagnating and becoming obsolete.
(ii) To investigate wherever the party is not submitting periodic Inventories
statements regularly.
(iii) To investigate, where the accounts have been marked as
substandard.
(iv) To find out reasons when there are many qualifying remarks about
inventories and receivables in the Auditor’s report of the borrower.
(v) To find out suspect dealing in lending procedure.
(vi) To make the banks aware of their right of enforcement of the security
interest provided in the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial
Assets and enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.
(vii) To fulfill Head Office requirement.

Need of Stock Audit

5.4 Under the following circumstances, it is advisable for banks to get
annual stock audit done by the independent agencies:
(i) Where there are over dues in term loans or other accounts, where the
banks’ stake is high.
(ii) Where there is evidence of pressure on the borrower from the
creditors.
(iii) Where the inventories are stagnating.
(iv) Where party is not submitting inventories statements regularly.
(v) Where there are grounds to suspect that the position of chargeable
current assets indicated may not be correct.

26
 Need, Scope and Applicability of Stock Audit

(vi) Where there are too many qualifying remarks about inventories and
receivables in the Auditor’s report of a borrower.
(vii) Where the accounts is marked as sub-standard.
(viii) Suspect dealings in lending procedure, jeopardizing advances given.
(ix) An errant borrower, where Inventories audit is needed to supplement
actions of the branches for recovery.
(x) Any other valid reason, such as, mismanagement, heavy losses,
lockout, strikes, etc.
(xi) Fulfilling the criteria fixed by the head office to get done stock audit.

Special Consideration while Conducting Stock

Audit
5.5 Following should be considered while conducting stock audit:
(i) If the stock statement as shown in the hypothecation statement does
not tally with the stocks as in the balance sheet , then appropriate
action should be taken to find reasons for the differences.
(ii) It should be seen that the stocks have been properly valued.
(iii) It should be seen that Current Assets are not over-stated.
(iv) It should be seen that the Turnover is not over-stated.
(v) It should be seen that the stocks that are genuinely owned by the
borrower are shown in the accounts.

27
 Chapter 6
Responsibility of the Auditor
6.1 The responsibility of an auditor lies towards the employing authority
and the authority, which regulates the profession. In case of stock audit, the
bank or the financial institution employs the auditor. They place reliance on
the audit report and acts accordingly, due to which the auditors are
responsible. The reports issued by the auditor also cater to the needs of
others including the investors, society, creditors, etc.
6.2 The importance of stock audit is not limited only to compliance and
discharge of responsibility. Stock audits also acts as a warning signal to
those accounts, which are expected to turn into Non-performing assets
(NPA). It may be possible that certain advances are prospective NPAs and
their timely detection may prevent them from turning into actual NPAs. The
auditor should try to detect such inconsistencies and plug these loopholes so
as to prevent the misuse of funds. Thus, the stock audit assists the bank in
the process of early detection and prevention of NPAs, so that appropriate
action can be taken and such instances avoided. Auditors can perform this
function in view of their expertise in this area and help banks to make a
judgment. The auditor, thus should see to it that the purposes for which the
stock audit is undertaken are served satisfactorily.
Composition of NPAs of Public Sector Banks - 2002 To 2011
(Amount in ` crore)
As on March 31
Non-Priority
Priority Sector Public Sector Total
Sector
Bank Groups
Per Per Per
/ Years
Amount cent Amount cent Amount cent Amount
share share share
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
A. Nationalised Banks
2002 16173 45.78 18742 53.05 413 1.17 35328
2003 16886 47.10 18402 51.33 561 1.57 35849
2004 16705 47.74 17895 51.14 390 1.12 34990
2005 16381 49.81 16225 49.33 283 0.86 32888
2006 15124 53.66 12845 45.58 216 0.76 28185

28
 Responsibility of the Auditor

2007 15779 60.58 9965 38.26 302 1.16 26046

2008 16385 66.80 7941 32.38 202 0.82 24528
2009 15871 60.65 10001 38.22 297 1.13 26169
2010 19908 56.13 15283 43.09 280 0.79 35470
2011 25678 59.84 16957 39.52 273 0.64 42907
B. State Bank of India & its Associates
2002 8977 47.01 9628 50.42 490 2.56 19095
2003 8053 47.49 8379 49.41 526 3.10 16958
2004 7136 47.07 7803 51.48 220 1.45 15159
2005 7017 47.39 7624 51.48 168 1.13 14808
2006 7250 54.95 5819 44.10 125 0.95 13193
2007 7175 57.15 5193 41.36 188 1.50 12556
2008 8902 58.49 6222 40.88 97 0.63 15220
2009 8447 47.26 9250 51.75 177 0.99 17874
2010 10940 50.11 10646 48.77 244 1.12 21831
2011 15567 55.32 12567 44.66 6 0.02 28140
Public Sector Banks ( A+B)
2002 25150 46.21 28371 52.13 902 1.66 54423
2003 24938 47.23 26781 50.72 1087 2.06 52807
2004 23840 47.54 25698 51.24 610 1.22 50148
2005 23397 49.05 23849 50.00 450 0.94 47696
2006 22374 54.07 18664 45.11 341 0.82 41378
2007 22954 59.46 15158 39.27 490 1.27 38602
2008 25287 63.62 14163 35.63 299 0.75 39749
2009 24318 55.21 19251 43.71 474 1.08 44042
2010 30848 53.83 25929 45.25 524 0.91 57301
2011 41245 58.05 29524 41.56 278 0.39 71047
Source : Off-site returns (domestic) - Latest updated database, Division of banking
Supervision, RBI.

29
 Chapter 7
ICAI Pronouncements
7.1 As there is no Guidance Note or Standards prescribed for Stock audit,
the auditors should conduct the audit based on the generally accepted
auditing practices and to the best of his judgment and ability.

Relevant Engagement Standards

7.2 The auditor should apply the relevant Engagement Standards that will
facilitate him in the process of giving the assurance of repaying ability that
the bank seeks. The auditor should approach the audit with a perspective,
which enables him in the process of preventing and in the process, taking
corrective measures, for the probable frauds and errors that exist.
7.3 The audit may be conducted in five stages keeping in mind the
relevant Standard as Auditing (SAs).
The five stages in audit are:
1. Pre-commencement
2. Understanding the entity
3. Audit planning
4. Substantive procedures
5. Reporting

Pre-Commencement
SA 210 Agreeing the Terms The auditor and the client
[earlier AAS 26] of Audit Engagement should agree on the terms of
engagement.

Understanding the Entity

SA 315 and Identifying and The auditor should obtain
Assessing the Risks sufficient appropriate audit
of Material evidence about the assessed
Misstatements risks of material misstatement,
through through designing and
Understanding the implementing appropriate
Entity and its responses to those risks.

30
 ICAI Pronouncements

Environment
SA 330 [earlier The Auditor’s
AAS 6, 20 and Responses to
29] Assessed Risks
SA 250 [earlier Consideration of When the auditor believes that
*AAS 21] Laws and there is a non-compliance, he
Regulations in an should document the same and
Audit of Financial report it.
Statements
SA 550 [earlier Related Parties The auditor should obtain
AAS 23] sufficient audit evidence
regarding the transactions of
related parties that are
material to the financial
statements.
SA 402 [earlier Audit Considerations The auditor should consider
AAS 24] Relating to an Entity how a service organization
using a Service affects the accounting and
Organization internal control system of the
borrower.

Audit Planning
SA 200 [earlier Overall Objectives of The scope of an audit will be
AAS 2] the Independent based on the terms of
Auditor and the engagement, relevant laws and
Conduct of an Audit the pronouncements of the
in Accordance with Institute.
Standards on
Auditing
SA 300 [earlier Planning an Audit of Auditor should plan his work
AAS 8] Financial Statements based on the client’s business
to enable him to conduct an
effective audit in an efficient
and timely manner.
SA 299 [earlier Responsibility of Joint The division of work should be
AAS 12] Auditors adequately documented and
matters of relevance may be
communicated to the joint
auditors in writing.

31
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

SA 530 [earlier Audit Sampling The auditor should design and

[AAS 15] select an audit sample, perform
audit procedures thereon, and
evaluate sample results so as
to provide sufficient appropriate
audit evidence.
SA 570 [earlier Going Concern The auditor should consider the
AAS 16] appropriateness of the going
concern assumption underlying
the preparation of the financial
statements.
SA 220 [earlier Quality Control for an The audit firm should
AAS 17] Audit of Financial implement quality control
Statements policies and procedures
designed to ensure that all
audits are conducted in
accordance with Standards on
Auditing.

Substantive Procedures
SA 200 [earlier Overall Objectives of Auditor should comply with
AAS 1] the Independent certain basic principles
Auditor and the whenever an audit is carried
Conduct of an Audit out.
in Accordance with
Standards on
Auditing
SA 230 [earlier Audit Documentation Auditor should have proper
AAS 3] working papers that will enable
him to substantiate his results.
SA 240 [earlier The Auditor’s The auditor should approach
AAS 4] Responsibilities the audit with a perspective,
Relating to Fraud in which enables him in the
Audit of Financial process of preventing and in
Statements the process, taking corrective
measures, for the probable
frauds and errors that exist.
SA 500 [earlier Audit Evidence The auditor should evaluate
AAS 5] whether he has obtained
sufficient appropriate evidence

32
 ICAI Pronouncements

before he draws his

conclusions.
SA 610 [earlier Using the Work of The auditor should evaluate the
AAS 7] Internal Auditors internal audit function and
accordingly adopt less
extensive procedures than
otherwise required.
SA 620 [earlier Using the Work of an Auditor should carefully direct,
AAS 9] Auditor’s Expert supervise and review work
delegated to assistants and
should obtain reasonable
assurance that work done is
adequate for his purpose.
SA 600 [earlier Using the Work of In the process of giving an
AAS 10] Another Auditor assurance that the bank
requires, the auditor may have
to rely on the work of the other
auditors like the Internal
auditor, the Inspectors
appointed by the RBI, etc.
The principal auditor should
discuss with the other auditor
the audit procedures applied.
SA 580 [earlier Written The auditor should use his
AAS 11] Representations professional judgment in
determining matters on which
he wishes to obtain
representations by
management.
SA 320 [earlier Materiality in The auditor should consider
AAS 13] Planning and materiality and its relationship
Performing an Audit with audit risk when conducting
the audit.
SA 520 [earlier Analytical Procedures The auditor should apply
AAS 14] analytical procedures at the
planning and overall review
stages of the audit.
SA 560 [earlier Subsequent Events The auditor should consider the
AAS 19] effect of subsequent events on
the audit report.
SA 505 [earlier External The auditor should determine

33
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

AAS 30] Confirmations whether the external

confirmations are necessary to
support certain assertions in
financial statements.
SA 501 [earlier Audit Evidence- The auditor should perform
AAS 34] Specific audit procedures designed to
Considerations for obtain appropriate audit
Selected Items evidence during his presence in
physical checking.

Reporting
SA 260 [earlier Communication with The engagement letter should
AAS 27] those Charged with describe the form in which any
Governance communication on audit matters
of governance interest will be
made.
SA 700 [earlier Forming an Opinion The auditor should review and
AAS 28] and Reporting on assess the conclusions drawn
Financial Statements from the audit evidence
obtained as the basis for the
expression of an opinion on the
financial statements.

34
 Chapter 8
Audit Process
8.1 The audit process can be discussed in detail under the following
stages:
1 Pre-commencement
2 Understanding the entity
3 Audit planning
4 Substantive procedures
5 Reporting

Pre-commencement
8.2 Before commencement of any audit, the auditor should obtain the
following documents/ details from the client:
(i) Engagement letter from the bank.
(ii) All relevant details of the borrower including:
(a) Name of the unit and of the key persons.
(b) Address of both the registered office and factory of the unit.
(c) Nature of business.
(d) Sanction terms and conditions.
(e) Bank Account No, banking facilities enjoyed by the borrower.
(f) If the advance is a consortium lending, names of lead bank and
other banks and their participation.
(g) Last three months bank statements.
(h) Last three months Inventories statements.
(i) Latest inspection report of the account, Annual report or any
available audit reports.
(j) Insurance particulars.
(iii) An appointment before visiting the borrower’s office.
(iv) Wherever applicable, he should communicate with the previous stock
auditor.

35
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Understanding the Entity

8.3 The auditor should have the following information to understand the
entity:
(i) The nature of business.
(ii) The nature of goods, especially, with regard to the storage:
(a) whether stored at multiple locations,
(b) whether they are of deteriorating nature, etc.
(iii) The processes involved in manufacturing, production and ascertaining
whether any part of the work is to be sent out of the entity for further
processing.
(iv) The key personnel involved in preparation and submission of
Inventories statements and financial statements to the bank.
(v) The business of the entity in order to identify the events and risks that
may have an impact on the audit report.
(vi) The transactions of related parties that are material to the financial
statements. The auditor should obtain sufficient audit evidence in this
regard.
(vii) Effect of a service organization on the accounting and internal control
system of the borrower.
(viii) Effect of a CIS environment on the audit. The auditor should have
sufficient knowledge of the CIS to proceed with the audit.

Audit Planning
8.4 In planning the inventories and receivables audit, the auditor should
consider the following:
(i) The nature of the accounting and internal control systems used
regarding Inventories.
(ii) Inherent, control and detection risks, and materiality related to
Inventories.
(iii) Whether adequate procedures are established and proper instructions
issued for physical Inventories counting.
(iv) The timing of the count.
(v) The locations at which Inventories is held and its nature.
(vi) Whether an expert’s assistance is needed.

36
 Audit Process

8.5 When inventories is situated at various locations, the auditor would

decide, the location to be checked, taking into account the materiality of the
inventories and the risk of material misstatement and the assessment of
inherent and control risk at different locations.
Inventories are usually located at the following locations:
(i) Borrower’s premises
(ii) At the borrower’s plant.
(iii) In transit.
(iv) On Consignment.
(v) In a public warehouse.
(vi) For processing.

Substantive Procedures
8.6 The following steps are to be taken by the auditor for an effective stock
audit:

Before making Visit to Party

The auditor may obtain the following information before making visit to party:
(i) Obtain the Name, Address, Telephone No., and Fax No of the party.
(ii) Obtain the bank account numbers and full banking details of the party.
(iii) List down the various kinds of facilities enjoyed by party and the limits
thereof.
(iv) List down the date of sanction, sanction limit, drawing power & current
balance in the account. Obtain a copy (Xerox) of the original sanction
letter and the latest review note.
(v) Check whether the party is regularly submitting the statement of
inventories and book debts
(vi) Check whether the insurance policy has been issued in the favour of
bank or not.
(vii) Check the amount of insurance policy and date of expiry.
(viii) Go through previous visit record made by branch manager, advance
officer or any other officer of the branch.
(ix) Check whether the interest on overdraft or cash credit facility has been
regularly paid, same is the case of installment payments of term loan.

37
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(x) Check whether the operation of account is satisfactory or not.

(xi) Get an appointment before visiting the party’s office.
(xii) Check the due diligence certificate in the case of Lending under
Consortium Arrangement/ Multiple Banking Arrangements. [Refer
RBI/2008-2009/379 DBOD. No. BP.BC.110/08.12.001/2008-09 dated
February 10, 2009]

At the Borrower’s Office

The auditor may check the following at the borrower’s office:
(i) Check whether the party has maintained the inventory register.
(ii) Check whether other books of account have been maintained by the
party, i.e., cashbook, bank passbook, purchase book, sales book,
debtors ledger and creditor ledger, etc.
(iii) Check all statutory dues have been paid.
(iv) Check whether prescribed particulars of charges as detailed in Section
125(4) of this Companies Act along with the instrument by which the
charge is created has been filed with the Registrar for registration
within 30 days after the date of its creation.
(v) Check the sales and purchase invoices.
(vi) Bank name plate stating “Hypothecated to Name of Bank/ Financial
Institution” should be affixed on the wall of Inventories premise, e.g.
“Hypothecated to Corporation Bank”.
(vii) If there is damaged Inventories, then it should not be taken into
account for calculation of drawing power.
(viii) Inventories must be in sufficient quantity to cover the advance given
by the bank.
(ix) Inventories should be kept in proper condition
(x) Inventories must be kept in the premises, which should be free from
water leakages, fire, and other hazards, etc., so that damage to
inventories does not occur.
(xi) Fire-fighting equipment must be available in inventories premises and
it should be regularly checked to preserve its utility.
(xii) Specify the name of the person who has attended the auditor.

38
 Audit Process

Documents to be Obtained from the Borrower

The auditor may obtain the following documents from the borrowers:
(i) The auditor should obtain a written representation from management
regarding.
(a) The completeness of information provided regarding the
Inventories; and
(b) Assurance with regard to adherence to laid down procedures for
physical Inventories count.
(ii) Insurance premium receipt with respect to the insurance policy.
(iii) Bank/ Financial Institutions original sanction letter and the latest
review note.
(iv) Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account of the borrower for last 3
years.
(v) Inventories Statement & Book Debts Statement as on the last day of
the quarter and for the year and preceding 3 months before the date
of inspection.
(vi) Copy of Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association along
with Form No. 32 and 18, partnerships deed, Trust deed and its
byelaws as may be applicable.
(vii) Copy of audited financial statements.

Procedure for Verification of Pledged Inventories

The auditor may perform the following procedures to verify the pledged
inventories:
(i) Ensure that a board is prominently displayed at the entrance and
within the godown, clearly stating that the goods are hypothecated or
pledged with the respective bank or financial institution.
(ii) Examine the lock to ensure that bank’s/ financial institution’s name is
engraved there on.
(iii) Examine the layout of the godown where inventories are stored.
(iv) If the godown is rented, inspect the rent receipt and ensure that it is in
the name of the borrower. Also ensure that the rent is not in arrears. If
the godown is in ownership, verify the ownership agreement and
ensure that it is in the name of the borrower.

39
Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(v) Ensure that there is no other gate or entrance to the godown and if it is
there, it is properly locked from inside.
(vi) Ensure that the godown is located at the address given to the bank
and as mentioned in the insurance policy and other documents.
(vii) Ensure that the ventilators are covered by grills.
(viii) Ensure that no hazardous material is stored nearby the godown. If so,
it should be specifically mentioned in the insurance policy.
(ix) Ensure that no other Inventories other than those pledged to the bank
are stored in the godown without the specific prior authority and if they
are stored, then adequate insurance cover is taken.
(x) Ensure that the godown is in a good condition without and leakage or
Seepage of water and dampness.
(xi) Ensure that the bin cards are signed by the godown keeper and by all
inspecting officers.
(xii) Ensure that there is proper stacking of goods.
(xiii) Ensure that the deteriorated goods are not stored in the godown.
(xiv) Ensure that the goods are not re-pledged.

Procedure for Verification of Hypothecated Inventories

In the case of hypothecation accounts, there will always be some difference
between the inventories shown in the Inventories Statements and the actual
inventories on the date of inspection due to the time lag involved. Hence the
figures appearing in the Inventories statement and the borrower’s books
should be reconciled by making necessary adjustments for sales, purchases,
production and consumption since the date of Inventories Statement. The
audit should be designed in such a manner that if the inventories is large, an
extensive check should be made of the material control system.
The auditor may perform the following procedures to verify the hypothecated
inventory:
(i) Verify the actual inventories in the godown physically with that
declared in the Inventories Statement.
(ii) Verify that the record keeping is proper and that there are no
indications of dishonest or inefficient management.
(iii) Verify that there are adequate internal control systems commensurate
with the size of the concern.

40
 Audit Process

(iv) The auditor should review management’s instructions regarding:

(a) The application of control procedures, for example, collection of
used stock-sheets, accounting for unused stock-sheets, tagging
and count and re-count procedures;
(b) Accurate identification of the stage of completion of work in
progress, slow moving, obsolete, damaged or rejected items,
Inventories owned by a third party, for example, on consignment
and Inventories in transit; and
(c) Appropriate arrangements made regarding the movement of
Inventories between areas and the shipping and receipt of
Inventories before and after the cut-off date.
(v) The auditor should also consider cut-off procedures including details of
the movement of inventories just prior to, during and after the count to
ensure that such movements are appropriately included and/ or
excluded, as applicable from such inventories. For example:
(a) Goods purchased but not received are included in the
inventories;
(b) Goods sold but not dispatched are excluded from the
inventories.
(vi) Verify whether consistent and accepted accounting principles are
adopted for valuation of Inventories.
(vii) Evaluation of the security measures for prevention of theft and
pilferage.
(viii) Costing system in operation to ensure the value of the system in use
(ix) Go through the “Purchase register “, “Sales register “, “Goods received
note“, and “Goods returned note” and verify with the invoices. If these
registers are not prepared, then examine the books, which serve as a
record of the things made as in these registers.
(x) If there is any difference between the physical verification of the
inventories and the records, the same should be jotted down.
(xi) In case the inventories are lying with processors, verify whether the
branch has obtained a letter of no-lien from the processors.
(xii) Scrutinize at least 20 % of the total raw material and 85 % of the total
finished goods and semi-finished goods lying in the godown.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(xiii) Prepare the age-wise list of the inventories in the following manner:
(a) more than 12 Months.
(b) more than 6 Months Old and Less than 12 Months Old.
(c) more than 3 Months Old and Less than 6 Months Old.
(d) more than 1 Month Old and Less than 3 Months Old.
(e) less than 1 Month Old
(xiv) Bifurcate the inventories into paid and unpaid and ensure that only
paid inventories are taken for the purpose of calculation of drawing
power.
(xv) In case of unpaid inventories, the bank/ financial institution should not
provide any assistance or credit facility to the extent the insurance
policies cover the following risks:
(a) Fire.
(b) Marine
(c) Other Natural Calamities
(xvi) The inventories hypothecated should be within the norms as
suggested be the Tandon/ Chore committee. If the borrower is keeping
excess inventories than the prescribed norms, the borrowers should
give a time-bound program to reduce the level of inventories.
(xvii) A written declaration from the borrower about his existing credit
facilities with other banks, if any, and an undertaking that the
inventories will not be hypothecated to any other banks without the
prior consent of the bank is taken on record.
(xviii) Also verification of register should be done.
(xix) Details of the inventories as regards to quantity, quality, life, date of
purchase and price must be verified.
(xx) Check whether goods require any specialized preservation, and if so,
then proper arrangement should be made for facilitating such storage.
(xxi) Check the method, which has been employed for ascertaining the final
value of closing inventories.
(xxii) Check whether borrower follows the method consistently or not.
(xxiii) Verify the movement of inventories.
(xxiv) Check the work in progress and its basis of valuation and percentage
of completion.

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 Audit Process

Procedure for Verification of Hypothecated Book Debts

The auditor has to ensure that the book debts charged to the bank have
arisen out of genuine trade transactions. Hypothecation of books debts, to be
precise, is more like clean advances. Their safety depends upon the quality
of checks the branch exercises over the book debts statements, submitted
from time to time. Following checks, however, should be done by the auditor:
(i) The debts shown as outstanding should be shown in the respective
ledger account in the books of the borrower.
(ii) Few invoices/ excise gate passes should be checked to ensure actual
movement of Inventories.
(iii) Sundry Debtors may be classified as sound, i.e., fully realizable or
doubtful.
(iv) Prepare the age-wise list of the Book debts in the following manner:
(a) more than 12 Months Old
(b) more than 6 Months Old and Less than 12 Months Old
(c) more than 3 Months Old and Less than 6 Months Old
(d) more than 1 Month Old and Less than 3 Months Old
(e) less than 1 Month Old
The age of the book debts should not be more than stipulated in the
sanction. The debts of over a period of 3 months (or as stipulated in
sanction) should be excluded while estimating the drawing power.
(v) The debt should represent sales and service transactions only.
(vi) Ledger of sundry debtors and sales-register should be pursued.
(vii) Bad or doubtful debts should be excluded while calculating the
drawing power.
(viii) The advances have been allowed to reputed corporate borrowers after
a careful assessment of the creditworthiness of debtors, besides that
of the borrowers.
(ix) Examine the statement of Debtors to ascertain whether there is undue
concentration of debts involving large amount from a few parties. If so,
examine whether limits for individual debtors have been fixed and
whether the limits are adhered to.
(x) Compare the statement of book debts with the debtors ledger to
ascertain the genuineness of the debt, aging of debt and cases of non-
realization of long outstanding debts.

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(xi) All realizations are duly deposited in the account and the borrower
furnishes realization statement of book debts.
(xii) The drawing power is revised from time to time on the basis of
statements and the required margin is maintained in the account.
While valuing debtors, it should be seen that the bad and doubtful debts have
been written off so as to reflect their correct value.
The following are the indicators that the debts are doubtful and uncollectible:
(i) Terms of credit have been repeatedly ignored.
(ii) Stagnation or lack of healthy turnover.
(iii) Payments have been received but balances are increasing
continuously.
(iv) Cheques are repeatedly dishonored.
(v) Debt under litigation, arbitration or dispute.
(vi) Collection becomes time barred.
(vii) Debtor is unable to repay the due amount due to insolvency or
disowns the debt.

Confirmations
Where significant stocks of the entity are held by third parties, the auditor
should examine that the third parties are entitled to hold the stocks of the
entity. The auditor should also directly obtain from the third parties written
confirmation of the stocks held. Arrangements should be made with the entity
for sending requests for confirmation to such third parties. In the process of
audit, external evidence is considered to be more reliable than internal
evidence. Therefore, confirmation of Accounts Receivables, which are
hypothecated for the purpose of loans from financial institutions or bank, is a
generally practiced auditing procedure to obtain such evidence. This
establishes reliably the existence and the value of the debts as is reflected in
the accounts.
The entire process is as follows:
(i) Select the parties for obtaining confirmation.
(ii) Design the confirmation request.
(iii) Communicate the confirmation request to the third party.
(iv) Obtain response from the third party.

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 Audit Process

(v) Evaluate the information provided by the third party and scrutinize the
same for reliability.
The date of request of confirmation is also very important.
The date may be as follows:
(i) Year end date
(ii) Date prior to year-end.
Generally, the confirmation request should be sent approximately a week
before the date specified in the request, if the debtor is in a foreign country.
The auditor should first obtain a schedule of accounts receivable. The auditor
should also determine that there are no totaling errors. He should investigate
the credit balances and compare all or a selected sample of account
balances with the account balances in the ledgers.
The auditor may verify the following accounts:
(i) All accounts with a balance over a pre-determined amount. The
predetermined amount is based on the auditor’s assessment of
materiality.
(ii) All accounts having zero balances.
(iii) Accounts with old unpaid balances especially when subsequent sales
have been paid off.
(iv) Accounts written off during the year under review.
(v) Certain accounts that had appeared on the prior year’s accounts
receivable schedule but not on the current year’s schedule.
(vi) All accounts with credit balances.

Drawing Power
The auditor may perform the following procedure regarding drawing power:
(i) Ensure margin requirements as per sanction terms are considered.
(ii) Check for arithmetical accuracy.
(iii) Check that old and obsolete inventories are excluded.
(iv) Check that debtors greater than 90 days are excluded.
(v) Check that unpaid stock [ Sundry Creditors] has been excluded.
(vi) Check that the statement is submitted as per bank’s format only.

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(vii) Drawing power is required to be arrived at based on the Inventories

statement which is current.
(viii) The outstanding in the account based on drawing power calculated
from Inventories statements older than three months, would be
deemed as irregular.
(ix) The account will become NPA if such irregular drawings are permitted
in the account for a continuous period of 90 days even though the unit
may be working or the borrower’s financial position is satisfactory.

Verification of Insurance Coverage

The auditor may perform the following procedures to verify the insurance
coverage:
(i) Check whether the Inventories hypothecated is adequately insured.
(ii) Check whether the policy is in force.
(iii) Check whether inventories with third parties are also covered.
(iv) Check whether bank clause is included in the policy.
(v) Check whether the Inventories is covered against all major perils.
(vi) Check whether the collateral security is also insured adequately.

Documents to be taken as Working Papers

The auditor should comply with the requirements of the SA 230 [Earlier
AAS 3] regarding documentation and gather the following records as
documentary evidence for the purpose of facilitating him in the process of
audit:
(i) Auditor’s report on Inventories for the previous three years.
(ii) Bank statements of the last 3 months.
(iii) A statement showing previous years Opening Inventories, Purchases,
Sales, Work in progress and Finished Goods.
(iv) Details of Installed capacity, licensed capacity and Actual production
with documentary evidence.
(v) Copies of sales invoices for last 12 months, taking on an average at
least 3 entries per month and checking the process of collection.
(vi) Copies of purchase invoices for last 12 months, taking on an average
at least 3 entries per month and checking the process of collection.
(vii) A certified copy of the constitution of entity represented by either the

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 Audit Process

Partnership Deed or the Memorandum and Articles of Association or

the Trust deed for Trust, etc.
(viii) In case of a company, the following copies: (a) a copy of Form No.18
along with filing fees receipt for registered office address (b) A copy of
Form No 32 along with filing fees receipt for directors. (c)A copy of
Form No. 8 and 13 along with filing fees receipt and charge
registration certificate (d) a copy of Form No.8 and 17 along with filing
fees receipt & certificate for registration of charge and balance sheet.
(ix) The Profit and Loss Account for the last 3 years.
(x) Month-wise Inventories statement of the last one year.
(xi) Month-wise book debt statement of the last one year.
(xii) In case of a manufacturing concern, a brief summary of the
manufacturing process.
(xiii) A list of books and records maintained for the purpose of Inventories,
debtors and security.
(xiv) An organization chart giving an overview of the organizations’
hierarchy, along with their respective responsibility.
(xv) A flowchart depicting the movement of raw materials, work in progress
and finished goods.
(xvi) The credit policy as is employed by the company.
(xvii) A detailed statement of debtors showing the date of the bill and age-
wise classification of debtors.
(xviii) An Inventories statement as on the date of physical verification along
with date of purchase with the detailed breakup of its components.
(xix) A copy of agreement of ownership / Lease agreement / Rent
agreement for office / Factory / Godown.
(xx) A list of sundry creditors with date of bill for goods purchased on date
of physical verification.
(xxi) A certified copy of the Insurance policy in force.
(xxii) A certified copy of loan sanction letter.
(xxiii) Comprehensive management representation letter.
(xxiv) A certified copy of Excise Return (RT-12), Sales tax return and Income
tax return of the previous year.
(xxv) Copy of registration certificate under Shops and Establishment Act,

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Register of Firms, Pollution control Board, Food and Drugs Approval

Authority – other laws as applicable.
(xxvi) A note specifying the accounting policies that are employed.
(xxvii) A detailed note on accounting system for purchases, sales and
inventories.
The auditor should verify the documents that are available with the bank
branch and satisfy him about the adequacy of such documents. As far as
possible the auditor should not call for these documents, if they are
insufficient since the borrower may be hesitant to divulge his trade
documents to a third party. Instead the banks should be asked to call for
these documents.

Reporting
8.7 The auditor may consider the following while reporting:
(i) The report has to be submitted to the authority appointing the auditor.
(ii) It should be in the prescribed format and should be exhaustive and
inclusive of all facts and summaries.
(iii) It should include the date, time, location of visit and the name of the
officials conducting the audit and the official of the entity present at the
entity at the time of conducting the audit.
(iv) Copies of confirmations, management representations, etc should be
submitted along with the report.
(v) If the auditor is unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence
concerning the existence of Inventories or adequacy of procedures
adopted by the management in respect of physical inventories count,
the auditor should make a reference to a scope of limitation in his audit
report.
(vi) If the inventories is not disclosed appropriately in the financial
statements, the auditor should issue a qualified opinion.

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 Chapter 9
Significant Observations in Cash-Credit
Accounts
9.1. The significant observations made by the auditor in cash-credit
accounts are as follows:
(i) Inventories / Book Debts / QIS statements not furnished in time.
(ii) Inventories Statement received from borrower are filed without
scrutiny. Non moving inventories and not identified.
(iii) Age wise analysis of debtors are not done. Debtors more than 90 days
are considered for drawing power.
(iv) Drawing power not correctly calculated.
(v) Inadequate insurance or insurance is not available, Policy without
Bank Clause/coverage of all risk.
(vi) Operations in the accounts are not scrutinized with reference to
projections, QIS statements, audited accounts, etc.
(vii) In case of consortium advances and account is not monitored in close
coordination with the member bank.
(viii) Physical verification of assets and inventories are not done as per
stipulation. Defects pointed out by the Inspectors are neglected.
(ix) Valuation of inventories are not verified.
(x) Confirmation for Inventories with third party are not obtained or
physical verification of inventories are not done.
(xi) Material received from third parties for job work is not excluded while
calculating drawing power.
(xii) Diversion of funds and inter account transfers are not properly
monitored.
(xiii) Accounts are not reviewed/renewed at regular interval.
(xiv) Monitoring of account where sub-limit is transferred to branches.
(xv) Borrower having operations with other bank.
(xvi) To cover the valuation of security, revaluation of assets may not be
genuine.

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 Chapter 10
Inadequacy of Stock Audit
10.1 Conducting Stock Audit does not necessarily guarantee absolute
veracity of the stock records or even the healthy financial position, for that
matter. There are certain inherent deficiencies that are inevitably there. They
take place in the following ways:
(i) The auditors appointed for the purpose of Stock Audit cannot be
expected to be aware of the industry scenario precisely. If the risk
assessment and demand analysis is done without taking into
consideration the future industry prospects, then it will undoubtedly
reveal a wrong picture and hence a futile report as a result.
(ii) The scope of the auditor’s work is limited; in the sense that he is not
allowed to delve deep in the technical aspects. Also it is not humanely
possible for him to be conversant with the technical details and this
prevents him from judging the concept of technological obsolesce,
which is a critical aspect as far as stocks are concerned.
(iii) Since the system of allocation of stock audit is not based on a well-
worked out methodology, it is sometimes allocated without considering
the proper evaluation of the competence, manpower or experience. As
a result, it fails to serve the purpose it was meant to serve.
(iv) Several banks resort to window dressing for the purpose of reflecting a
healthy financial position than it actually is. This may be in the form of
certain liabilities which are not reflected in the books. This is
particularly true in cases where the borrower has various group
companies.

Remedies
10.2 It is not possible to deal with all the inconsistencies in a fool-proof
manner. However the following can be done:
(i) The appointment procedure of the Stock auditors can be more
scientific and should be based on merit.
(ii) As required by SA 310 [ Earlier AAS-20], the auditor should acquaint
himself with the Knowledge of the business, before he starts the audit,
both technical as well as financial aspects, to give him a better
understanding.

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 Inadequacy of Stock Audit

10.3 Special considerations while conducting Stock Audit:

(i) If the stock statement as shown in the hypothecation statement does
not tally with the stocks as in the balance sheet, then appropriate
action should be taken to find reasons for the differences
(ii) It should be seen that the stocks have been properly valued, after
considering the relevant accounting principles, Standards on Auditing.
(iii) It should be seen that current assets are not over-stated.
(iv) It should be seen that the turnover is not over-stated.
(v) It should be seen that the accounting policies with regard to stock and
debtors is employed.
(vi) It should be seen that the stocks that are genuinely owned by the
borrower are shown in the accounts.
.

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 Chapter 11
Physical Verification of Inventories
11.1 The auditor should check the following regarding the inventories.
(i) Ensuring whether the entity is maintaining proper records of
inventories.
(ii) Conduct of physical verification of inventories having regard to the
nature of inventories, their locations, quantities and feasibility of
conducting the physical verification.
(iii) whether any material discrepancies were noticed on physical
verification.
(iv) if so, whether the same .have been properly dealt with in the books of
accounts.

Maintenance of Records
11.2 What constitutes “proper records” is a big question. However, in
general, records relating to inventories should contain, inter alia, the
following:
(i) Particulars of the item like nomenclature, nature, etc.
(ii) Identification code of the item.
(iii) Details regarding quantity of the receipts, issues, balances and dates
of transactions in a chronological manner.
(iv) Relevant document number and department identification, if any.
(v) Location.
(vi) If priced stores ledger is maintained, the records of the inventory
should also disclose the prices at which the recording of the issues
and receipts is made.
(vii) The records should contain the particulars in respect of all items of
inventories. The auditor should also satisfy himself that the stock
registers are updated as and when the transactions occur. The auditor
should also verify that the transactions entered in stock registers are
duly supported by relevant documents.

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(viii) The purpose of showing the location of the inventory is to make

verification possible. The record of movement/custody of the inventory
should be maintained.
(ix) In cases where a company is maintaining stock records for work-in-
progress, say, for compliance with the requirements of the section
209(1)(d) of the Companies Act, 1956, the auditor would normally be
able to obtain relevant information in respect of work-in-progress from
such records. However, in many cases, it might be impracticable to
maintain stock records for work-in-progress. In such cases, the auditor
should consider the fact whether the company, at any point of time,
can arrive or calculate the quantity and amount involved in the work-in-
progress. Some of the factors that might be used in arriving at the
value of work in progress include the production cycle, input/ output
ratio analysis, production and stock records for the immediately
following period. If the company is able to do so, the auditor may form
an opinion that proper records relating to the work-in-progress have
been kept and, accordingly, no adverse comment of the auditor under
this clause would be required. However, before adopting this as an
audit procedure, the auditor should satisfy himself as to the
impracticability of maintenance of stock registers of work-in-progress.
(x) It is not possible to specify any single form in which the records should
be maintained. This would depend upon the mode of account-keeping
(manual or computerized), the number of operating locations, the
systems of control, etc.

Conducting Physical Verification

11.3 Physical verification of inventories would mean verification with regard
to the nature of inventories, their locations, quantities and feasibility of
conducting the physical verification. This would require the auditor to make
use of his professional judgement.
There are two principal methods of physical verification of inventories:
periodic and continuous.
Under the periodic physical verification method, physical verification of
inventories is carried out at a single point of time, usually at the year-end or
at a selected date just prior to or shortly after the year-end. Under the
continuous physical verification method, physical verification is carried out
throughout the year, with different items of inventory being physically verified
at different points of time. However, the verification programme is normally
so designed that each material item is physically verified at least once in a

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year and more often in appropriate cases. The continuous physical

verification method is effective when a perpetual inventory system of record-
keeping is also in existence. Some entities use continuous physical
verification methods for certain stocks and carry out a full count of other
stocks at a selected date.

Frequency of Counts
11.4 Count frequency should be calculated to meet your previously stated
objectives. Factors such as the effects on customer service and
manufacturing operations, and the potential for inaccuracy within the specific
product group will affect the frequency of your counts. Even factors such as
manufacturing and supplier lead times should be considered in prioritizing
counts. Certain key raw materials critical to your operation that are highly
prone to variances due to high scrap factors or variation in manufacturing
processes may need to be counted every week (or day) while some very
slow-moving finished goods may only need to be counted once a year. As
your count program evolves, the frequency of counts will change based upon
the accuracy levels achieved.

Process of Verification
11.5 Normally, before commencement of verification, the management
should issue appropriate instructions to stock-taking personnel. Such
instructions should cover all phases of physical verification and preferably be
in writing. It would be useful if the instructions are formulated by the entity in
consultation with the auditor. The auditor should examine these instructions
to assess their efficacy. The auditor has to use his professional judgement
regarding the nature, timing and extent of the procedures to be applied in
forming his opinion.
(i) The auditor should ascertain whether the management has instituted
adequate cut-off procedures. For example, he may examine a sample
of documents evidencing the movement of inventories into and out of
stores, including documents pertaining to periods shortly before and
shortly after the cut-off date, and check whether the inventories
represented by those documents were included or excluded, as
appropriate, during the stock-taking.
(ii) The auditor should review the original physical verification sheets and
trace selected items - including the more valuable ones - into the final
inventories. He should also compare the final inventories with stock

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records and other corroborative evidence, e.g., inventory statements

submitted to banks.
(iii) Where continuous stock-taking methods are being used by the entity,
the auditor should, in addition to performing the audit procedures
discussed above, pay greater attention to ascertaining whether the
management:
(a) maintains adequate stock records that are kept up-to-date;
(b) has established adequate procedures for physical verification of
inventories, so that in the normal circumstances, the programme
of physical verification will cover all material items of inventory at
least once during the year; and
(c) investigates and corrects all material differences between the
book records and the physical counts.
(iv) The auditor should determine whether the procedures for identifying
damaged and obsolete items of inventory operate properly.
(v) The auditor may determine the reasonableness and adequacy of the
procedures of physical verification of inventories by examining the
related records and documents. These records and documents would
also include the policy of the company regarding physical verification.
The documents which can be examined by the auditor would include
(a) written instructions given by the management to the concerned
staff engaged in the verification process;
(b) physical verification inventory sheets duly authenticated by the
field staff and responsible officials of the company;
(c) summary sheets/consolidation sheets duly authenticated by the
responsible officials;
(d) internal memos etc., with respect to the issues arising out of
physical verification of inventory;
(e) any other relevant documents evidencing physical verification of
inventory.
(vi) In case where the inventories are material and the auditor is placing
reliance on the records, documents, information and explanations
provided by the management, it would be desirable that the auditor, in
order to substantiate the fact that the physical verification is carried
out in accordance with the procedure explained by the management,
attends the physical verification. Where the auditor is present at the

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time of stock-taking, he should observe the procedure of physical

verification adopted by the stock-taking personnel to ensure that the
instructions issued in this behalf are being actually followed. The
auditor should also perform test-counts to satisfy himself about the
effectiveness of the count procedures. In carrying out the test counts,
the auditor should give particular consideration to those inventories
which have a high value either individually or as a category of
inventories.
(vii) While commenting on this clause, the auditor should point out the
specific areas where he believes the procedure of inventory
verification is not reasonable or adequate.

Discrepancies on Verification of Inventory

11.6 The auditor needs to examine whether material discrepancies have
been noticed on verification of inventories when compared with book records.
Such an examination is possible when quantitative records are maintained
for inventories but in many cases circumstances may warrant that records of
individual issues (particularly for stores items) are not separately maintained
and the closing inventory is established only on the basis of a year-end
physical verification. Where such day-to-day records are not maintained, the
auditor will not be able to arrive at book inventories except on the basis of an
annual reconciliation of opening inventory, purchases and consumption. This
reconciliation is possible when consumption in units can be co-related to the
production, or can be established with reasonable accuracy. Where such
reconciliation is not possible, the auditor would be unable to determine the
discrepancies.

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 Chapter 12
Valuation of Inventories
12.1 If the inventories are not valued properly then it projects a wrong
picture of the financial statements of the company. The valuation of
inventories therefore is an important area that needs to be addressed well by
the auditors.
12.2 There cannot be a universal principle to be applied for the purpose of
valuation. Different methods of valuation are adopted, depending upon the
type of Inventories, in particular and the type of the business, in general. The
auditor is, therefore, required to ascertain the method of valuation that best
suits the requirement.
12.3 However, it should be borne in mind that he should adopt the principle
of conservatism while valuing the inventories. The inventories should be
valued at cost or market price, whichever is lower. The fundamental concept
is that provision for losses should be made and unrealized profits should not
be considered. This helps the accounts to project the true value in the real
sense.
12.4 An auditor is, therefore, expected to do the following regarding the
valuation of inventories:
(i) Find out the cost price of the inventories.
(ii) Determine the market value of the inventories.
(iii) Since different types of inventories require different methods of
valuation, ascertaining the appropriate method of valuation and
valuing it, accordingly.
(iv) Value the obsolete inventories/ non-moving/ scrap inventories

I Actual Cost of the Inventories

12.5 Two aspects need to be addressed while arriving at the cost price:
(a) The method of valuation and
(b) Compliance of the Section 145A of the Income Tax Act, 1961
Method of Valuation
12.6 The term, cost price is elusive since it is not well defined anywhere.
The auditor has to use his discretion to decide which method of ascertaining

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the cost price best suits his requirement. There are various methods that can
be adopted. However, the Institute of Chartered Accountants has prescribed
the methods that are mandatory for the valuation of inventories, by means of
the Accounting Standard 2, which deals with the valuation of inventories.
These methods are specific identification method, First-in-First-out method
and Weighted Average Method. It is the duty of the auditor to verify that the
inventories have been valued by either of the above methods. The auditor
should report any variance from the same.
A brief idea of these methods is given as under:
1. Specific Identification Method: If the materials that have been
purchased are utilized for a particular job, the actual purchase price
can be charged as the cost of the Inventories. This method is
appropriate when there are minimum fluctuations in the prices.
2. First in First out Method (FIFO): This is the most widely used method
adopted for valuing the Inventories. Here the Inventories is valued on
the basis of the principle that the Inventories is utilized in the order in
which it is received. Hence the Inventories remaining is from the latest
purchase.
3. Weighted Average Method (WAM): This is a relatively practical method
of valuation .As per this method; the Inventories is valued at an
average price which is arrived at every time a purchase is made. The
simple principle of average should be applied .In other words the total
value of the Inventories should be divided by the quantity to arrive at
the weighted average price.
Any of the above methods can be employed for the purpose of valuation of
inventories. If any other method is employed, the auditor should take note of
it and report the discrepancy in the report that is submitted.
Compliance with the Section 145A of the Income Tax,
1961
12.7 The Income Tax Act, 1961 has inserted Section 145A from Accounting
Year 1998-99. This section requires that while valuing Inventories the
method employed should be:
• In accordance with the method regularly employed by the assessee.
• Further adjusted to include the amount of any cess, tax, fee (by
whatever name called) actually paid or incurred or fee by the assessee
to bring the goods to the place of its location and condition as on the
date of valuation.

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While valuing the Inventories, it should be ensured that the above

requirement of the statute is complied with. The auditor should obtain a
satisfaction to the effect that the value of the Inventories is inclusive of any
cess, tax or fee that has been either incurred or paid on such Inventories.
The auditor should bring any lapse on this account to the notice in the report.

II Market Price of the Inventories

12.8 After having arrived at the cost price of the Inventories, on the basis of
the aforementioned parameters, the auditor has to find out the market price
of the inventories. As the inventories is to be valued at cost or market price
whichever is lower, it is an important step in the process of valuation. The
market price may seem to be a very simple term, in the sense that it is the
price of the inventories that prevails in the market. However, in order to
arrive at the market price, the purpose for which the inventories is held is to
be found out. If it is held for use then the market value is the value arrived at
net of selling expenses. Similarly, if the inventories is required to be
replaced, then the cost of replacement as on the date of balance sheet
should be taken as the market price.
Thus, after arriving at the market price on the above basis, the auditor can
quantify the value of the inventories.

III Valuation of Different Types of Inventories

12.9 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India defines Inventories to
include, stores, spare parts, loose tools, raw materials, materials in process,
finished products, waste or by products, etc. Each type of Inventories entails
different methods of valuation depending on their unique characteristics. The
following points should be kept in mind while arriving at their value:
(i) Stores: Stores have been defined as that component of Inventories
that is not held for sale. They are in fact, consumed in the
manufacturing process. Examples of stores would include, oil, tallow,
grease, dyes, fuel, etc. Since they are not Inventories in the real sense
of the term, they should be shown as a separate item in the balance
sheet and the amount of stores consumed should be debited to the
Manufacturing Account, so as to arrive at the true cost of manufacture.
The stores should be shown at cost price only. However, any
deterioration in the price should be incorporated to arrive at their true
value.
(ii) Spare Parts: It refers to the parts that form part of any Plant and
Machinery. If any such spare part is consumed, they should be

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capitalized as part of the asset they have been used for. Spare parts
should be valued at the cost price only. It is the duty of the auditor to
get a list of these spare parts from the Works Manager so that he can
verify their existence.
(iii) Raw Materials: It consists of the Inventories that is consumed in the
process of manufacture. Raw material is valued at the invoice price,
i.e. the cost price plus a reasonable proportion of freight, duty, etc that
has been paid with regard to the Inventories. Either the actual cost or
the average price can be taken as a method of valuation of raw
material, depending upon the availability of data. For any diminution in
the value of the raw materials, sufficient provision of the fall in the
value should be made.
(iv) The raw materials should be valued at a price, which is never higher
than the market price. In case of the goods, whose value appreciates
with the passage of time, they are valued at a price higher than the
cost price. It is the auditor’s duty to see to it that they are not valued at
a price that is higher than the price of the similar goods.
(v) Materials in Process: The goods which are not completed on the date
of the balance sheet, some process needs to be carried out thereon,
are called materials in process or semi-manufactured goods. These
should be valued at cost plus a proportionate amount of wages and
other charges, on the basis of percentage of completion. The auditor
should verify that the percentage of completion has been worked out
properly and hence valuation is in order.
(vi) For this purposes, the auditor should or may examine the production /
costing records (e.g. cost sheets), hold discussion with the personnel
concerned, and obtain expert opinion, where necessary.
(vii) In certain cases, due to the nature of the product and the
manufacturing process involved, physical verification of work–in–
process may be impracticable. In such cases the auditor should lay
greater emphasis on ascertaining whether the system from which the
W- I- P is ascertained, is reliable.
(viii) Finished Goods: The Finished goods are valued at the cost price. The
cost price is arrived at after adding all the expenses incurred in the
process of manufacture. The auditor should verify that the expenses
have been appropriately apportioned.
(ix) Goods on Consignment: It may happen sometimes that the goods are
sent on a consignment basis and they do not arrive till the date of the

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balance sheet. In this case, the goods should be valued at the cost
price plus proportionate expenses like, freight, dock dues, etc. the
auditor should insist on the consignee to verify the quantity of
Inventories lying with him. Any expenses incurred during the process
of sale, it should be allocated only to the goods sold and not added to
the unsold Inventories. Here again the principle of conservatism
should be followed, a price higher than the market price should not be
taken, while provision for losses should be done. If the Inventories is
valued at selling price, when sent as a consignment, it should be
ascertained that the Inventories should be valued after making the
adjustments, or else the Inventories will be over-valued.
For computing accumulation of huge inventories, the number of days
holding of Inventories etc, the following methods may be followed:
1) For Raw Material:
Holding of raw material stock
= X 365
Annual raw material consumed
2) For Inventories in Process:
Holding of inventories in process
= X 365
Annual cost of production
3) For Finished Goods:
Holding of finished goods
= X 365
Annual cost sales
4) For sundry debtors:
Holding of sundry debtor's
= X 365
Annual sales
5) For sundry creditors
Holding of sundry creditor's
= X 365
Annual purchases

IV Valuation of Obsolete/ Dormant/ Slow-Moving/

Excess Inventories
12.10 The term obsolete inventories refers to the inventories that has
become unsalable due to following reasons:
(a) Discontinuation of the product in the market

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(b) Physical Deterioration

(c) Change in the design of the product
(d) Substitution by a better material in lieu of the existing one.
The auditor should make an effort to find out the inventories that have
become obsolete due to any of the above reasons. After preparing a list of
them, they should be presented to the management who can decide whether
they should be disposed off or kept. Obsolete inventories should be valued at
net realizable value.
Dormant inventories mean the Inventories whose movement is temporarily
hampered due to a variety of reasons, but they are expected to be consumed
in the days to come. One such reason for their slow movement is that the
Inventories is consumed in the manufacture of goods that are sold
seasonally and hence their production is stopped during off-season. Slow
moving Inventories means the Inventories with a low turnover rate. In other
words, they move at a slow rate.
The dormant and slow moving Inventories should be valued at net realizable
value, cost or replacement price, whichever is the lowest. The auditor should
make a list of these items also and speed up their disposal, if necessitated
by the management.
Excess Inventories, as the name suggests, is the excess of Inventories that
has accumulated due to either unwarranted purchase of goods, lapse in the
forecast of sales leading to excess Inventories than can be consumed,
unhealthy practices in the Inventories management, etc. The question
whether any Inventories is in excess is subjective and depends on the
discretion of the company. In general any Inventories that is in excess of
three years usage will be considered as excess Inventories. The auditor
should see to it that the excess Inventories is sold and unless there is any
possibility of its usage in the production process.
The auditor should bear in mind the fact that either of the above kind of
Inventories necessitates additional blockage of funds, mis-utilisation of
space, maintenance cost, Storage cost and fear of pilferage and further
deterioration. This has an adverse impact on the bottom line of the company.
He should therefore make an effort to see that proper controls are in force so
as to ensure that such inventories are kept under check and as far as
feasible avoided.

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 Valuation of Inventories

Controls
12.11 The controls that should be exercised by the auditor are as follow:
A) Controls with regard to the Scrap, Waste and
Spoilage
The term scrap refers to that Inventories that arises due to the manufacturing
process and has very small value. Waste, on the other hand means goods
that have no recovery value. While, spoilage refers to those goods that do
not meet the quality standards and hence have to dispose off at less than
their actual value.
The auditor should bear the following points in mind while exercising control
over the scrap, waste and spoilage:
(i) The management should establish normal rates of scrap at which
scrap is generated after having taken into account the past records
and experience.
(ii) Proper documentation of the scrap records should be done.
(iii) The actual scrap realized should be compared with the standard set
and the variance should be reported.
(iv) The scrap should be considered as good units for the purpose of
valuing the Inventories. Any sale proceeds derived from the sale of
such scrap should be deducted from the cost of production.
(v) An important area for the auditor to keep a check is that of sale
proceeds of the scrap. He should satisfy himself that the sale
proceeds are properly accounted and they have not been
misappropriated.
(vi) The scrap units should be properly stored in the stores department.
(vii) Top management should be aware of the scrap generated and hence
a periodic report should be generated.
B) Controls with regard to Stores Maintenance
Raw material forms the most important component in the cost sheet and
hence an effort should be made that optimum Inventories is maintained. An
auditor should see that the following points have been considered and any
deviation from these should be immediately reported:
(i) It should be seen that the Inventories requirement has been properly
planned so as to avoid a problem of either excess Inventories or
shortage of Inventories. If the Inventories is more than which is

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required, it will lead to excess blockage of funds, in the other scenario

if the Inventories is short, it will hamper the production process.
(ii) The Inventories should be properly handled and stored so as to
prevent deterioration in value.
(iii) The stores department should be well located so as to minimize the
transportation cost.
(iv) There should be an effective system for recording the movement of
Inventories. Any movement should be well documented.
(v) The system of First-in-First-out should be adopted so as to prevent
obsolescence of old Inventories
(vi) Any non-moving item should be identified and written off, if
necessitated.
(vii) The principle of re-order point should be followed so as to ensure
continuous supply of goods at any point of time.
(viii) A system of Continuous Inventories-taking should be in force

Auditor’s Duty with regard to the Valuation of

Stock
12.12 The cost of Inventories includes:
(i) Cost of purchases.
(ii) Cost of conversion comprising of cost of direct labor and allocated
Fixed and variable overheads.
While valuing the Inventories, the auditor has to consider the following:
(i) He should ascertain the accounting policy adopted for valuation of
stocks and consider the appropriateness as per AS-2.
(ii) He should verify that the cost of Inventories does not include:
(a) Abnormal waste material, labor or other production costs.
(b) Storage cost unless necessary in the production and
manufacturing process.
(c) Administrative overheads not contributing to bringing the
Inventories to the present location.
(d) Selling and distribution expenses.
(e) Interest cost.

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(iii) He should check the basis for Net realizable value determination.
(iv) He should ascertain that the cost of damaged and obsolete item is
written off.
(v) He should check the arithmetic accuracy of stock valuation.
(vi) He should check the consistency of the basis of valuation.
(vii) He should review Inventories records for identifying slow moving and
obsolete items.
(viii) He should review the system of overheads allocation.

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 Chapter 13
Verification of Securities
Securities - Definition
13.1 According to Section 2 (h) of Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act,
1956, the term ‘Securities’ include:
(i) shares, scrips, inventories, bonds, debentures, debenture Inventories
or other marketable securities of a like nature in or of any incorporated
company or other body corporate;
(ii) derivatives;
(iii) units or any other instrument issued by any collective investment
scheme to the investors in such schemes;
(iv) government securities;
(v) such other instruments as may be declared by the Central Government
to be securities; and
(vi) Rights or interests in securities.
13.2 The physical as well as demat securities shall be in the form of:
(i) Scrips or Certificates.
(ii) Safe Custody Receipts (SCR).
(iii) Letter of Allotment.
(iv) Either Scrips or Allotment Letter.
(v) Certificate of holding.

Scope of Audit
13.3 The scope of audit in this regard is as follows:
(i) To verify physically the certificates of the securities held by the branch.
(ii) To see that the registers for the securities held physically are
maintained properly.
(iii) To verify that securities held by the branch are tallying with Security
Holding Register.

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(iv) To obtain the statement showing the securities sent for demat and
cross tally with the records maintained in the register.
(v) To check vault and other registers with the Inventories Holding
Register to see the reconciliation between physically verified scrips
and total investments made by the bank. This scrutiny will reveal major
queries relating to demat, redemption, withdrawals, re-deposits,
call/put options.
(vi) To give the report on the following lines.

Reporting
13.4 Reporting should be done on the following:
1. Statement showing primary market holding.
2. Statement showing the securities in the secondary market.
3. Statement showing the securities held in physical form.
4. Statement showing the certificates withdrawn permanently from Vault
for redemption or for the purpose of demats.
5. Statement showing the investments neither where allotment letters are
received nor the certificates.
6. Statement showing certificates of the investments held by other
branches of the bank and for which there is Safe Custody Receipts.
7. The statement showing investments held by the other branches of the
bank where the Safe Custody Receipts are not received by the Bank’s
Investment Section.
8. Statement showing certificates withdrawn from the Vaults for the
interest collection.
9. Statement showing the certificates of the investments by the R.B.I.
10. Statements showing demat secondary market holdings.
11. Statement showing half yearly interest bonds.
12. Statement showing details of letters of allotment.
13. Statement showing the investment done in Regional Rural Banks.
14. Statement showing the certificates which are torn or mutilated.
15. Statement showing scrips lodged with branches (e.g. Custody).
16. Statement showing scrips pending for demat.

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Audit of Securities
13.5 The auditor has to physically verify securities and check the following
points:
(A) When the Original Securities are in Custody of
Client
(i) Whether the securities are in the name of the client. i.e. Ownership;
(ii) Whether the securities are kept properly and in safe custody. i.e.
Custodian;
(iii) Whether the face value of the securities is properly mentioned. i.e.
Valuation;
(iv) Whether any security is missing, if so, investigate the reason thereto.
(B) When the Original Securities are in Custody of
Another Person, i.e., Bank/ Financial Institution
In this case, the auditor will have to obtain a certificate from the holder of the
securities that they are holding them on behalf of the client and the same are
kept in safe custody.
(C) When the Original Securities are Sent Back to the
Company for Surrender/ Transfer/ Change in Name, etc.
In this case, the auditor will have to check up the correspondence with the
Company and the acknowledgement of the company that it has received the
original security.

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 Chapter 14
Analytical Review Procedures
14.1 In addition to the audit procedures discussed earlier, an auditor has to
apply certain analytical procedures to review the financial soundness of the
business of the borrower. The auditor should carry on the following
procedures:
(i) Checking records of opening stock, purchases, production, sales and
closing stock
(ii) Comparison of closing stock with those of previous year quantity
(iii) Comparison of composition of closing stock with the previous year
(iv) Compare the current year Gross Profit with that of last year
(v) Compare actual stock with budgeted figures
(vi) Compare Inventories ratios with those of the industry and firms
14.2 The most common analytical procedure is Ratio Analysis. Ratios are
useful tools for review of performance and state of affairs of the organization.
Ratios calculated over a period of time can reveal trends based on which
meaningful conclusions can be drawn.
At planning stage, ratios give a sense of direction to the auditor for areas to
be covered for audit, during field work. They help him draw inferences and
identify the main points to be dealt in report while after completion of the
audit ratios help the auditor to re-enforce/establish his inferences and
conclusions in his report. Ratios may be classified on the basis of their
sources as follows:
1. Balance sheet ratios.
2. Income statement ratios.
3. Mixed ratios-these ratios contain figures from more than one financial
statement.
Some of the more common ratios, their classification, method of
computation, and the attribute measured are shown in the following list:

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Ratios Formula Purpose

Liquidity Ratios - Measures the entity's ability to meet its short-term obligations, and
provide an indication of the Company's solvency.
Current Ratio Current Assets Indicates whether short-term
Current Liablities creditors can be met with current
assets
Quick Ratio or Current Assets-Inventory Measures the entity’s ability to
Acid Ratio Current Liabilities pay off short-term creditors
without relying on the sale of
inventories
Leverage Ratios - Measure the extent to which the entity is financed by debt and
provide a measure of the risk of the entity borne by the creditors.
Debt Ratio Total debt indicates percentage of total
Total Assets funds provided by creditors; high
ratios when economy is in
downturn indicate more risk for
creditors.
Times Interest Earnings before interest and taxes Measures extent to which
Earned Interest Charges earnings can decline and still
provide entity with ability to meet
annual interest costs, failure to
meet this obligation may result
in legal action by creditors,
possibly resulting in bankruptcy
Long Term Long Term Debt indicates the proportion of the
Debt to Equity Shareholder’s Equity entity financed through long-
term debt Vs. owners' equity
Active Ratios - Measure how effectively an entity employs its resources.
Inventory Cost of goods sold Estimates how many times a
Turnover Average inventory year inventory is sold.
Age of 360 days Indicates number of days of
Inventory Average Accounts receivable inventory on hand at year-end,
Accounts Net Credit sales Estimates how many times a
Receivable Average account receivable year, account receivable are
collected
Age of 360 days Indicates the age of accounts
Accounts Accounts receivable turnover receivable or number of days
sales not collected
Total Asset Net sales Estimates volume of sales
Turnover Total Assets based on total assets

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Profitability Ratios – Measure how effectively the entity is being managed.

Sales To Total Net sales Indicates the ability of an Entity
Assets Total assets to use its assets to generate
sales.
Gross Margin Gross margin\ Provide a percentage
Net sales relationship based on sales
Profit Margin Net income Indicates the return a Company
On Sales Net sales receives on sales.
Net Operating Operating income Indicates management’s
Margin Net Sales effectiveness at using Entity’s
assets to generate Operating
income
Return On Net income + Interest income Indicates the return a company
Total Assets Total assets receives for its assets
Return On Net income – Preferred dividends Indicates return on investment
Common Average stockholders equity to common shareholders
Shareholders
Equity

Illustration 1:
Facts
A company has cost of sales for the year of `1, 08,000. Its Inventories
amounted to `20, 000 at the beginning of the year and `16, 000 at the end of
the year. Its Inventories turnover is determined as follows:
1. Average Inventories
Opening stock `20, 000
Closing Stock `16, 000
Average Inventories 20000 16000
= `18000
2
NOTE: A better indication of the average Inventories may be obtained by
using month-end inventories, if available.
2. Cost of sales `108,000
3. Inventories Turnover Ratio = Cost of sales/ Average Inventories
` 108,000
= =6
` 18,000
In the previous year, the inventories turnover was 6.

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Interpretation of the above ratio:

An increase in the Inventories turnover ratio may occur because of improved
purchasing, production, and pricing policies. It may also be caused by one of
the following:
1. Poor credit rating of client. If the client has a poor credit rating, it may
not be getting the entire Inventories it requires. This will cause
Inventories levels to decline, and if sales do not decline as rapidly, the
Inventories turnover ratio will increase.
2. Unrecorded purchases.
3. Unusual Inventories shrinkage.
4. Extremely conservative Inventories valuation.
5. Error in computing the Inventories.
Audit Procedures:
The following audit procedures may be employed for taking corrective action.
There are no specific auditing procedures when the high turnover is caused
by insufficient Inventories because of a poor credit rating. In that situation,
however, the auditor might want to obtain a credit report on the client and
should approach the audit with more skepticism than usual.
If the auditor believes that the high turnover of Inventories is caused by other
than a poor credit rating, he may take the following additional procedures:
1. Review debit balances in the accounts payable schedule. A debit
balance might indicate a payment without the accompanying entry for
a purchase.
2. Review Inventories controls to determine the possibility of theft. Also,
if the company is a manufacturer, review production records to
determine spoilage and waste.
3. Compare Inventories costs with Inventories values.
4. Review Inventories computations.
Illustration 2:
Facts
Following is the trend statement of selected income and expense item:
Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Sales 100 116 133 151 168
Selling expenses 100 115 132 150 175

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Analysis
Sales have increased at a steady rate over the 5-year period, and selling
expenses matched this increase for the first 4 years. In the fifth year,
however, the increase in selling expenses was disproportionate to previous
years' increases and to the current year's increase in sales.
The increase may have been caused by one of the following:
1. Misclassification of expenses,
2. Classification of prepayments as expenses,
3. Recording of non-business expenses.
Auditing Procedures
The following audit procedures may be employed for taking corrective action:
If a trend statement indicates a disproportionate increase in an expense, the
auditor should apply additional substantive tests to this expense. To
determine the reason for the disproportionate increase in selling expenses in
the preceding examples, the auditor may review invoices for major expense
items in order to answer the following:
1. Were administrative or non-selling expenses classified as selling
expenses?
2. At year-end, did the Company make advance payments for the
subsequent year's selling program and classify these payments as an
expense rather than as a prepayment?
3. Are expenses of executives, personal in nature, being charged to the
company?
Thus, Ratio Analysis acts as a useful tool for the purposes of interpreting the
figures and acts as a guiding light to the auditor for taking the required
action.
Illustration 3:
Facts
A company had sales (all credit) for the year of `1, 20,000. Its accounts
receivable at year-end amounted to `20, 000. Its day's sales in account
receivable are computed as follows:
1. Sales ` 120,000
2. Accounts receivable ` 20,000
3. Average daily sales (Sales `120,000/360 days ` 333

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4. Days sales in accounts receivable

[Accounts receivable / Average daily sales
(`20, 000 / `333)] 60
In the previous year, the day's sale in account receivable was 45.
Analysis
The company is not collecting its receivables as rapidly as it did in the
previous year. This increase in the day's sales accounts receivable indicates
a possible problem in the collectibility of the receivables.
Auditing Procedures
The following audit procedures may be employed for taking corrective action.
The auditor may consider doing some or all of the following:
1. Review cash receipts and remittance advices for the subsequent period.
2. Obtain credit reports on significant past due accounts.
3. Analyze year-end sales to determine any unusually large sales.
Determine the nature of these and sales and ascertain that they
were recorded in the proper accounting period.
Apart from the above ratios, the following ratios may act as a helping tool for
the purposes of interpretation of the figures as stated in the books. The
illustrative example of these ratios is as below:

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 Chapter 15
Planning of Physical Inventory
15.1 Planning a physical inventory is much like planning a fund-raising
campaign. The logistics must be fully worked out in advance and every
participant must be thoroughly briefed. The following checklist covers
planning considerations which should be included in preparing for a physical
count:

General Planning
1. Identify the company personnel responsible for the conduct of the
count.
2. Make a preliminary tour of inventory locations.
3. Take steps to:
• clean up the areas where inventory is located
• accumulate like inventory items that are scattered about
• stack, sort and clean inventory items
• segregate defective and obsolete items
• identify slow-moving items
• identify consigned or other items on hand belonging to others
• identify items that need not be counted
• pre-count items (if practicable and controllable)order necessary
recording materials and equipment to take counts, such as tags,
extra tape measures, more scales, etc.
4. Consider the need to physically count inventory being held by others
5. In setting a date or period for taking the inventory, consider the timing
of the count in relation to the balance sheet date, the low point in
inventory quantities

Cut-Off Procedures
6. Establish the cut-off date and time. This requires procedures designed
to stop the flow of inventory items to assure that transactions are
recorded in the appropriate accounting period in which they occurred.

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7. Make plans for:

• closing down production or suspending or controlling operations
• segregating incoming inventory expected to be received during
the count and establishing prenumbered receiving reports (or
other means) to identify "pre-physical" and "post-physical"
shipments of inventory.
• accounting for inventory that must be shipped out during the
count
• controlling the movement of inventory in process
• controlling intracompany shipments (to avoid double counting)
• Identify and listing undelivered goods held by vendors for later
delivery
8. Identify the forms for entering the physical inventory counts.
9. Make provision to control all count records (issued, returned, unused,
and spoiled or voided) and to reconcile them at the end of the
inventory count.
10. Determine that the count listing provides for identification of:
• classifications of inventory (raw material, in process, finished
goods)
• condition (defective, obsolete, slow-moving, excess quantities)
• location (building, floor, department, off premises, in transit)
• ownership( inventory on hand belonging to others)
Most of the procedures to be followed during the physical inventory taking
should be put into writing so as to guide all concerned.

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 Chapter 16
Stocktaking
Stocktaking
16.1 Stocktaking is an act of a physical counting process leading to the
preparation of a detailed list of property assets and sources of their origin as
of a specified date.
Stocktaking consists of the establishment by means of actual physical
counting of all property, plant and equipment (fixed assets) and monetary
assets; it also provides an explanation of a difference between actual
balance established during the inventory and the balance resulting from
books of accounts.

Objectives of Stocktaking
16.2 The main objective of a stocktaking process is to establish the actual
balance of assets and liabilities. In particular, it consists of:
(i) elating entries in books of accounts with actual state.
(ii) clearing accounts with people responsible for entrusted with them
property items.
(iii) assessing business usefulness of property items undergoing the
inventory.
(iv) counteracting irregularities having been stated during the inventory
(surplus, useless items).
(v) establishing proper financial outcome.
16.3 Activities to be undertaken:
(i) Inventory through a physical counting of all the property items that
remain at a business entity disposal.
(ii) Valuation of property items.
(iii) Obtaining written information from a business entity's on :
o financial assets deposited in bank accounts..
o granted loans.
o receivables and liabilities.

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o the company’s own assets entrusted to contractors.

(iv) Comparing inventory records of some items (for instance land) with
referential documents.
(v) Establishing and explaining the causes of losses and discrepancies in
quantities.
(vi) Proposing and substantiating motions concerning methods of
settlement of inventory differences.
(vii) Indicating ways of removing irregularities in the management of a
given entity's property.

Types of Stocktaking
16.4 Stocktaking are of following types:
(i) Stocktaking through Physical Counting - performed by members of a
stocktaking commission on the basis of direct observations and
measurement of property items conducted in a given business entity. It
comprises such accessible items as:
o Fixed assets
o Tangible current assets
o Cash at the entity’s cash desk
o Securities
(ii) Coordinating Balance with contractors comprises mainly:
o State of financial assets deposited in bank accounts
o Loans and credits
o Receivables
o Liabilities
(iii) Verification of Records-concerns assets and liabilities the balance of
which cannot be established through inventory or through the
coordination of balance with contractors In particular it relates to:
o Arable lands
o State or local authorities’ receivables and liabilities
o Other items impossible to access

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 Stocktaking

Methods of Stocktaking
16.5 Following are the method of stock taking:
1. Perpetual Inventory System
A method of controlling physical stock level by ensuring the amount of stock
level of every item could be accounted at all times. This normally involves
detailed recording of all receipts, issues and running balances for each item
of stock.
Due to the detailed recording of all in and out, management does not need to
do a physical stocktaking/ count. The stock level can be ascertained at any
moment of time.
To ensure that the aforesaid stock level is accurate, physical stocktaking
needs to be conducted.
Basically, there are two types of physical stocktaking:
2. Continuous Stocktaking
As the word continuous means the continual physical count of the quantity of
the stock.
This is done at a FEW TIMES a year. The physical quantities counted are
then compared to the stock recorded under the perpetual inventory system.
Stock discrepancies between physically counted and recorded might be due
to:
(i) Pilferage and falsification of documents;
(ii) Natural wastage like evaporation or breaking in bulk;
(iii) Warehouse’s errors both physical and clerical;
(iv) Clerical errors in the books recorded under the perpetual inventory
system

3. Periodic Stocktaking
Unlike continuous stocktaking, the stocks are physically counted only at the
end of the accounting year.

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Advantages of Continuous Physical Stocktaking

Compared to Periodic Stocktaking
16.6 Though the greatest disadvantage is the time and manpower factor as
it involves more frequent stocktaking, there are many advantages of
continuous over periodic stocktaking:
(i) It improves the quality of the physical stocktaking as there are more
frequent physical counting;
(ii) It allows stock discrepancies to be more fully investigated;
(iii) Maintain a higher work standards as the warehouse personnel know
that they need to count the stock more frequently;
(iv) Unauthorized changes in procedures are detected and
(v) Production hold-ups, a common issue in periodic stocktaking is
eliminated.

Purpose of Stocktaking
16.7 Physical stocking taking is the process of counting, weighing or
otherwise measuring all items in stock and recording the results.
The reasons for doing this are as follows:
(i) To verify the accuracy of the stock records.
(ii) To support the value of stock shown in the balance sheet by physical
verification.
(iii) To disclose the possibility of fraud, theft or loss.
(iv) To reveal any weakness in the system for the custody and control of
stock.
The size and number of surpluses and deficiencies revealed by stocktaking
is a good criterion of the efficiency of storekeeping, control and procedure
generally.

Procedures for Stocktaking

16.8 For a satisfactory stock take, a good deal of preparation is necessary.
First of all, a program should be drawn up and agreed with all concerned,
including the customer's finance department, auditors , the customer's
management and warehouse personnel. Secondly, proper cut off time,
inventory report, stocktaking sheets or cards have to be prepared in

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 Stocktaking

advance. Thirdly, all personnel concerned must be instructed and briefed

before-hand on their respective duties come the day of the stock take.
(i) Appoint one person to control the whole operation.
(ii) While stocktaking is in progress, do not have the warehouse open for
normal business or operations.
(iii) After the end of the last working day before the stock take, no more
issues (deliveries) should be made and no more receipts recorded into
the Warehouse Management System until the stock take is complete.
The number of the last receipt and issue should be noted, and all
documents up to and including these numbers posted to the computer
system or records. At this point, all the records can be ruled off and no
further postings are made until the results of the stocktaking have
been entered.
Ideally, the warehouse should be tidied and the number of items per
pallet standardized to ease counting on the stock take day. For
example, if there are 210 televisions to be counted and one pallet has
twenty televisions then all pallets of the same model should have
twenty televisions making ten pallets of twenty TV's each with one
pallet of ten TV's. A common cause of wrong counts is random
numbers of each item on separate pallets. Another common cause of
errors is a mixture of items on pallets. Sometimes, TV Model A may be
stacked at the front of the pallet and Model B at the back. If the stock
taker is tired, they may not do a complete count of items on the pallet
and assume the whole pallet only contains Model A and the Model B
TV's will not be counted. This will lead to an excess of Model A in the
count and a shortage of Model B.
Each row of racks in the warehouse should be numbered and the
number marked in chalk on the floor. Each bay in the racking should
be numbered to enable easy recounting if necessary. Count sheets
should be issued to the staff doing the stock take. Count sheets should
be carbonized with minimum three copies. One copy for the Client,
one copy for the warehouse operator (ie Tamadam) and one copy for
the Master File as backup. Have stocktaking sheets under the control
of one person, consecutively numbered, and issued to the staff on duty
as required. No duplicates should be allowed and at the end of the job,
all stocktaking sheets must be accounted for.
(iv) There should be count teams assembled on the day of the stocktake.
Each team should consist of a forklift driver, a representative from the
client and a representative from Tamadam. The number of items in

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

each bay should be counted. The count sheet for each bay should be
countersigned by the client's representative and Tamadam's
representative. The object is to make each person taking stock
responsible for a particular section or clearly defined area of the
warehouse and record everything that is found in the area.
(v) Count all normal stock including loose packages and items under
inspection. Damaged stocks should be recorded separately.
(vi) After the teams have completed their counts and handed the count
sheets to the verifiers, the results of the count sheets should be
entered into a computer and verified on the spot. The number of total
items in the count and in the system should be compared to see if
there are any shortages. If the number of items counted matches but
there is a difference in individual models, there may have been cross
counting or cross delivery of stock.
If the number items does not match or there is a large discrepancy,
then the items which show large discrepancy have to be recounted
immediately. This is where the numbered bays and allocated count
sheets will be very useful as this will enable the count team to zoom in
on the area where the goods for which there is discrepancy are kept.
(vII) Normally it is only possible to match the total number of items in the
system and that counted on the day of the count. A detailed item by
item comparison will normally only be completed a few working days
after the stocktake day in the case of counts with large numbers of
items and many SKUs.

Conclusion
16.9 The carrying out of accurate stocktakes is of crucial importance both to
the warehouse operator and for our clients. With the procedures outlined
above, the stocktake should be fast and painless. In the case of discrepancy,
the procedure should enable the physical location in the warehouse in which
there is a discrepancy to be located as quickly as possible so that a recount
can be done. Also, physical tally sheets are very important and these must
be kept in their entirety in a safe location for future reference

82
 Chapter 17
Relevant RBI Notifications
I. Master Circular - Prudential Norms on Income
Recognition, Asset Classification and
Provisioning pertaining to Advances
(DBOD.No.BP.BC.12/21.04.048/2011-12 dated July
01, 2011)*
Para 4.2.4
The classification of an asset as NPA should be based on the record of
recovery. Bank should not classify an advance account as NPA merely due
to the existence of some deficiencies which are temporary in nature such
as non-availability of adequate drawing power based on the latest available
stock statement, balance outstanding exceeding the limit temporarily, non-
submission of stock statements and non-renewal of the limits on the due
date, etc. In the matter of classification of accounts with such deficiencies
banks may follow the following guidelines:
(i) Banks should ensure that drawings in the working capital accounts are
covered by the adequacy of current assets, since current assets are
first appropriated in times of distress. Drawing power is required to be
arrived at based on the stock statement which is current. However,
considering the difficulties of large borrowers, stock statements relied
upon by the banks for determining drawing power should not be older
than three months. The outstanding in the account based on drawing
power calculated from stock statements older than three months,
would be deemed as irregular.
A working capital borrowal account will become NPA if such irregular
drawings are permitted in the account for a continuous period of 90
days even though the unit may be working or the borrower's financial
position is satisfactory.
(ii) Regular and ad hoc credit limits need to be reviewed/ regularised not
later than three months from the due date/date of ad hoc sanction. In
case of constraints such as non-availability of financial statements and

* Refer Link :http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=6530.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

other data from the borrowers, the branch should furnish evidence to
show that renewal/ review of credit limits is already on and would be
completed soon. In any case, delay beyond six months is not
considered desirable as a general discipline. Hence, an account where
the regular/ ad hoc credit limits have not been reviewed/ renewed
within 180 days from the due date/ date of ad hoc sanction will be
treated as NPA.

II Lending under Consortium Arrangement/

Multiple Banking Arrangements
RBI/2008-2009/427**
UBD.PCB.No. 59 /13.05.000/2008-09
April 9, 2009

Chief Executive Officers of

All Primary Urban Co-operative Banks

Dear Sir /Madam,

Lending under Consortium Arrangement / Multiple Banking Arrangements

Please refer to our circular UBD.PCB.No.36/13.05.000/2008-09 dated

January 21, 2009 on the captioned subject.
2. The formats for declaration of information by the borrower at the time of
applying for a credit facility to a bank (Annex I) and the format for exchange
of information among the banks in respect of borrowers enjoying credit
facilities from more than one bank (Annex II), enclosed to the aforesaid
circular have been revised to reflect information relating to the derivative
transactions entered into by banks with the borrowers and the unhedged
foreign currency exposures of the borrowers.
3. Banks are advised to use the revised formats with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully,

(A.K.Khound)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

Encl : Revised Formats

**
Refer Link: http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=4919.

84
 Relevant RBI Notifications

Part - I
Diligence Report

To,
The Manager,
_________________________ (Name of the Bank)

I / We have examined the registers, records, books and papers of

____________ Limited (the Company) as required to be maintained under
the Companies Act, 1956 (the Act) and the rules made thereunder, the
provisions of various statutes, wherever applicable, the provisions contained
in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as well as
the provisions contained in the Listing Agreement/s, if any, entered into by
the Company with the recognized stock exchange/s, as may be applicable for
the half year ended on ____________ . In my / our opinion and to the best of
my / our information and according to the examination carried out by me / us
and explanations furnished to me / us by the Company, its officers and
agents. I / We report that in respect of the aforesaid period:
1. (a) The management of the Company is carried out by the Board of
Directors comprising the following persons :
(b) During the period under review the following changes took
place:
2. (a) The shareholding pattern of the company is as under :
(b) During the period under review the following changes took
place:
3. The company has altered the following provisions of
(i) the Memorandum of Association during the period under review
and has complied with the provisions of the Act.
(ii) the following Articles of Association during the period under
review and has complied with the provisions of the Act.
4. The company has during the period under review, entered into the
following transactions with business entities in which directors are interested.
5. The company has during the period under review, advanced loans,
given guarantees and provided securities amounting to ` ____________ to
its directors and / or persons or firms or companies in which directors are
interested.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

6. The Company has during the period under review, made loans and
investments; or given guarantees or provided securities to other business
entities as under :
7. The amount borrowed by the Company from directors, members,
public, financial institutions, banks and others during the period under review
is / are within the borrowing limits of the Company. The break-up of the
company's borrowings is as under:
8. The Company has during the period under review, not defaulted in the
repayment of any public deposits or unsecured loans and the Company or its
Directors are not under the Defaulter's list of Reserve Bank of India or in the
Specific Approval List of ECGC.
9. The Company has during the period under review, created, modified or
satisfied charges on the assets of the company as under :
10. The Forex Exposure and Overseas Borrowings of the company are as
under
11. The Company has issued, offered and allotted all the securities to the
persons entitled thereto and has also issued letters, coupons, warrants and
certificates thereof to the concerned persons and also redeemed its
preference shares / debentures and bought back its shares (wherever
applicable) in compliance with the specified procedures and within the
stipulated time.
12. The Company has insured all its assets including the secured assets.
13. The Company has complied with the terms and conditions, set forth by
the lending institution at the time of availing the facility and also during the
currency of the loan and has utilized the funds for the purposes for which
these were borrowed.
14. The Company has declared and paid dividends to its shareholders as
per the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956.
15. The Company has paid all its statutory dues and that there are no
arrears.
16. The Company has complied with the provisions stipulated in Section
372 A of the Companies Act in respect of its Inter Corporate loans and
Investments.
17. The Company has complied with the applicable and mandatory
Accounting Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
India.

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 Relevant RBI Notifications

18. The Company has credited and paid to the Investor Education and
Protection Fund all the unpaid dividends and other amounts required to be so
credited.
19. A list of prosecutions initiated against or show cause notices
received by the Company for alleged offences under the Act and also the
fines and penalties or any other punishment imposed on the Company in
such cases is attached.
20. The Company has complied with the various clauses of the Listing
Agreement, if applicable.
21. The Company has deposited both Employees' and Employer's
contribution to Provident Fund with the prescribed authorities.
Note: The qualification, reservation or adverse remarks, if any, may be
stated at the relevant place(s).

Signature :
Place :
Name of Company Secretary :
Date :
C.P. No.:

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Part - II
Certification of Borrowal Companies by Chartered Accountants /
Company Secretaries
(i) Terms of reference for stock audit are to be spelt out clearly by the
Banks, so that the Chartered Accountants can give focused attention
to such areas.
(ii) End-use verification of funds lent, if certified by Statutory Auditors, will
be a good comfort to the Banks.
(iii) As Banks quite often deal with unlisted companies, disclosure
requirements for such companies above a specific turnover may be
made akin to those for listed companies, viz. consolidated balance
sheet, segmental reporting etc. Information on large shareholding also
will be useful
(iv) Further, the following additional certification either from Chartered
Accountant or Company Secretary may also be thought of :-
(a) Company Directors not figuring in defaulters list (RBI / ECGC) /
willful defaulters list etc.)
(b) Details of litigation above a specified cut off limit.
(c) A specific certificate, probably from the Company Secretary,
regarding compliance with Sec. 372 (a) of the Companies Act.
(d) Details of creation / modification / satisfaction of charges on the
assets of the company, position regarding insurance, show
cause notices received, finds and penalties awarded.
(e) As regards rotation of Auditors, for the sake of operational
convenience, it is suggested they may be changed once every 5
years instead of every 3 years.
(v) In order to avoid concentration, group companies may have different
Statutory / Internal Auditors in case group turnover exceeds `100
crores.

88
ANNEXURES

91
 Annexure I
Format for Stock Audit Report
Index
S.No. Particulars Page no.
A. Particulars of Limit
B. Operations in the Account
C. Submission of Statements
D. Insurance
E. Unit Visit
F. Verification of Stock
G. Verification of Book Debts
H. General
I. Stock Auditor’s Certificate
J. Conclusion
Particulars of Limits
1. With our Bank:
• Sanctioning Authority
• Date of Sanction
• Reason for Overdue position, and
• Position & Non Renewal (if any)
2. Nature of Limit
Amount DPN Balance Overdue ROI
(` in lacs) Date O/s. as
FUND BASED

TOTAL
EXPOSURE
NON-FUND
BASED

TOTAL
EXPOSURE

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

3. Value of Collateral Securities:

Agriculture Properties
Non Agriculture Properties
Others
TOTAL VALUE
Date of Last Valuation (by the Panel Valuer / Manager)
4. Any transactions indicating
diversions of funds noticed.
(Random check 5% to 10% of
the total debit)
5. Average daily balance (debit as
well as credit) credit / debit
summations in relative to
utilization of the limit and the
sales projections.
6. Whether the interest has been
serviced within 7 days.
7. In case of Overdue Packing
Credits:
Furnish the Amount and Last
date of shipment.
8. Whether PC is adjusted by
application of local rupee
funds.
9. Whether bills are being realized
as per tenor / terms.
10. Details of overdue bills both
inland / foreign.
11. Details of bills returned.
12. Comprehensive ECGC
coverage obtained as per terms
of sanction or not.
13. Is there any devolvement of
LC.

92
 Annexure I

14. if yes, number of LCs

devolvement and amount.
15. Whether any guarantee
invoked. (if yes, number and
amount).
16. No of guarantees expired but
still outstanding with amount.
17. In case of term loan, whether
repayment of installment is
regular.
18. Whether purchase commitment
is met by issue of cheque/ DD
on Cash Credit account.

Operations in the Account

1. Operation/ Performance of the
account of the branch.
(See the operation for full year)
2. Whether the account is
being regularly/ actively operated.
3. Whether sales are being
routed through the account.
Random check of 10 credits with
sales realization including bill.
4. Number of times the account
remained overdrawn.
Ascertain reasons for such
overdrawals.
5. Whether cash withdrawals are
regularly allowed.
Reasons for allowing withdrawals.
In your opinion such cash
withdrawals are warranted or not.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

6. (a) Whether returned and

discounted cheques have
been adjusted on the date of
return itself or subsequently
with how much delay, (if so,
mention the number and
value)
(b) Whether, is there any
instance of cheque return
issued by the borrower or
keeping cheque under the
CCO, (If so, mention the
number and value)
(c) Whether any cheque
submitted by the party for
collection is returned. (if so,
mention the number and
value)

Submission of Statements
1. (a) Whether stock statements
are being submitted
regularly.
Movement of Stock is
found. Date of Last Stock
Statement.
(b) Present market rate.
(c) Whether value is correctly
given in the cost of price or
the market price whichever
is lower?
(d) Quality and Marketability of
good.

94
 Annexure I

2. (a) Whether Book Debts

statements are being
submitted regularly.
Date of Last Book Debts
statement.
(b) Whether Book Debts
statements show age-wise
list of debtors.
(c) Particulars of Long
Outstanding debts included
in the statement of the
Book Debt.
(d) Whether Auditor certificate
is obtained once in 3
months.
(e) Comments / Remarks, if
any, made by the Auditor.
3. Whether DP is being calculated.
Check DP Register
(if not, maintained give remarks)
4. Statements of QTS, MSOD, etc,
5. Whether QIS/ MSOD /other
relevant statement. Details should
be given for QIS-I, QIS-II, QIS-IU
(for the last one year).
6. Whether operating limits are fixed
as per QIS-I.
7. Whether penal interest @ 1%
p.a. charged for delay / non
submission of QIS statement.
8. Whether the information
submitted in QIS is as per the
books of account of the party.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Insurance
S.No. Description Value Amount Date Whether Expiry
insured Adequate
(` In (Yes/ No)
lacs)
1. Stocks
2. Machineries
3. Vehicles
4. Building

5. Whether the goods are fully insured

for all the industry specific risks
6. Extent of insurance cover available
7. Whether the policies are in force
8. Whether "Bankers Clause" included
in the policy
9. Location of goods property stated in
the policy with Door No. / Survey
No. Municipal No. etc.,
10. Goods sent to the processing uruts
/ sub-contractors / whether insured
/ transit insurance obtained
11. Whether any location / godown is
not covered in the insurance.
12. Whether any risk is excluded (if so,
specify the reasons)

(a) Drawing Power (stocks)

(` in lacs)
Cash Credit Packing Key
Credit Loan

i) Value of the stock at the

time of verification
Less
ii) Stock procured under

96
 Annexure I

FLCALC / BG + other credit

purchases
Add
iii) Stock in transit-Inward
(to be covered under the
Trust Loan)
Add
iv) Stock in transit-Outward but
not yet Invoiced (mostly in
the export business)
v) Value of paid Stock
Less Margin %
Drawing Power Outstanding as on
the date of verification:
i. With our Bank
ii. With other Bank
Total Borrowings Stock Deficit /
Surplus

b) Drawing Power for Cash Credit (Book Debts):

(` in lacs)
Cash Credit Packing Key
Credit Loan

(i) Total Receivables within

tenor period
Less
(ii) Receivables emanated by
sales of goods got under
BG / ILC/PLC
Net Receivables
Less
(iii) Margin

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

(iv) Drawing power /limit

whichever is lower
Outstanding in Cash Credit (Book
Debts):
i. With our Bank
(` in lacs)
ii. With other Bank
Total Whether Deficit / Surplus

Unit Visit
1. Address of all godowns.
2. Storage place owned/ rented.
if it is owned whether upto date
tax paid.
if it is rented whether no lien letter
from owner is obtained
3. Whether storage places have
direct access.
4. System of stock records.
5. Safety of stocks.
6. Condition of stocks
7. Movement of stock (comments on
method of inventory control -
FIFO/ LIFO).
8. Name of the person contacted at
unit with designations.
9 Name of the official who had
verified the stock periodically and
the godown register is being
maintained update.
Date of the last verification and by
whom and the remarks, if any,
observed by the official.
Is there any remark which persists
for a few occasions and the
borrower had not set it right.

98
 Annexure I

Whether bank's name board has

been prominently displayed.
Whether letter of free access is
obtained.
S.No Last Year This Year
A Production Capacity of the Unit
1. Licensed capacity
2. Installed capacity
3. Actual capacity
B. Method of valuation of Stock
1. Raw material
2. Stocks in process
3. Finished Goods
If not in order, give details

Physical Inventory (Stocks)

S.No Particulars Value of stocks as shown
in Stock statements as on
(` in lacs)
Value of Stocks as shown in Stock Statements as on ……………
1. Raw material
2. Stock in-process
3. Stores & spares
4. Stores & spares
Total Value
Total
Add Purchases (from the date of stocks statement till the date of inspection)
Less: Material consumed / reduction on account of sales {from the dale of
stocks till the date of inspection)
Total Add Stocks given on job work
Total Less Stocks received on job work
Less Stocks belonging to sister concerns for which no payment has been made

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Stock Auditor’s Certificate

1. We have inspected (physically) the stocks of goods as per the
enclosed Stock statements from the borrowers in the case of OD/CC
as per particulars furnished in case of Key Loan, etc., as on
…………and found them correct.
2. The balance of Stock shown in the borrowers Stock shown in the
borrowers Stock statements are enclosed and agree with that shown
in the Bank's Godown Inspection Register or {In the case of
Hypothecation advances) Drawing Power Register.
3. The stocks are in good and marketable condition and do not show any
signs of deterioration in quality and that the storages is in a
satisfactory condition.
4. The stocks are not outstanding beyond the stipulated period of months
as per terms of sanction (Details of old stocks, if any value thereof are
enclosed).
5. The godowns belong to borrowers / third parties in which case latest
rent receipt / no lien letter from processors are verified.
6. The stocks are valued at manufacturing cost or ruling market value or
invoice value whichever is lower.
7. The stocks under hypothecation have not been hypothecated to other
banks.
8. The advances of the bank are fully safe / secured / liquid.
9. We further certify that we have covered all the points indicated in
terms of reference in the Assignment letter.

Signature of Auditor

Date: __________

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 Annexure I

Stock Audit Report

We have conducted the Stock Audit allotted by your Head Office and we
furnish hereunder the above report:
Introduction
Name of the Branch
Name of the Region
Date of Commencement
Date of Completion
Date of Stock Verification
Status of Account as on date of visit
Date of Report
1. Name of the Borrower
2. Constitution
3. Address
a. Registered Office
b. Administrative Office
c. Factory
d. Godown
4. Name of the Partners/Directors and
their net worth (Nature of
relationship among partners/
directors)
5. Name of the Guarantors and their
net worth (Nature of relationship
with partners / directors)
6. Enjoying credit facilities Since
7. Name of the Branch Officials
contacted / discussed
8. Nature of activity (Trading /
Manufacturing / Exporting, etc.)
9. Description of Stock declared
(commodity dealt with)

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

10. Nature of Banking arrangement

(sole/multiple/consortium)
11. Banking with us Since
12. If advance if an Consortium basis or
Sanctioned by more than one bank
The position of each bank share is
to be given
a. Fund Based
b Non Fund Based
13. Terms & Conditions
Ascertain whether all terms &
conditions of sanction are complied
with (Yes / No)
If no, the terms & conditions which
are yet to be complied with
14. Steps proposed for rectification
of shortcoming / irregularities
15. Comment on accounts - conduct
with other consortium banks/ banks
under multiple banking
arrangements
16. With other Banks / Institution:
Name of Nature of Amount Balance Status of
the bank / Limit (` In lacs) O/s. as on the Account
institution

17. Comments on accounts with

any other banks / any diversion of
funds(if no, diversion specific
observation, specific comment
should be made)

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 Annexure I

Verification of Stock
1. Value of Stock:
As per latest statement As on the date of O/s. as on date of
verification verification

on. on. on.

` ` `

2. Particulars of Stock as on date of verification (` in Lacs)

Description of Quantity Total Stored at Amount Due on
goods Value Insured

3 Stock Coverage - Drawing Power:

(For non-fund based facilities) (` in lacs)
Limit availed Our Bank Other Bank Bill Liability
under with

I. a) BG issued for suppliers credit

b) ILC (DA) issued
c) FLC (DA) issued
TOTAL
2. a) Details of goods procured under the above
non-fund based limits and net value thereof (` in lacs)
Available as Sale Total Goods Deficit/
proceeds/ procured Surplus
remitted under the
kept in the above
account limits
Stock Receivable (1+2+3)

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Verification of Book Debts

1. Collect age-wise an party wise
break up of book debts and party
wise receivables be checked with
Invoices / sales register
comments on any discrepancy
observed.
2. Whether receivables are routed
through the account?
3. Average time taken for realization
of book debts to be compared with
the past trend / industry trend /
trade trend. Reasons for any
deviation to be analysed and
commented upon.
4. Overall observations as to the
quality of book debts.
5. Verify excise records / sales tax
returns / assessment orders of
sales tax.
6. Composition of value of stocks
and book debts as on the balance
sheet date should be compared
with value of stocks as on the date
of inspection.
7. Whether level of Sundry Creditors
is commensurate with pnst trends.
8. Whether arrangement of goods is
properly done so as to verify the
goods in easily.
9. Whether the borrower holds Stock
received for processing (job work)
and whether they are separately
stored.
If so, whether it is so declared
and deducted from the total Stock.

104
 Annexure I

10. Whether Stock turnover is

satisfactory.
11. Whether maintenance of Stock
and accounting records are
satisfactory.
12. Whether random physical
inspection now conducted
represent a correct position of the
entire Stock.
13. Whether purchased / sale invoices
are verified. Whether valuation of
purchase is correct? Whether over
valuation of product is done.
14. Whether there are any purchases
from allied / sister concerns.
Whether all such transactions are
genuine.
15. Whether there are cash purchases
whether such cash purchases are
proportionate.
16. Any other observation on
• Verification of invoices
• Physical verification of Stock
• Stock held with processing /
job work or outstation
godowns
• Old, obsolete, non moving
Stock
General
1. a) The unrectified
inspection/credit
supervision / concurrent
Audit comments made, if
any, and latest progress
report.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

b) Reason for non-

rectification
2. Whether the borrower account is
subject to credit rating
3. Statutory dues (workers & govt.)
4. Details of pending litigations and
its Present Status
5. Problems faced by the company
in general and the plans to
overcome these problem vis-a-
vis bank's assistance
6. Summary of Features

Discussion with Branch Manager

It is hereby confirmed that we held discussions with Branch manager / Sub-
Manager/ Assistant Manager on all the above observations before finalizing
the report.

Signature of Auditor
Date:

Signature of Branch Manager

Conclusion
1. Any other matters in the Auditor's view.
2. Any features which contravenes the Bank's instructions which is likely
to effect Bank's interest.
3. Any suggestions / comments to improve the system of cost audit by
the borrowers.

Signature of Auditor
Date:

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 Annexure II
Checklist for Inventories and
Receivables Audit
Bank: Branch: Zone:
Name of the account:
Address:
I) Office:
II) Factory & Go down:
Constitution:
Name of the Partners /directors:
Nature of business:
Latest Sanction : Authority: Date
Position of account:
Nature of Sanctioned Drawing Outstandi Overdue
Facility Limit Power ng as on Excess,
(`) (`) (`) If any.
(`)
Term Loan
Specify the assets
a) Land & Building
b) Plant & Machinery
c) Others

Cash Credit
(Inventories & Book-
Debts.)
Remarks on the payment of interest and installments:
Inspected by:
Date of inspection:
Name and designation of Attendant:

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

A) Before going for Physical Verification:

S. Particulars Yes/
No. No/Not
applicable
1 Have you sent an engagement letter?
2 Have you verified the borrower’s file at the branch to
ascertain the following details:
a) Name of the borrower
b) Location of
- Office
- Godown / Factory
c) Constitution ( Sole proprietor, Partnership, Pvt. Ltd)
d) Nature of Business
e) Date of establishment and date of commercial
production
f) Particulars of credit limits
Loan Facility Sanction- D.P Balance Overdue/excess
A/c ed Limits O/S
No

g) Particulars of security:
A) Primary:
B) Secondary
3 What is the asset code: (Standard, Sub-standard,
Doubtful or Loss Assets)?
4 Whether advance is sanctioned on Consortium Basis? If
so, the position of each of the banks?
Name Limit Value of Balance Overdrawn
of the sanctioned security Outstanding amount
Bank as on ----------

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 Annexure II

5 Insurance Particulars:
Policy No Assets Amount Date of Whether
covered/ Insured expiry of Bank
Location Policy clause
exists in
the policy

6 Whether additional risks like theft, earthquake, and

machinery breakdown are included as per sanction terms
and are complied with by the borrower?
7 Whether the address/ location of goods is properly stated
and includes Door No./ Survey No. Municipal no etc?
8 Whether goods sent to the processing units, sub-
contractors are insured/ transit insurance obtained?
9 Whether all locations/ all industry specific risks are
covered?
10 Whether proper documents, including charging of primary
and secondary securities have been obtained?
11 What is the date of documentation?
12 Whether documents are properly stamped?

13 Whether equitable/ registered mortgage of property

created?
14 Whether search report has been got done up to the date
of equitable/ registered mortgage?
15 Wherever required whether charge has been registered
with ROC within prescribed time?
16 Have you verified the periodical stock statements
submitted by the borrower with reference to any
conditions stipulated in the sanction regarding:
a) Quantity of stocks,
b) Place of storage,
c) Value of stocks
d) Composition of stocks- Proportion of raw material,
work – in- process and finished goods
17 Have you verified that the stock statements are?
a) signed by authorized persons only

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

b) sent in bank’s format

c) sent within the stipulated time to the bank
18 Have you verified the Godown stock register in case of
pledged accounts to ascertain the nature and quantity of
stock pledged in each godown, age and turnover in the
stocks?
19 Have you verified the operations in the account to ensure
that the

a) Operations and utilization of the funds and

turnover are satisfactory
b) Drawings are allowed within the drawing power
and sanction stipulations are complied with
c) Sale proceeds of hypothecated stocks are routed
through the account only
20 Have you verified the previous stock audit/ branch
inspection reports to ascertain whether any steps have
been taken to rectify irregularities pointed out?

21 Have you obtained a representation letter from the

borrower clearly indicating the places /branches where
the goods are stored?
22 Have you obtained the following documents to from the
borrower?
1) A written representation from management
concerning:
(a) The completeness of information provided
regarding the Inventories; and
(b) Assurance with regard to adherence to laid
down procedures for physical Inventories
count.
2) Balance Sheet & Profit & Loss Account of the
borrower for last 3 years
3) Inventories Statement & Book Debts Statement as
on the last day of the quarter and for the year &
preceding 3 months before the date of inspection
4) Copy of Memorandum of association, Articles of
association along with form No. 32 & 18,
partnerships deed, Trust deed & its byelaws as

110
 Annexure II

may be applicable
5) Copy of Audited financial statements
23 Have you inquired about the Associations of which
borrower party is member?
24 Have you done documentary checking of ownership or
lease? Have you taken a copy of the same?
25 Have you taken phone numbers of CA’s – Statutory
Auditor, Tax Auditor etc?
26 Have you made a comparison of previous 2 to 3 years
financial position of the borrower?
27 Have you checked whether the account is a suit filed
account?

B) Physical Verification of Stocks

I. Verification of Hypothecated Stock
Sr Particulars Yes/ No/ Not
No applicable
1 Is there any difference between the stocks as
shown in the stock statement and the actual stock?
2 Whether any reconciliation for the difference has
been made?
3 Whether the stocks represent those reflected in the
stock statements sent to the Banks?
4 Is the level of Inventories held found to be too high?
5 Is the material control system employed by the
borrower proper?
6 Whether the borrower has maintained up to date
records?
7 Whether the borrower is having adequate internal
control system commensurate with the size of the
concern?
8 Whether borrower is following consistent and
accepted accounting principles for valuation of
stocks?
9 Whether the quality and sale ability of the stocks
are good?
10 Whether the following records of the borrower have

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

been checked?
a) Excise records
b) Raw materials consumption, Production
register, Purchase and sales records
c) Purchase and sales invoice
d) Cost records and order books
e) Sales, Purchase, Sundry creditors and
Debtors ledgers
12 Has the stock been stored properly?
13 Is there a direct access to the godown?
14 What is the value of
a) Obsolete stock
b) Slow- moving stock
c) Damaged/ Rejected stocks
d) Unpaid stock
15 Whether Sundry creditors have been deducted as
per policy of bank and as per sanction terms?
16 Whether stipulated margin as per sanction terms
has been deducted?
17 Whether stocks received under usance L/C, co-
acceptances and guarantees for purchase of raw
materials have been reduced?
18 Whether the Bank Hypothecation Board has been
displayed?
19 Whether stocks belonging to sister concerns,
received for job- work etc are properly segregated?
20 Whether the movement of stock in and out of the
godown is properly accounted and monitored?
21 What is the Work in progress and level of
completion?
22 Whether the goods which require any specialized
preservation, are properly preserved?
23 Whether rent/ property tax/ municipal tax receipts
pertaining to godowns have been verified?
24 Whether , in case of stocks which have expiry
dates( such as drugs, food items) the same have
been excluded for calculation of drawing power.
25 Whether, stocks have been examined at

112
 Annexure II

laboratories( in case of chemicals, dyes etc).

26 Whether goods-in transit are included in the stock
statements? Is the inclusion of such goods as per
sanction terms?
Whether the relative bills/ challans/ invoices have
been verified?
27 Whether goods sent to third parties for job work,
finishing or machining, etc. have been inspected?
28 Whether any written confirmation is on record for
stock with third parties?
29 Whether the sanction terms permit storage of goods
with clearing agents?
30 If so, whether the agents are in the approved list of
the bank and within the limits fixed by the bank?
31 Whether clearing agents charges and other dues
have been paid?
32 Whether any irregularities pointed out in the last
Concurrent audit/ Inspection report have been
rectified?
33 Whether a written declaration has been obtained
from the borrower that the stocks will not be
hypothecated to other banks without the prior
consent of the bank?
34 Whether, in case of consortium advances,
information is exchanged between the banks?
35 Whether the hypothecated Plant & Machinery is
maintained properly and found in working
condition?
36 Were there any instances of breakdown causing
interruptions in the working of the unit in the recent
past?
37 Whether fire protection measures are satisfactory?
38 Whether security arrangements at the godown/
Factory are satisfactory?
39 Have you checked up the Sales Tax Provision?
40 Have you checked Income Assessment Orders?
41 Have you checked the provisions relating to ESIS
Challans?

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

42 Have you checked provisions relating to PF –

Challans, assessment order?
43 Has the factory license been renewed?
44 Have you received the details of no. of skilled and
unskilled employees, office staff? Have you
checked up the Salary register?
45 Have you considered the inherent control and
detection risks, and materiality related to Inventories?
46 Whether adequate procedures are established and
proper instructions issued for physical Inventories
counting?
47 Whether persons involved in stock taking differ from
those responsible for store-keeping?
48 Whether store procedures provide for the use of
pre-numbered forms
49 Whether a system of cross-checking exists for
checking data generated by different departments?
50 Whether controls exist for receipts and issues of
stores?
II) Hypothecation of Book-Debts
Sr. Particulars Yes / No/ Not
No. applicable
1. Are standard price lists maintained?
2. Are prices that are not based on a standard price
list, required to be approved by a senior executive
outside the sales department?
3. Are written orders received from customers?
4. If oral/ telephonic orders are received from
customers, whether the same are recorded
immediately in the standard forms?
5. Is there a numerical control over all customers’
orders?
6. Are credit limits fixed in respect of individual
customers? Does an official independent of the
sales department approve these limits?
7. Are credit limits reviewed periodically?
8. Are customers’ credit limits checked before orders

114
 Annexure II

are accepted? Is this done by a person independent

of the sales department?
9. If sales to employees are made at concessional
prices:
a) Is there a limit to the value of such sales?
b) Are the amounts recovered in accordance with
the terms of sale?
c) Is there an adequate procedure to see that the
limits are not exceeded?
10. Are dispatches of goods authorized only by
Dispatch Notes/Gate Passes or similar documents?
11. Do such Dispatch Notes/Gate Passes or similar
documents bear pre-printed numbers?
12. Are they under numerical control?
13. Are they prepared by a person independent of:
a) The Sales Department?
b) The processing of invoices?
14. Except when all documents are prepared in one
operation, are the Dispatch Notes/Gate Passes
matched with:
a) Excise Duty Records?
b) Sales invoices?
c) Freight payable to carriers (where applicable).
15. Are unmatched Dispatch Notes/ Gate Passes
reviewed periodically?
16. Are the goods actually dispatched checked
independently with the Dispatch Notes/ Gate
Passes and customer’s orders?
17. Are acknowledgements obtained from the
customers for the goods delivered?
18. Are the customer’s orders marked for goods
delivered?
19. Are shortages in goods delivered to the customers
investigated?
20. Are credits to customers for shortages, breakage &
losses in transit match the claim lodged against
carriers/ insurers?
21. Are sales invoices pre-numbered?

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

22. Are invoices checked for:

a) Prices?
b) Calculations (including excise duty and sales
tax)?
c) Terms of payment?
23. Are ‘no charge’ invoices authorized by a person
independent of the custody of goods or cash?
24. Are invoices mailed direct to the customers
promptly?
25. Are credits to customers for remittance posted only
from the entries in the cash book (or equivalent
record)?
26. Does cashier notify immediately:
a) Sales Department,
b) Debtors Ledger Section and
c) Credit Controller;
i) Of all dishonored cheques or other
negotiable instruments?
ii) Of all documents sent through bank
but not returned by the customers?
27. Is immediate follow-up action taken on such
notification?
28. Are the bills of exchange, etc. periodically verified
with the bills on hand?
29. Is a record of customers claims maintained:
a) Are such claims properly dealt with in the
accounts?
30. Does the Receiving Department record them on
sales Return Note?
31. Does the Receiving Department count, weigh or
measure the goods returned?
32. Are copies of Sales Returns Notes sent to:
a) Customer?
b) Sales Department?
c) Debtors’ Ledger Section?
33. Are the returned goods taken into stock
immediately?
34. Is a Credit Note issued to the customer for the

116
 Annexure II

goods returned?
35. Are all Credit Notes pre-numbered?
36. Are Credit Notes numerically controlled?
37. Are Credit Notes authorized by a person
independent of:
a) Custody of goods?
b) Cash receipts?
c) Debtors’ ledger?
38. Are Credit Notes:
a) Compared with Sales Returns Notes or other
substantiating evidence?
b) Checked for prices?
c) Checked for calculations?
39. Are corresponding recoveries of sales commissions
made when Credit Notes are issued to customers?
40. Are units of sales (as per sales invoices) correlated
and reconciled with the purchases (or production)
and stock on hand?
41. Is the Sales Ledger balanced periodically and
tallied with the General Ledger Control account?
42. Are ageing schedules prepared periodically?
43. Does a responsible person review them?
44. Are statements of accounts regularly sent to all
customers?
45. Are the statements checked with the Debtors’
Ledger before they are issued?
46. Does a person independent of the ledger keeper
mail the statements?
47. Are confirmations of balances obtained periodically?
48. Do a person independent of the ledger-keeper and
the person preparing the statement verify the
confirmations?
49. Is special approval required for:
a) Payments of customers’ credit balances?
b) Writing of bad debts?
50. Is any accounting control kept for bad debts written
off?

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

51. Is any follow-up action taken for recovering

amounts written off?
52. In the case of export sales:
a) Is a record maintained of import entitlements
due?
b) Does the record cover the utilization disposal
of such entitlements?
c) Is there a procedure to ensure that claims for
incentives etc., receivable are made in time?
53. Are sales of scrap and wastage subject to the same
procedures and controls as sales of finished goods?
54. Is age wise classification of debtors done? Has care
been taken to exclude long outstanding debtors
from drawing power calculation?
55 Whether the debt represents sales and service
transactions only?
56 Whether all realizations from debtors are routed
through the borrower’s account?
57 Whether care is taken to ensure that receivables
already advanced by way of bills purchased/ Bills
discounted have been excluded?
58 Whether reasons for non-realisation of overdue
debts have been examined?
59 Whether Power of Attorney in favour of the bank,
wherever prescribed has been duly registered?
60 Whether the statement of book debts submitted to
the bank is as per Bank’s format?
61 Whether the drawing power is revised from time to
time on the basis of the statements and the required
margin is maintained in the account?
III) Pledged Inventories
Sr. Particulars Yes / No/ Not
No. applicable
1 Have you verified that a board is prominently displayed
at the entrance and within the godown, clearly stating
that the goods are hypothecated or pledged with the
respective bank or financial institution?

118
 Annexure II

2 Have you examined the lock to ensure that Bank’s /

financial institution’s name is engraved there on?
3 Have you examined the layout of the godown
where inventories are stored?
4 If the godown is rented, have you inspected the
rent receipt and ensured that it is in the name of
the borrower? Have you ensured that the rent is
not in arrears?
5 If the godown is in ownership, have you verified the
ownership agreement and ensured that it is in the
name of the borrower?
6 Have you ensured that there is no other gate or
entrance to the godown and if it is there, it is
properly locked from inside?
7 Have you ensured that the godown is located at the
address given to the bank and as mentioned in the
insurance policy and other documents?
8 Have you ensured that the ventilators are covered
by grills?
9 Have you ensured that no hazardous material is
stored nearby the godown. (If so, it should be
specifically mentioned in the insurance policy)
10 Have you verified that no other inventories other
than those pledged to the bank are stored in the
godown without the specific prior authority and if
they are stored, then adequate insurance cover is
taken?
11 Have you verified that the godown is in a good
condition without and leakage or Seepage of water
and dampness?
12 Have you verified that the bin cards are signed by
the godown keeper and by all inspecting officers?
13 Have you verified that there is proper stacking of
goods?
14 Have you ensured that the deteriorated goods are
not stored in the godown?
15 Have you verified that the goods are not re-
pledged?

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

16 Have you verified that manufactured goods are

stored in their original packing?
17 Have you ensured that goods are delivered only in
the presence of the Bank’s representative?
18 Have you ensured that the turnover of the stocks is
satisfactory and that there is no old stock?

120
 Annexure III
Specimen Engagement letter
The following letter is for use as a guide in conjunction with the
considerations outlined in SA 210 [ Earlier AAS 26] and will vary according to
individual requirements and circumstances relevant to the engagement.
To the Board of Directors (or the appropriate representative of senior
management)
You have requested that we audit the Inventories and receivables of (Name
of the Company) as --------------, 2012. We are pleased to confirm our
acceptance and our understanding of this engagement by means of this
letter. Our audit will be conducted with the objective verification of the assets
so as to indicate their physical existence, valuation and safety aspects.
We will conduct our audit in accordance with the auditing standards generally
accepted in India and with the requirements of the Companies Act, 1956.
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation.
However, having regard to the test nature of an audit, persuasive rather than
conclusive nature of audit evidence together with inherent limitations of any
accounting and internal control system, there is an unavoidable risk that
even some material misstatements of financial statements, resulting from
fraud, and to a lesser extent error, if either exists, may remain undetected.
The responsibility for the preparation of financial statements on a going
concern basis is that of the management. The management is also
responsible for selection and consistent application of appropriate accounting
policies, including implementation of applicable accounting standards along
with proper explanation relating to any material departures from those
accounting standards. The management is also responsible for making
judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent so as to give a
true and fair view of the state of affairs of the entity at the end of the financial
year and of the profit or loss of the entity for that period.

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

The responsibility of the management also includes the maintenance of

adequate accounting records and internal controls for safeguarding of the
assets of the company and for the preventing and detecting fraud or other
irregularities. As part of our audit process, we will request from management
written confirmation concerning representations made to us in connection
with the audit.
We look forward to full cooperation with your staff and we trust that they will
make available to us whatever records; documentation and other information
are requested in connection with our audit.
Please sign and return the attached copy of this letter to indicate that it is in
accordance with your understanding of the arrangements for our audit of the
financial statements.
XYZ & Co.
Chartered Accountants
…………………………
(Signature)

122
 Annexure IV
Specimen Management Representation
Letter
[Client’s Letterhead]
[Date ]
To,
[Name ]
Chartered Accountants

We are providing this letter in connection with the Inventories Audit for the
period _________________ for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to
whether the stock records have been properly maintained or not and whether
they are in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles.
We confirm to the best of our knowledge and belief as under:
1) The financial statements referred to are in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. (We have complied with all accounting
standards issued by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India).
2) There have been no communications from regulatory agencies
regarding non-compliance or differences, if any, in financial reporting
practices.
3) There are no material transactions which have not been properly recorded
in the accounting records underlying the financial statements.
4) There has been no:
a) Fraud involving management or employees who have significant
say in internal control.
b) Fraud involving other than that would have a material effect on
the financial statements.
5) The company has no plans or intentions that may materially affect the
carrying value of assets and liabilities.
6) The following have been properly recorded or disclosed in the financial
statements:

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

a) Related party transactions including sales, purchases, loans,

transfers, and guarantees and amounts receivable from or
payable to related parties.
b) Guarantees whether written or oral under which the company is
contingently liable.
7) The company has satisfactory title to all owned assets and there are
no liens or encumbrances on such assets nor has any asset been
pledged as collateral.
8) We further state as under:
Accounting Policies:
Method of Accounting:
The Financial statements are prepared on accrual method of
accounting.
Inventories:
Raw material is valued at cost on FIFO.
Finished Goods is valued at lower of cost or net realizable value.
Excise duties on goods manufactured by the company and remaining
in Inventories are included as a part of values on of finished goods.
9) The Insurance for building and furniture is ` -------, Plant &
Machinery ` -------- Stock in process ` ------ & for other items Rs ---
-----, which will be expiring on --------.
10) a) The Installed capacity of the company is ---- millions pieces.
b) Actual production for the year ended 31.03.2011 on –-------
was -----pieces.
11) a) The total quantity produced during the month -----to ------- was -
----- pieces.
b) Total quantity cleared during the month ---------- to ------- was --
-------- pieces and the value for the same was ` ----- ----
c) Actual production for the year ended 31.03.2008 was ------
pieces.

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 Annexure IV

The performance of the company for last 3 years was as follows:

Particulars For the year For the year For the year
ended ended ended 31.03.2012
31.03.2010 31.03.2011
a) Sales (including
excise duty but
exclude Sales tax)
b) Purchases
c) Net Profit
d) Opening Stock
e) Closing Stock
13. Insurance Policy:
a) Period of Insurance policy.
b) Risks Covered.
c) Place of Insurance
d) Conditions of claim
e) Name of insured
f) Period of Validity of Policy & Time
14. Godown:
a) Address along with Tele/Fax/E-mail.
b) Ownership/Rented
(If leased/ rented obtain lease/ rent agreement)
c) Period of Rent/ Lease agreement
d) Monthly Rent/ Lease
e) Name & Address of Owner (when it is rented / leased)
15. Office:
a) Address along with Tele/Fax/E-mail
b) Ownership/Rented
(Obtain copy of Rent/ Leased agreement if taken on Lease/
Rent)

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

c) Period of Rent/ Lease agreement

d) Monthly Rent/ Lease
e) Name & Address of Owner (when it is rented / leased)
Tele/Fax/E-mail
16. Factory:
a) Address along with Tele/Fax/E-mail
b) Ownership/Rented
(Obtain copy of Rent/ Leased agreement if taken on Lease/
Rent)
c) Period of Rent/ Lease agreement
d) Monthly Rent/ Lease
e) Name & Address of Owner (when it is rented / leased)
Tele/Fax/E-mail
17. The total value of book debts less than 90 days as on -------- was --
-------- and receipted challans was ---------
18. The total value of the following items is as under:
I Raw Material
i. Average Stock as per project report for the year ended
31.03.2012
ii. Average stock of last 12 months.
iii. Value of stock on date of physical Verification.
iv. Comparison of last 12 months stock as per records and
as per statement
(reason for discrepancies)
II Work in Progress
i.
ii.
iii.

III Finished Goods

i.
ii.
iii.

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 Annexure IV

19. Ratios:
For the year For the year For the year
ended ended ended
31.03.2012 31.03.2011 31.03.2010
a) Current
Ratio.
b) Liquid
Ratio.
c) Gross Profit
Ratio.
d) Stock
Turnover
Ratio.
e) Debtors
Turnover
Ratio.

For [Borrower’s Name]

(_________)
Director/ Partner/ Proprietor

127
 Annexure V
Specimen Letter of Confirmation from
Third Party
[Client’s Letterhead]
To [Date]
[Name & Address of Customer]

Dear Sir,

Our auditors [name and address] are conducting an audit of our financial
statements. Please examine the accompanying statement and either
confirms its correctness or report any differences to our auditors.
Your prompt attention to this request will be appreciated. An envelope is
enclosed for your reply.

For XYZ Ltd.

(___________)
Director
Confirmation: The balance receivable from us of [amount] as on [date] is
correct except as noted below:

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 Annexure VI
Specimen Letter of Confirmation of
Inventories Held by Others
(Letterhead of entity)
Date: _______
(Name and address of holder of inventories)
Dear Sir /Madam,
For audit purposes, kindly furnish directly to our auditors (Name & Address of
the auditors) details concerning our inventories held by you for (state the
reasons/ purpose of holding of inventories by the third party) as on
___(date).
According to our records, you held the following inventories as on ___ (date).
Description Quantity
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
In case you identify certain items of inventories as defective or damaged, the
details thereof may be furnished separately, indicating the quantities and
giving a general description of the condition of such items. Also, please
confirm that our inventories held by you are free of any charge or
encumbrance.
A stamped envelope addressed to our auditors is enclosed for your
convenience.
Yours faithfully

(Signature of responsible official of entity)

Similarly, the auditor should also obtain confirmation from such third parties
for whom the entity is holding significant amount of stocks.

129
 Annexure VII
Specimen Letter of Confirmation of
Inventories Held by the Entity on Behalf
of Others
(Letterhead of entity)

Date: ______
(Name and Address of owner of inventories)

Dear Sir / Madam,

For audit purposes, kindly furnish directly to our auditors (name and address
of auditors) details concerning your inventories held by us for (state here the
purpose of holding of inventories by the entity) as on __(date).
According to our records, we held the following inventories as of that date.
Description Quantity
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
--------------- -----------
A stamped envelope addressed to our auditors is enclosed for your
convenience.

Yours faithfully

(Signature of responsible official of entity)

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 Annexure VIII
Specimen Inventories /Receivables
Audit Report
1) Bank: Branch: Zone:
2) Name of the account:
Address:
3) Office:
Ownership / Rented:
4) Factory & Go down:
Ownership / Rented:
Date of establishment:
5) Constitution:
6) Name of the Partners /directors:
7) Nature of business:
8) Inspected by:
9) Date of inspection:
10) Name and designation of Attendant:
11) Position of account:
Nature of Sanctioned Drawing Outstanding Overdue
Facility Limit Power (`) as on (`) Excess, If
(` ) any. (`)
Term Loan
Specify the assets
a) Land & Building
b) Plant &
Machinery
c) Others
Cash Credit
(Inventories & Book-
Debts. )

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

Remarks on the payment of interest and installments:

12) Latest Sanction: Authority: Date:
13) Particulars of the godown and factory premises:
(a) Address:
(b) Whether owned or rented:
(c) Total Area:
(d) Constructed Area:
(e) Condition of the godown:
(f) Whether rented in borrower’s name:
(g) Whether rent is paid regularly.
14) Inventories (as on ):
(Preferably on the last day of the previous month)
a)
Value of Inventories/ hypothecated Value of book –
debts/ hypothecated (Less Than 90 days.)
Total
Less : Creditors
Working Capital Gap
Less :Margin 25%
Drawing Power
Outstanding (As on )
Excess over drawing power, if any
b) Age and quantity of
Inventories for more than six
months old /
amounts of old Inventories:
c) Condition of inventories:
(Whether properly stored /
arranged.)

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d) Whether the mode of

valuation is satisfactory:
Whether trade discount, if
any, allowed is deducted
while arriving at the price of
inventories as mentioned in
the Inventories statement
checked with purchase bills:
Comments on verification and
reconciliation of Inventories
(quantity and value) as per
Inventories statement and as
per actual record such as
purchase register, etc.:
e) Value of entire book – debts:
• Less Than 90 Days :
• More Than 90 Days :
• Bad Debts ( If Any ) :
f) Whether book – debts of
associate / sister concerns
are included in statement:
g) Whether sales bills are
accompanied by copy of lorry
receipt/ receipt challans:
h) Whether bills discounted are
included in book-debts
statement:
i) Whether book debts are
arising out of genuine trade
transactions:
j) Whether accommodation bills
are observed:
k) Whether party wise book –
debt accounts / registers are
maintained properly and kept
up – to – date? :

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

l) Whether the outstanding

book – debts are arisen out
of normal business
transaction, which Bank has
financed:
m) Normal time limit taken for
realisation of book – debts vis
– a – vis past trend or the
industry trend. Give
comments in case of
abnormal delay :
* Book – Debts outstanding
for 60 days is ___________
* Outstation Customers are
_______________
n) Are there any cases of
diversion of funds for other
than business needs? :
o) Whether production / sales
achievements found in line
with production. If not, offer
comments

Year Projected sales (`) Actual sales

ended achieved (`)
2010
2011
2012
15) Insurance Cover:
16) Other conditions whether satisfied:
(a) Bank’s name board whether displayed/ painted/ affixed/
engraved:
(b) Whether godown-keeper/ godown chowkidar is appointed?
(c) Whether the branch receives Inventories statements certified by
borrower?

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17) Books and records:

(a) Whether the following records have been verified and found in
order:
• Sales register:
• Purchase register:
• Sales bill:
• Purchase bills:
• Inventories register:
• Debtors register:
• Cash book:
(b) Whether proper records are evidenced for goods in transit or
sent to outsiders for processing or lying with sales depots
branches is available:
(c) On physical verification whether the individual items of
Inventories appearing in Inventories statement submitted to the
bank found in agreement with the Inventories register or excise
records? :
(d) Do Inventories registers tally with records provided to the bank?
(e) Turnover in the account during last twelve months:
(g) Sales during the last twelve months ending on :
(h) Sales tax paid up to:
(i) Sales tax assessment completed up to:
(j) Excise duty returns filed upto:
(k) Excise duty assessment completed upto:
(l) Advance income tax paid:
(m) Income tax assessment completed unto
(n) ESIS paid up to:
(o) Provident fund paid up to :
(p) Municipal taxes paid up to:
(q) Rent paid up to:
(r) Shop & establishment/factory license renewed up to:

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Technical Guide on Stock and Receivables Audit

• No of fire extinguishers:
• Date of expiry :
• No of sand buckets :
(xix) Watch and ward arrangement :
(xx) Service Tax returns filed up to:
(xxi) Service Tax assessment completed up to:
18) Movement of inventories:
a) Is turnover in Inventories satisfactory? :
b) Is turnover in account satisfactory? :
19) Particulars of machinery:
Name of Whether Date of Purcha Latest Written
machines purchas Invoice sed Value down
(with full ed new Value Basis of Value as
description or Valuation per B/S as
on like, second on (`)
make other hand?
details, etc.)

20) No of employees:
Skilled :
Unskilled :
Office staff :
21) Information about shifts:
No of shifts :
Working hours:
22) Comments on working and capacity utilization:
23) Are the machines working in full capacity?

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 Annexure VIII

Whether the plant and machine is maintained properly and found in

working condition?
24) Value of fixed assets:
(As per latest balance sheet as on )
25) Value of current assets:
(As per latest balance sheet as on )
26) Was there any instance of breakdown of plant and machinery causing
hindrance in progress of the unit during last six months?
27) Other remarks/ observations
28) Computation of Ratios

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