Question 1
Q1A CPA firm is auditing Innovatech, a pre-IPO software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup. The audit team notes the following:
- Innovatech recognizes revenue from 3-year, non-cancellable contracts at the point of sale, arguing the cash is received upfront and the service is 'always-on'.
- The company recently pivoted its business model, causing significant recurring losses. Management's going concern assessment relies heavily on securing a future Series C funding round, for which they only have a verbal expression of interest from a venture capital firm.
- The lead developer, who wrote most of the proprietary source code, left the company acrimoniously and has threatened litigation over intellectual property rights.
Which of the following audit opinions is most appropriate given these circumstances, assuming all issues are material?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
An adverse opinion is appropriate because the misstatements are both material and pervasive. Recognizing 3-year contract revenue upfront is a significant departure from GAAP (ASC 606), which requires revenue to be recognized over time as the service is delivered. This misstatement would pervasively affect numerous accounts, including revenue, deferred revenue, net income, and retained earnings. Furthermore, relying on a verbal expression of interest for funding is insufficient to mitigate a substantial doubt about going concern, and if disclosures are inadequate, this compounds the issue. A qualified opinion is insufficient for such a pervasive misstatement. An unmodified opinion is inappropriate. A disclaimer of opinion would be for a scope limitation, not a GAAP departure.