The correct answer is c) sales invoices.

When auditing to test whether sales have been recorded accurately, the auditor should draw a sample from a file of sales invoices. Sales invoices are a crucial document in the revenue recognition process, and they provide detailed information about the sale transactions, including the date of the sale, the description of the products or services sold, the quantity, the unit price, and the total amount billed to the customer.

Here’s a detailed explanation of why sales invoices are the appropriate choice and why the other options are not as suitable for this purpose:

c) Sales Invoices:

Sales invoices are a primary source document for recording sales in the financial statements. These documents are generated by the company and provided to customers as evidence of the sale. When the company makes a sale, a sales invoice is created, and the transaction is recorded in the accounting system.

The auditor should draw a sample from the file of sales invoices to verify that these transactions have been accurately recorded in the company’s books.

By examining sales invoices, the auditor can:

1. Verify the completeness of sales recorded:

The sales invoices contain information about each individual sale, allowing the auditor to check if all sales transactions have been included in the financial statements.

2. Confirm the accuracy of sales amounts:

The auditor can compare the sales amounts on the invoices to the corresponding entries in the financial statements to ensure that they match.

3. Confirm the recognition of revenue in the appropriate accounting period:

The date on the sales invoice provides evidence of when the sale was made, allowing the auditor to check if revenue has been recognized in the correct period, in accordance with the revenue recognition policies and accounting standards.

4. Check the authenticity of sales transactions:

Sales invoices should include details about the products or services sold, quantities, and customer information. By examining sales invoices, the auditor can verify that these transactions are legitimate and not the result of fictitious sales or unauthorized activities.

In summary, drawing a sample from the file of sales invoices is the most appropriate method for an auditor to test whether sales have been recorded accurately and in compliance with accounting standards and company policies.

Now, let’s discuss why the other options are not as suitable for this purpose:

a) Purchase Orders:

Purchase orders are documents issued by the company to suppliers when ordering goods or services. These documents are not typically used to record sales; rather, they are used in the procurement process to request products or services from suppliers.

While purchase orders may be relevant for verifying purchases and accounts payable, they are not the primary source of information for sales transactions.

b) Sales Orders:

Sales orders are internal documents generated by a company to confirm the customer’s request for products or services. Like purchase orders, sales orders are part of the order fulfillment process and do not serve as the primary record of completed sales transactions.

They are used for tracking and processing orders but do not provide the detailed information required for revenue recognition and recording in the financial statements.

d) Bill of Lading:

A bill of lading is a shipping document used in the transportation and delivery of goods. It serves as a receipt for the goods being shipped and a contract between the shipper, carrier, and receiver.

While the bill of lading is essential for tracking the physical movement of goods, it does not contain the financial details needed to record sales revenue. Bill of lading documents focus on the logistics and transportation aspect of a sale rather than the financial aspect.

In conclusion, when testing whether sales have been recorded accurately, the auditor should draw a sample from a file of sales invoices. Sales invoices are the primary source of information related to sales transactions, containing crucial details for revenue recognition and financial statement accuracy.

While the other options have their significance in different aspects of business operations, they are not the most suitable documents for verifying sales recording accuracy during an audit.