
TClarke
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
69
70
Governance
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of TClarke Plc (the
‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year
ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the following:
•
Consolidated Income Statement,
•
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income,
•
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position,
•
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows,
•
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity,
•
Company Statement of Financial Position,
•
Company Statement of Changes in Equity, and
•
notes to the financial statements, including a summary of
significant accounting policies.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the
preparation of the group financial statements is applicable law and
UK-adopted international accounting standards.
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the
preparation of the parent company financial statements is United
Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 101 “Reduced
Disclosure Framework”, and applicable law (United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion:
•
the group financial statements give a true and fair view of the
state of the group’s affairs as at 31 December 2022 and of the
group’s profit or the year then ended;
•
the parent company financial statements give a true and fair
view of the state of the parent company’s affairs as at 31
December 2022;
•
the group financial statements have been properly
prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international
accounting standards;
•
the parent company financial statements have been properly
prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally
Accepted Accounting Practice;
•
the group financial statements and the parent company
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Our opinion is consistent with our reporting to the Audit
Committee.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the
“Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements”
section of our report. We are independent of the group and the
parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that
are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK,
including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed public
interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient
and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
We have not provided any non-audit services to the group in the
period under audit. Accordingly, to the best of our knowledge
and belief, we confirm that non-audit services prohibited by the
FRCs Ethical Standard were not provided.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the
directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. However,
because not all future events or conditions can be predicted,
this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the group’s and the
parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Our audit procedures to evaluate the directors’ assessment of
the group’s and the parent company's ability to continue to
adopt the going concern basis of accounting included, but were
not limited to:
•
Undertaking an initial assessment at the planning stage of
the audit to identify events or conditions that may cast
significant doubt on the group’s and the parent company’s
ability to continue as a going concern;
•
Obtaining an understanding of the relevant controls relating
to the directors’ going concern assessment;
•
Assessing the historical accuracy of projections prepared by
the directors;
•
Assessing the data inputs and the assumptions underlying
the base case going concern model, and the assumptions
used in the downside and upside scenarios;
•
Reviewing management’s forward order book;
•
Testing the forecast model and covenant calculations for
mathematical accuracy and logical integrity;
•
Assessing projected liquidity and projected covenant
compliance over the going concern period;
•
Evaluating the appropriateness of the directors’ disclosures in
the financial statements on going concern.
•
Considering whether the group’s forecasts in the going
concern assessment are consistent with other forecasts used
by the group in its accounting estimates, including the
goodwill impairment assessment.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified
any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that,
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the
group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going
concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the
financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with
respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections
of this report.
In relation to TClarke Plc’s reporting on how it has applied the
UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing material to
add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ statement in
the financial statements about whether the director’s considered
it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial
statements of the current period and include the most significant
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to
fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect
on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These
matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and
we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Independent Auditors‘ Report to the Members of TClarke PLC
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Key Audit Matter
How our scope addressed this matter
Long-term contract
accounting in relation to
Construction revenue (group)
Revenue: £391.2m
Refer to Note 3 (iv) and (v)
(Significant accounting policies),
Note 4 (Significant accounting
estimates), Note 5 (Segment
Information and Revenue Analysis)
and Note 15 (Contract assets /
liabilities).
The group recognises revenue for
construction contracts over time
using the input method under
IFRS 15. Therefore revenue
recognised in the period is
calculated based on the
percentage of completion of the
project, which is calculated based
on the total costs incurred to date
compared with the total expected
costs for the project (Life).
The forecast life costs are based on
management estimates and could
be manipulated to influence the
revenue and profit recognised in
the year.
The revenue on contracts includes
amounts relating to variations
and claims, which fall under the
variable consideration or contract
modification requirements of IFRS
15. These amounts are recognised
on a contract-by-contract basis
when evidence supports that the
contract modification is
enforceable or when it is
considered highly probable that a
significant reversal in the amount
of variable consideration
recognised will not occur.
There is a risk that revenue
recognised over a period of time
on construction contracts and
related contract balances are
materially misstated due to the
requirement for significant
judgements and estimates to be
made by management, which
involve inherent subjectivity and
complexities.
Our audit procedures included, but were not limited to:
•
Understanding of the process over contract accounting and assessing the design and
implementation of the related controls;
•
Review of retentions against certifications and assessment of recoverability;
•
Test of details on costs incurred in the year for a sample of materials and equipment,
including allocation to project, through agreement to supporting documentation;
•
Test of detail on payroll cost allocation to contracts;
•
Test of detail on contract accruals at year end through review of the supporting calculations
and review or post year end information;
•
Review of historical margins across the 2022 contract portfolio over the last 3 years to assess
management’s ability to forecast project profitability; and
•
For certain selected contracts, attendance at monthly contract management meetings and
site visits.
Using a variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria, we selected a sample of contracts to
assess and challenge the most significant and complex contracts involving judgement and
estimates. For the sample selected, we performed the following procedures:
•
Review key contract terms and management’s assessment of performance obligations;
•
Review of key contract staff experience and qualifications;
•
Meeting with contract teams to gain an understanding of the contract, including principal
opportunities and risks;
•
Background media search on the related construction project;
•
Review of financial stability of the largest subcontractors and the customer;
•
Review of forecast revenue to signed initial contract, signed contract amendments and signed
variations;
•
Test a sample of variations to contractual terms, certification, or instructions as appropriate
to support management’s judgement that no subsequent significant reversal of revenue
will occur,
•
Review latest client certification and subsequent cash receipts;
•
Comparison of year end contract assets against subsequent certification and cash receipts;
•
Assessment of management calculation of estimated costs to complete through both
analytical review and test of details;
•
Assessment of costs incurred to date through test of details;
–
For a sample of subcontractors - latest certifications and purchase invoices.
–
For a sample of material, equipment and labour - purchase invoices.
•
Reperformance of calculation of revenue recognised, contract asset and/or contract
liability; and
•
Review of contractual completion date together with any signed extension-of-time compared
to anticipated completion date to assess any exposure to potential liquidated damages.
Our observations
Based on all the evidence obtained from our audit testing, we concluded that revenue from
construction contracts, contract assets and contracts liabilities are fairly stated.
We summarise below the key audit matters in forming our
opinion above, together with an overview of the principal audit
procedures performed to address each matter and our key
observations arising from those procedures.
These matters, together with our findings, were communicated
to those charged with governance through our Audit
Completion Report.