A major objective of written representations is to

a. Shift responsibility for financial statements from the management to auditors.

b. Provide a substitute source of audit evidence for substantive procedures that auditors would otherwise perform.

c. Provide management an opportunity to make assertions about the quantity and valuation of the physical inventory.

d. Impress on management its ultimate responsibility for the financial statements and disclosures

d. Impress on management its ultimate responsibility for the financial statements and disclosures

Explanation:

A written representation is written statement by management provided to the auditor to confirm certain matters or to support other audit evidence. It does not include financial statements, assertions, or supporting books and records.

The written representation are normally provided by management for purpose that it has fulfilled its responsibilities in respect of the financial statements and the audit.

Option a. is incorrect since the ultimate purpose of written representation is that management confirms its responsibilities in respect of financial statements.

Option b. is also incorrect because management representation can only be used to support the substantive procedures that we have performed during the source of our audit. They can never be alternative to substantive procedures.

Option c. is also incorrect because the management representation does not include any kind of assertion about any financial statement item.

Option D. is correct since the ultimate objective of the written representation is that management accepts its responsibility for the preparation of financial statements.

So the answer is d. Impress on management its ultimate responsibility for the financial statements and disclosures