(b) Hawthorn Enterprises Co (Hawthorn) manufactures and distributes fashion clothing to retail stores. Its year end was 31 March 2015. You are the audit manager and the year-end audit is due to commence shortly. The following three matters have been brought to your attention.

(iii) Receivables
Hawthorn’s receivables ledger has increased considerably during the year, and the year-end balance is $2·3 million compared to $1·4 million last year. The finance director of Hawthorn has requested that a receivables circularisation is not carried out as a number of their customers complained last year about the inconvenience involved in responding. The engagement partner has agreed to this request, and tasked you with identifying alternative procedures to confirm the existence and valuation of receivables. (5 marks)

Required:
Describe substantive procedures you would perform to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence in relation to the above three matters.

Note: The mark allocation is shown against each of the three matters above.