Final answer:
A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control. It can be caused by a single deficiency or multiple deficiencies in internal control and needs to be addressed and disclosed in the financial statements. Option A is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) is defined as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting. It refers to any weakness in the design or operation of controls that could result in a material misstatement of financial statements. It may occur at the process, transaction, or account balance level.
A material weakness can be caused by a single deficiency or multiple deficiencies in internal control. It is considered a significant issue that needs to be addressed and disclosed in the organization's financial statements.
For example, if a company lacks segregation of duties, where the same person is responsible for both recording and approving transactions, it represents a material weakness in their internal control over financial reporting.