Analytical Procedures – a Powerful Tool for Auditors by David Chow

The objective of analytical procedures is to identify the existence of unusual transactions and events, and amounts, ratios and trends that might indicate matters that have financial statement and audit planning ramifications*. First, the auditors should consider information regarding the industry in which the client operates**. In this case, average machine setup time from start to finish is approximately six hours, which is slightly below the industry average. It means the company is efficient in preparation for production. Also, the auditors should compare client data with prior period data***. For example, days sales in receivables increased from 48.4 days (2004) to 56.3 days (2005). Though sales didn't increase a lot ,but days sales

3. Substantive tests procedures: The audit team should perform substantive tests on Smackey’s accounting transactions and

Moreover, the auditor should preform test for effectiveness of internal controls. He may interview management by asking questions on the process of the transactions and operational activities. He may discuss with management the process of some transactions from beginning to end and then test it by using sample testing. Also he/she should make sure that there is proper control of activities; policies and procedures for adequate segregation of duties are met.

There are two general categories of phase III procedures. Analytical procedures use comparisons and relationships to assess whether account balances or other data appear reasonable. For example, to provide some assurance for the accuracy objective for both sales transactions (transaction-related audit objective) and accounts receivable (balance-related audit objective), the auditor might examine sales transactions in the sales journal for unusually large amounts and also compare total monthly

According to an article in the CPA Journal, the accounting profession has long contended that an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) provides reasonable assurance that there are no material misstatements contained within financial statements. Suggest at least two (2) alternative methods that auditors can use to provide a more concrete level of assurance to investors. Provide support for your responses with examples of such methods in use.

14. In which paragraph of the standard audit report does the auditor communicate to the user that certain combining fund information in the financial statements is not part of the basic financial statements, but that such information has been subjected to auditing procedures and, in his or her opinion, is fairly presented in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements?

According to AS 3, Paragraph A8 “good audit documentation improves the quality of the work performed in many ways, including, for example:

There are four things that an auditor needs to assess prior to performing an audit:

A review and an audit report are both a form of an attestation engagement. A Review, however, is less in scope so it provides a moderate level of assurance on the financial statements. It is considered a “sniff” of an audit, which comparatively provides reasonable assurance that no material misstatements occurred. Since a review deals with a limited scope, it does not provide the basis for expressing an opinion on the presentation of the

This paper contains the summary of the details and results of the audit tests on

The objectives an audit team hopes to accomplish by preparing a proper set of audit workpapers is to facilitate the planning, performance, supervision of the engagement, and provide evidence supporting significant conclusions by the auditor in accordance with the PCAOB. A record of the evidence, samples tested and the conclusions are presented to supervisors and partners for review

When conducting the audit for Persephone Inc, there are two possible alternative audit approaches: substantive testing or combined testing. Comprised of tests of details and substantive analytical procedures, substantive testing inspects the financial statements to determine if there are errors present. Alternatively, the combined approach relies on both the internal controls that are in use by the company, in addition to substantive testing to catch misstatements. Consequently, companies who are lacking definitive controls utilize substantive testing; it is also useful for companies where the controls are not properly implemented or functioning. While Persephone Inc. has numerous controls set in place, and is looking to further strengthen

d. “The auditor's reliance on substantive tests to achieve an audit objective related to a particular assertion may be derived from tests of details, from analytical procedures, or from a combination of both. The decision about which procedure or procedures to use to achieve a particular audit objective is based on the auditor's judgment on the expected effectiveness and efficiency of the available procedures. For significant risks of material misstatement, it is unlikely that audit evidence obtained from substantive analytical procedures alone will be sufficient (PCAOB, AS 2305.09).”

The purpose of an audit is to enhance of confidence in the financial statements. An auditors opinion validates this purpose.

Analytical procedures can often point to areas that are out of sync with the prior results of the firm. Auditors should look closely at changes in the gross profit ratio and unusual changes in revenues or expenses. Once unusual results have been identified, auditors must search for reasonable explanations. If the explanations provided seem implausible then the auditor must expand the scope of testing and obtain additional corroborating evidence.