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What are the Different Types of Audit Procedures?

Carol Francois
Carol Francois

There are three different types of audit procedures: data selection, reliability validation, and relevance confirmation. The selection of the procedures used typically depends on the type of audit, the scope, and the level of internal control. An audit procedure is defined as the specific tests that the auditor performs when gathering the evidence required to evaluate if the audit objectives are met.

The primary purpose of an audit usually is to evaluate the level of compliance with internal and external policies, identity the effectiveness of internal controls, and provide a report to external and internal audiences. There are a range of different types of audit, from financial to health and safety. The purpose of the audit procedures, however, remains the same.

Skills typically required to conduct an audit include attention to detail, precision, and a full understanding of business rules and requirements.
Skills typically required to conduct an audit include attention to detail, precision, and a full understanding of business rules and requirements.

Typically, the method used to select the data depends on the characteristics of the data itself. For transactional data that is available electronically, a random selection program typically is used. It can be very important for the data selection to be random within a specific classification of data. For example, an audit of safety-report completion over a three-year period should include the random selection of reports filed throughout the period, and not a series of sequential reports filed in a short time frame.

Validating the reliability of the data typically requires a series of audit procedures that focus on tracking the original source of the data, identifying who generated the original data, and how it was completed. It is important to use an independent verification method, preferably one that cannot be altered to provide proof that the data is reliable. This type of information is called an audit trail, and is used to prove who accessed the data and when.

An effective audit usually is focused on specific tasks or areas of operation. It is not an opportunity to explore interesting information or to look for possible patterns in behavior. One of the most important audit procedures from a supervisory perspective is relevance. All the data collected and tests performed must be directly relevant to the scope of the audit.

Skills typically required to conduct an audit include attention to detail, precision, and a full understanding of business rules and requirements. Financial statement audits must be conducted by a licensed accountant who has completed a certification program. Auditors working in other areas, such as workplace safety or information technology, typically have significant education and experience in these fields. Written communication skills usually are very important, as auditors are required to provide a written report at the end of the audit process.

Discussion Comments

anon965085

@alterego: Audit programs are to help auditors organize their work and help ensure completeness.

Like many professions, auditing requires flexibility and professional judgment. Although technology has developed "robotic" tools that help doctors do surgery with less invasiveness/trauma, to adapt to various situations a doctors judgment is required.

In a similar fashion, until AI has advanced to where humans are no longer needed, auditors professional judgment is required to develop risk based audits in the various situations that can occur.

alterego

From what I've seen, most auditors today use some kind of audit program to help them in the process. If this trend continues, do you all think that this could become a job that needs very little accounting knowledge to actually perform?

g00dquestion

@katzdad- It really depends on what is being audited. Accounting audit procedures for a company are very similar to the way an individual is audited. The auditors might look at random samplings of invoices and how they are paid, bank records and even how the books are kept to determine if things are being done correctly. They will also look at receipts for purchases and payroll records if they feel that they need to.

Katzdad

The only kinds of audit I have heard of in the past were tax audits. How to these kinds of audits mentioned in this article compare to the IRS audit procedures, does anyone know?

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    • Skills typically required to conduct an audit include attention to detail, precision, and a full understanding of business rules and requirements.
      By: Kirill Kedrinski
      Skills typically required to conduct an audit include attention to detail, precision, and a full understanding of business rules and requirements.