Audit Evidence and Procedures Explained
1. Audit Evidence
Audit evidence is information used by the auditor to draw conclusions on whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. This evidence can be obtained from various sources, including documents, confirmations, analytical procedures, and inquiries.
Example: An auditor reviewing a company's accounts receivable might obtain evidence by examining sales invoices, customer statements, and bank confirmations to ensure the receivables are accurately recorded.
2. Audit Procedures
Audit procedures are specific actions taken by the auditor to gather and evaluate audit evidence. These procedures are designed to address specific audit objectives and are tailored to the risks identified during the audit.
Example: To verify the accuracy of inventory, an auditor might perform physical counts of inventory items, compare the counts to the recorded amounts, and review purchase orders and sales records to ensure the inventory levels are correct.
3. Substantive Procedures
Substantive procedures are audit procedures designed to detect material misstatements in the financial statements. These procedures include tests of details and substantive analytical procedures, which are performed to gather sufficient appropriate audit evidence.
Example: An auditor might perform substantive procedures on the company's revenue by selecting a sample of sales transactions, examining the related documentation, and comparing the recorded amounts to the actual sales to ensure they are accurately reported.
4. Analytical Procedures
Analytical procedures involve evaluating financial information by studying plausible relationships among both financial and non-financial data. These procedures help identify areas that may require further investigation due to unexpected or unusual relationships.
Example: An auditor might use analytical procedures to compare the current year's gross profit margin to prior years. If the current year's margin is significantly different, the auditor may investigate further to determine the cause and ensure there are no material misstatements.