Audit evidences

The Definition of Audit Evidence

            Audit evidence is all information that supports the numbers or other information presented in the financial statements, which can be used by the Auditor as a reasonable basis to state his Opinion.

 

            Auditing evidence is the information collected by an auditor to ascertain the accuracy and compliance of a company's financial statements. The auditing evidence is meant to support the company's claims made in the financial statements and their adherence to the accounting laws of their legal jurisdiction.

 

            Sufficient audit evidence must be obtained through inspection, observation, inquiry and confirmation as a sufficient basis for expressing an opinion on the audited financial statements.

 

How do auditors measure the appropriateness of audit evidence?

            Appropriateness is the measure of the quality of audit evidence; that is, its relevance and its reliability in providing support for the conclusions on which the auditor’s opinion is based. The reliability of evidence is influenced by its source and by its nature, and is dependent on the individual circumstances under which it is obtained.

 

Relevance

            Relevance deals with the logical connection with, or bearing upon, the purpose of the audit procedure and, where appropriate, the assertion under consideration. The relevance of information to be used as audit evidence may be affected by the direction of testing. For example, if the purpose of an audit procedure is to test for overstatement in the existence or valuation of accounts payable, testing the recorded accounts payable may be a relevant audit procedure. On the other hand, when testing for understatement in the existence or valuation of accounts payable, testing the recorded accounts payable would not be relevant, but testing such

information as subsequent disbursements, unpaid invoices, suppliers’ statements, and unmatched receiving reports may be relevant.

 

Reliability

            The reliability of information to be used as audit evidence, and therefore of the audit evidence itself, is influenced by its source and its nature, and the circumstances under which it is obtained, including the controls over its preparation and maintenance where relevant. Therefore, generalizations about the reliability of various kinds of audit evidence are subject to important exceptions. Even when information to be used as audit evidence is obtained from sources external to the entity, circumstances may exist that could affect its reliability. For example, information obtained from an independent external source may not be reliable if the source is not knowledgeable, or a management’s expert may lack objectivity. While recognizing that exceptions may exist, the following generalizations about  the reliability of audit evidence may be useful:

• The reliability of audit evidence is increased when it is obtained from independent sources outside the entity.

• The reliability of audit evidence that is generated internally is increased when the related controls, including those over its preparation and maintenance, imposed by the entity are effective.

 

 

Why do Auditors need Audit Evidences ?

            Audit evidence is necessary to support the auditor’s opinion and report. It is cumulative in nature and is primarily obtained from audit procedures performed during the course of the audit. It may, however, also include information obtained from other sources such as previous audits (provided the auditor has determined whether changes have occurred since the previous audit that may affect its relevance to the current audit) or a firm’s quality control procedures for client acceptance and continuance.

 

In addition to other sources

            Inside and outside the entity, the entity’s accounting records are an important source of audit evidence. Also, information that may be used as audit evidence may have been prepared using the work of a management’s expert. Audit evidence comprises both information that supports and corroborates management’s assertions, and any information that contradicts such assertions.

            In addition, in some cases the absence of information (for example, management’s refusal to provide a requested representation) is used by the auditor, and therefore, also constitutes audit evidence.

 

Sources of Audit Evidence

            Some audit evidence is obtained by performing audit procedures to test the accounting records, for example, through analysis and review, reperforming procedures followed in the financial reporting process, and reconciling related types and applications of the same information. Through the performance of such audit procedures, the auditor may determine that the accounting records are internally consistent and agree to the financial statements.

 

            More assurance is ordinarily obtained from consistent audit evidence obtained from different sources or of a different nature than from items of audit evidence considered individually. For example, corroborating information obtained from a source independent of the entity may increase the assurance the auditor obtains from audit evidence that is generated internally, such as evidence existing within the accounting records, minutes of meetings, or a management representation.

 

            Information from sources independent of the entity that the auditor may use as

audit evidence may include confirmations from third parties, analysts’ reports, and comparable data about competitors (benchmarking data).

 

How do Audit Procedures for Obtaining Audit Evidence?

 

Inspection

            Inspection involves examining records or documents, whether internal or external, in paper form, electronic form, or other media, or a physical examination of an asset. Inspection of records and documents provides audit evidence of varying degrees of reliability, depending on their nature and source and, in the case of internal records and documents, on the effectiveness of the controls over their production. An example of inspection used as a test of controls is inspection of records for evidence of authorization.

 

Observation

            Observation consists of looking at a process or procedure being performed by others, for example, the auditor’s observation of inventory counting by the entity’s personnel, or of the performance of control activities. Observation provides audit evidence about the performance of a process or procedure, but is limited to the point in time at which the observation takes place, and by the fact that the act of being observed may affect how the process or procedure is performed. For further guidance on observation of the counting of inventory.

 

External Confirmation

            An external confirmation represents audit evidence obtained by the auditor as a direct written response to the auditor from a third party (the confirming party), in paper form, or by electronic or other medium. External confirmation procedures frequently are relevant when addressing assertions associated with certain account balances and their elements. However, external confirmations need not be restricted to account balances only. For example, the auditor may request confirmation of the terms of agreements or transactions an entity has with third parties; the confirmation request may be designed to ask if any modifications have been made to the agreement and, if so, what the relevant details are. External confirmation procedures also are used to obtain audit evidence about the absence of certain conditions, for example, the absence of a “side agreement” that may influence revenue recognition.

 

Recalculation

            Recalculation consists of checking the mathematical accuracy of documents or records. Recalculation may be performed manually or electronically.

 

Reperformance

            Reperformance involves the auditor’s independent execution of procedures or controls that were originally performed as part of the entity’s internal control.

 

Analytical Procedures

            Analytical procedures consist of evaluations of financial information through analysis of plausible relationships among both financial and non-financial data. Analytical procedures also encompass such investigation as is necessary of identified fluctuations or relationships that are inconsistent with other relevant information or that differ from expected values by a significant amount.

 

Inquiry

            Inquiry consists of seeking information of knowledgeable persons, both financial and non-financial, within the entity or outside the entity. Inquiry is used extensively throughout the audit in addition to other audit procedures. Inquiries may range from formal written inquiries to informal oral inquiries. Evaluating responses to inquiries is an integral part of the inquiry process.

 

            The company need to hire Auditor External’s Service in order to audit the company’s financial statement and internal company to spot mistake or reduce risk.