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Definitions
Analytical procedures are audit procedures used to help conduct a more economic, efficient and effective audit. They consist of studying plausible relationships between both financial and non-financial data, whether within the same period and entity and/or from different periods and entities. Analytical procedures, which are used more for audits of reliability than compliance, may be used to:
- analyse relationships for consistency with each other and with the auditor’s knowledge of the organisation and its activities; or
- predict values which may be compared to actual values.
The term also includes the investigation of identified fluctuations and relationships that are inconsistent with other information or deviate significantly from predicted amounts.
Principles
Considerations
The auditor should bear in mind that analytical procedures are more reliable in a strong control environment with effective internal controls and good external data. However, such procedures require comprehensive and up-to-date information concerning financial and other data, which may not be the case in significant fields of EU activity.
Various methods may be used when performing analytical procedures. These range from simple comparisons to complex analyses using advanced statistical techniques, for which appropriate computer software may be necessary. The auditor's choice of procedure is a matter of professional judgement.
In general, analytical procedures provide a warning that something appears to be wrong, rather than providing positive, persuasive evidence of what (if anything) is wrong, and thus on their own do not normally provide sufficient, relevant and reliable audit evidence.
Instructions
Process for using analytical procedures
The use of analytical procedures involves acquiring information from various sources in order to determine what is expected; comparing the actual situation with that expectation; investigating the reasons for any discrepancies arising; and evaluating the results, as follows:
When to use analytical procedures
Analytical procedures should be used at the following phases of the audit:
- Planning as risk assessment procedures, in order to identify areas of potential risk and help design further audit procedures;
- Examination:
• as substantive procedures, when their use can be more efficient than tests of details and can provide corroboration; and
• as part of the overall review at the end of the audit, to help assess if external information is consistent with audit findings.
Substantive analytical procedures
Quality review
In addition to performing tests of details, the auditor may also employ substantive analytical procedures as part of his/her substantive procedures in order to reduce risk to an acceptably low level. Substantive analytical procedures are used to predict values, based on the expectation that relationships among data exist and continue in the absence of known conditions to the contrary. However, the risk of forming an incorrect conclusion may be higher for substantive analytical procedures than for tests of details because of the former's extensive use of the auditor's judgement. Accordingly, quality management procedures are of critical importance.
Reliable data needed
Predictive testing of this sort should only be undertaken on revenue or expenditure streams that are themselves highly predictable and where reliable data are readily available so that the predictions can be made, e.g. interest paid/received on lending and borrowing operations, payments of salaries and allowances to staff, etc.
Part of substantive testing strategy
While substantive analytical procedures will not normally on their own provide sufficient, relevant and reliable substantive audit evidence, it may be possible to use predictive testing as part of the overall substantive testing strategy for material account balances and transaction streams. For example, when, say, 60% of the transactions (by value) are high-value items, these might be tested in detail while a predictive test is used for the remaining 40% of (low-value) transactions. Or, when a small proportion, by value, of transactions is processed at a geographical location which it is not possible or efficient to visit, predictive testing may be used for that location.
Analytical procedures in the overall review
The auditor should apply analytical procedures at or near the end of the audit when forming an overall conclusion. The conclusions drawn from the results of such analytical procedures are intended to corroborate conclusions formed during the audit of individual components and assist in arriving at the overall conclusion and, if required, an opinion.
Analytical procedures used at the overall review stage can be the same as those used during the planning phase and hence can be compared against each other. The review may indicate that additional evidence is required.
Resources
Examples of analytical procedures in financial and compliance audits
Audit evidence regarding the reliability of the accounts is mostly secured through tests of details, with substantive analytical procedures also undertaken when appropriate.
The main areas in which substantive analytical procedures are employed are in the analytical review of:
- the main accounting data for consistency and reasonableness;
- the accounts regarding off-balance sheet commitments;
- the economic outturn account and segment reporting;small bank balances (those opened in connection with imprests);
- so-called "small" accounts.
Analytical procedures may, in certain circumstances, assist the auditor in evaluating compliance. For example, where allowances under a grants scheme are subject to a maximum value and the number of recipients is known, the auditor may use analytical procedures to establish whether the permitted maximum has been breached. Another example is an analytical review of the consistency of expenditures compared to budget or prior years.
Examples of the use of predicted versus actual values:
- the study of changes in an account balance over prior periods leading to a prediction for the current period (e.g. regular payment of a loan over x years);
- computations that give a prediction of a given value, e.g. using farm data to predict per hectare payments per farmer.
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