Performing Effective and Efficient Audit Sampling and Analytical Procedures (EEA4)

Overview

You could pay $0 for this course!

When performing an audit, an auditor bases their opinion about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement on a variety of tests on the underlying account balances and classes of transactions. Some balances, such as debt or cash, may be tested 100 percent, but more commonly the auditor will use sampling to test a subset of the population to obtain sufficient evidence to support the opinion. The auditor will also use sampling when testing control activities to conclude on the effectiveness of the controls. For other account balances and transactions, auditors may choose to perform analytical procedures as substantive tests instead of, or alongside, sampling techniques. It is important to properly design and perform analytical procedures to ensure an effective and efficient audit engagement. This course will provide detailed guidance and methods for performing these analytical techniques and explore the different sampling applications used in a financial statement/compliance audit.

This course qualifies for reimbursement through the state’s Workforce Training Express Fund. Firms/companies with fewer than 50 staff can be reimbursed up to 100% of the cost of training and firms/companies with 50-100 employees can be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost of training. You must register for the course and apply for reimbursement through the Workforce Training Express Fund website a minimum of three weeks prior to the start of the course. The course code for this program is C-12952. To learn more, click here or contact Julia Ekelund at jekelund@masscpas.org.

Highlights

Types of sampling and sampling risk Attribute testing for tests of controls and compliance Variable sampling for substantive assurance Differentiating statistical and nonstatistical sampling approaches Determining sample sizes in a compliance audit Preliminary analytical procedures as risk assessment procedures Performing final analytical procedures to assess the conclusions reached during the audit and evaluate the overall financial statement presentation When to use substantive analytical procedures for efficiency and effectiveness Establishing expectations for substantive analytical procedures Setting a threshold for differences Following up on differences from expectations Concluding on substantive analytical procedures

Prerequisites

Prior experience on private or public company audit engagements

Designed For

Auditors of all levels

Objectives

Discuss the professional requirements related to sampling applications Differentiate attribute testing for tests of controls or compliance from variable sampling for substantive testing Explain special considerations related to internal control and compliance testing in a Single or Program-Specific Audit Performing effective preliminary analytical procedures in the risk assessment process Performing a final overall analysis to assess the conclusions reached during the audit and evaluate the overall financial statement presentation Planning and performing effective and efficient substantive analytical procedures Concluding on analytical procedures