Audit procedures and methods are summarized both in International Auditing Standard ISA 500 and in Russian Federal Rule (Standard) No. 5 “Audit Evidence”.

Procedures for Obtaining Audit Evidence. The auditor obtains audit evidence by performing the following substantive procedures: inspection, observation, inquiry, confirmation, recalculation (checking the entity's arithmetic calculations), and analytical procedures. The duration of these procedures depends, in particular, on the period allotted for obtaining audit evidence.

Inspection is the verification of records, documents or tangible assets. During the inspection of records and documents, the auditor obtains audit evidence of varying degrees of reliability, depending on their nature and source, as well as on the effectiveness of internal controls over the process of their processing.

Documentary Audit Evidence, characterized by various degrees of reliability, include:

• documentary audit evidence created and held by third parties (external information);
• documentary audit evidence created by third parties, but held by the audited entity (external and internal information);
• documentary audit evidence created by and held by the audited entity (inside information).

Examination of documents relating to the entity's property provides reliable audit evidence about its existence, but not necessarily about its ownership or valuation.

Observation- is the auditor's tracking of a process or procedure performed by others (for example, the auditor's observation of the recalculation of inventories carried out by employees of the audited entity, or monitoring the implementation of internal control procedures for which there is no documentary evidence for audit).

Request is seeking information from knowledgeable persons within or outside the entity being audited. A formal request can be either a formal written request addressed to third parties or an informal verbal question addressed to employees of the entity being audited. Answers to inquiries (questions) may provide the auditor with information that he did not previously have or that confirm audit evidence.

Confirmation- is a response to a request for information contained in accounting records (for example, the auditor usually requests confirmation of accounts receivable directly from debtors).

Recalculation- this is a verification of the accuracy of arithmetic calculations in primary documents and accounting records or the performance of independent calculations by the auditor.

Analytical procedures are the analysis and evaluation of the information received by the auditor, the study of the most important financial and economic indicators of the audited entity in order to identify unusual and (or) incorrectly reflected business transactions in accounting, identify the causes of such errors and distortions.

Audit Methodology. Each science, including economics, except for a specific subject and object of study, must have its own method as a general approach to research, which is specified in the methodology. The methodology (philosophy of methodology) of an audit consists of a method as a general approach to research and a specific methodology as a set of special techniques (methods) used in audits.

The audit method as a general approach to research is based on dialectics. The main principles of the audit method reflect the following main features of dialectics:

unity of analysis(decomposition of the phenomenon under study into its component parts and the study of each of them) and synthesis (combining the analyzed phenomena divided into elements into a single, internally connected whole); analysis and synthesis are two sides of a single process of cognition of phenomena;

unity of deduction(the study of phenomena by a gradual transition from the general to the particular, individual) and induction (the study of phenomena by a gradual transition from the particular to general generalizing patterns);

the study of phenomena in their relationship(interrelation and causal interdependence of phenomena necessitate an integrated approach to the study and evaluation of economic activity);

study of phenomena in development, dynamics. The development of economic activity is not just a quantitative growth of products, but also reflects the qualitative state in the field of the technical and organizational level of activity. Method of comparison in time and space (with averages in market economy world, country, with indicators of similar enterprises, competitors) makes it possible to correctly assess the activities of the audited entity.

The audit method as a general approach to the study of economic activities reflected in accounting information, forms the basis for the audit.

Methodology audits is a set of special techniques (methods) used to process economic information for audit purposes.

Diverse techniques can be combined into three groups: determination of the real state of objects, analysis, evaluation.

Receptions of the first group- this is inspection, recalculation, measurement, allowing to determine the quantitative state of the object; laboratory analysis, the purpose of which is to determine the qualitative state of the object; request; documentary check. Checking by the auditor of the actual availability (inventory) of individual items or all materials and finished products allows not only to verify the availability, but also to determine the state of accounting in storage places, the procedure for compiling receipts and expenditures.

To compare individual reporting indicators, analytical procedures are used (methods of the second group).

During the planning stage, the review assists the auditor in planning the nature, timing, and extent of other audit procedures, at the stage of significant audits - to process significant detailed information (for example, if the company's chart of accounts includes 20 cost accounts, then it is easier for the auditor to deduce the trends in these costs by months than to selectively check some amounts to detect atypical costs or transactions), at the final stage - to do a general review of financial information.

The results of analytical procedures can be: persuasive (if the auditor can reasonably assess the correctness of the account balance after the analysis, then he does not need to carry out other procedures); confirming (if the analysis should only confirm the information received from the client, or the conclusions made by the auditor, then before the analytical procedure, he needs to perform additional checks); inapplicable (if the results of the analysis cannot serve as evidence of the auditor's conclusions, then he needs to develop other verification procedures).

Receptions of the third group- this is an assessment of the past, present and future state of the audited objects, the logical conclusion of the comparison process. The state of resources, the feasibility and legality of business transactions, the reliability of economic information relating to events and, accordingly, not reflected in accounting are assessed. The accounting valuation method usually determines the amount of reserves for guarantee obligations, reserves for doubtful debts, the value of securities, etc.

In addition to these techniques, the auditor can involve methodological provisions external to the audit, borrowed from other sciences:

• mathematical theories (formal sampling, regression and cluster analysis);
• economic theories (the value of money in time, the theory of capital valuation);
• theories of accounting and finance (the theory of interest, the financial analysis and bankruptcy forecasting);
• theory of information and communication (the ability of the auditor to come into contact with third parties, drawing up an opinion);
• information technologies (expert systems, computer systems, database technology);
• management (planning and control, organizational theories and theories of motivation);
• questions of law and taxation.

The audit technique also includes the provision of consulting services (control, banking services, wages of workers, etc.).

Auditors independently determine the techniques and methods of their work. All audit methods can be conditionally divided into two groups: audit organization methods in general and specific methods for checking operations, account balances, etc.

Methods for organizing an audit in general:

1. continuous check;
2. custom scan;
3. documentary check;
4. actual check;
5. analytical check;
6. combined check.

The first four methods are widely known, used and used in Russia in audit work. Naturally, continuous or selective verification can be both documentary and factual.

Analytical verification is the use of various methods and techniques of business analysis, mathematics, statistics to identify problems and inconsistencies in the accounting and reporting of the client in order to pay attention to these issues during the audit. In some cases (long-term cooperation of auditors with a given client, trust in the management of the audited company, etc.), the audit may be limited to only an analytical audit.

Combined audit is a combination of different audit organization methods.

Specific methods for checking transactions, accounts, documents.

Federal Rule (Standard) of Auditing Activity No. 5 “Audit Evidence” provides for a list of the main specific methods and procedures for obtaining audit evidence, methods for verifying transactions, accounts, documents.

According to the Federal Auditing Standard (FSAD 7/2011) "Audit Evidence", approved by Order of the Ministry of Finance of Russia dated August 16, 2011 No. 99n, the auditor obtains audit evidence by performing the following substantive verification procedures: inspection, observation, request, confirmation, recalculation (checking the arithmetic calculations of the audited entity) and analytical procedures, which are presented in Table. 1.3.

Table 1.3

Methods for Obtaining Audit Evidence

Inspection	A review of records, documents or tangible assets, during which the auditor obtains audit evidence of varying degrees of reliability depending on its nature and source, as well as the effectiveness of internal controls over the process of their processing
Observation	The auditor's monitoring of a process or procedure performed by others (for example, the auditor's observation of inventory counts carried out by employees of the entity being audited, or monitoring the implementation of internal control procedures for which no documentary evidence remains for audit)
	Seeking information from knowledgeable individuals within or outside the entity being audited. A request in the form can be both formal, addressed in writing to third parties, and an informal oral question, addressed to employees of the audited entity. Answers to inquiries (questions) may provide the auditor with information that he did not previously have or that confirm audit evidence.
Confirmation	Responding to a request for information contained in accounting records (for example, the auditor usually requests confirmation of receivables directly from debtors)
Recalculation	Checking the accuracy of arithmetic calculations in primary documents and accounting records or performing independent calculations by the auditor
Analytical procedures	Analysis and evaluation of the information received by the auditor, study of the most important financial and economic indicators of the audited entity in order to identify unusual and (or) incorrectly reflected business transactions in accounting, identify the causes of such errors and distortions

When choosing the methods planned for use during the audit, the auditor should be guided by the provisions of FSAD 7/2011.

The selection of items to be tested is carried out in terms of the effectiveness of the expected and obtained results in relation to the purpose of the audit.

Audit tests of controls and substantive tests can be considered effective for audit purposes if appropriate audit evidence is obtained from their performance.

The selection of items for testing should be based on the relevance and reliability of the information used as audit evidence.

The auditor may use the following methods to select items for testing:

• a) selection of all elements (complete check);
• b) selection of specific (certain) elements;
• c) building an audit sample.

The choice of one method or a combination of several methods for selecting elements for testing depends on:

• - on specific circumstances (risks of material misstatement in relation to the prerequisites for the preparation of audited financial statements, etc.);
• – practical feasibility of the method;
• – the effectiveness of the method.

A continuous check is carried out in relation to a group of the same type of business transactions or turnovers on an accounting account (or a stratum within the population). An exhaustive check is usually used when performing detailed tests when:

• a) the set consists of a small number of elements with a large value;
• b) there is a significant risk, and other methods of selecting items for testing do not provide sufficient appropriate audit evidence;
• c) there is a repetitive nature of calculations or other automatically performed information system processes, making end-to-end inspection cost effective.

A complete test is generally not used when testing controls.

When deciding on the selection from a set of specific (certain) elements, the auditor should proceed from knowledge of the activities of the entity being audited, the assessed risks of material misstatement, and the characteristics of the tested set. The selection of specific (certain) elements based on the professional judgment of the auditor entails a risk that is not associated with the use of a selective method.

Selected specific (defined) elements can be:

• a) high-value items or so-called key sampling items (for example, items that are suspicious, unusual, particularly at risk, or that have previously been associated with errors);
• b) elements exceeding a certain value, which will allow to test most of the total amount turnovers on an accounting account or a group of similar business transactions;
• c) elements for obtaining certain information (for example, information about the features of the activities of the audited entity, the nature of business transactions).

When using the method of selecting specific (certain) elements, the auditor should keep in mind that the selection of specific (certain) elements within the turnover of an accounting account or a group of similar business transactions is not an audit sample. The conclusions from the results of the procedures applied to the elements selected by this method cannot be extended to the entire population; accordingly, a test of specific (certain) elements does not provide audit evidence regarding the remainder of the population.

The construction of an audit sample is carried out in order to obtain conclusions regarding the entire population based on testing selected elements of this population.

In addition to these techniques, the auditor can involve methodological provisions external to the audit, borrowed from other sciences:

• – mathematical theory (formal sampling, regression and cluster analysis);
• – economic theory (the value of money in time, the theory of capital valuation);
• – theories of accounting and finance (interest theory, financial analysis and bankruptcy forecasting);
• - the theory of information and communication (the ability of the auditor to come into contact with third parties, drawing up an opinion);
• – information technologies (expert systems, computer systems, database technology);
• – management (planning and control, organizational theories and theories of motivation);
• - law and taxation.

Currently, analytical procedures are increasingly used in the audit. In accordance with international standards their application is mandatory when conducting an audit, the purpose of which is to conclude on the reliability of the company's financial information. Analytical procedures help the auditor to understand the business activities of the audited enterprise, to understand the ongoing changes in its activities and provide an opportunity to identify areas in its activities in which it will be necessary to carry out deeper audit procedures in the future.

Analytical procedures include comparison of financial information (data financial reporting):

• with previous periods;
• forecast data;
• reporting data of enterprises belonging to the same branch of economic activity.

By conducting analytical procedures, the audit organization should identify areas significant for the audit. The complexity, volume and timing of analytical procedures depend on the volume and complexity of the financial statements of an economic entity.

To form an opinion on the reliability of the financial (accounting) statements of the enterprise, the auditor needs grounds - audit evidence. The totality of reliable audit evidence that allows you to draw certain conclusions with acceptable audit risk is the basis for writing an auditor's report.

Analytical procedures play a significant role in the theory and practice of auditing. As a result of their application, the quality of audits is increased by focusing on potentially "dangerous" areas and minimizing the risk of non-detection on this basis, and the cost of auditing is also reduced, since the volume of audits is reduced.

Analytical procedures are an assessment of interdependencies that exist and are identified during the audit for both financial and non-financial information, include the study of identified deviations and ratios that deviate from forecast values. The main purpose of such procedures is to identify unusual or incorrectly reflected facts and results of economic activity in accounting, identify the causes of such errors and distortions, and identify areas of potential risk that require special attention of the auditor.

Analytical procedures can be applied at all stages of the audit:

• – at the planning stage to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and determine the nature, timing and scope of procedures;
• – at the testing stage to obtain audit evidence to support specific reporting assertions;
• – at the final stage to assess the reliability of financial statements.

When planning an audit, the auditor needs to apply analytical procedures to understand the activities of the entity being audited and to identify areas of potential risk.

According to FPSAD No. 20 "Analytical Procedures", the application of analytical procedures during a substantive examination to achieve the stated objective is based on the professional judgment of the auditor. In this case, the auditor needs to consider:

• - the purpose of performing the analytical procedures and the extent to which he considers it possible to rely on their results;
• - features of the audited entity and the degree of possible separation of information and the availability of information of a financial and non-financial nature;
• – reliability, relevance, comparability, source of available information;
• - the knowledge gained by the auditor during previous audits, as well as his understanding of the problems of the entity being audited, which served as a reason for comments and adjustments to the financial statements.

The auditor should apply analytical procedures near or very late in the audit when forming an overall conclusion about whether the financial statements as a whole are consistent with the auditor's opinion of the activities of the entity being audited.

In general, analytical procedures allow us to solve the following problems:

• a) examine the activities of the entity being audited;
• b) assess the financial position of the audited entity and the prospects for the continuity of its activities;
• c) identify misstatements in accounting and financial statements;
• d) reduce the number of detailed audit procedures.

Analytical procedures make it possible to identify causal relationships between the analyzed indicators, in particular:

• - fixed assets - the amount of accrued depreciation;
• – sales proceeds – receivables – cash received by the organization from the sale of goods (works, services);
• - sales proceeds - the cost of goods sold;
• – number of employees – expenses for fund formation wages etc.

The procedure for performing analytical procedures consists of the following steps:

• determination of the purpose of the procedure;
• selection of the type of procedure;
• execution of the procedure;
• analysis of results.

The type of analytical procedures depends on the purpose of their implementation, the availability and adequacy of the information necessary for their implementation.

Before using the results of the application of analytical procedures as audit evidence, it is necessary to evaluate their reliability. The auditor's degree of confidence in the results of analytical procedures depends on:

• - on the materiality of the considered accounting accounts and parts of the financial statements;
• – other audit procedures aimed at achieving the same objectives;
• – the accuracy with which the results of analytical procedures can be expected;
• – assessments of inherent risk and risk of controls.

The auditor will have confidence in the reliability of the information and results

analytical procedures to a greater extent if the entity's internal controls over the preparation of information used in analytical procedures can be considered effective. If, as a result of the application of analytical procedures, deviations from expected patterns or relationships are identified that contradict other information or differ from the expected values, then the auditor should investigate such discrepancies, obtain an explanation of the management of the entity and appropriate audit evidence on them. Examinations of identified deviations begin with requests submitted to the management of the entity being audited. The received responses to the query are evaluated for reliability. If necessary, other audit procedures are also applied.

When using analytical procedures during the audit, the auditor analyzes relationships and patterns based on information about the activities of the audited entity, studies the relationship of these relationships and patterns with other information available to the auditor, as well as the reasons for possible deviations.

The choice of procedures, methods and level of their application are the subject of professional judgment of the auditor. The classification of methods for applying analytical procedures is presented in Table. 1.4.

Table 1.4

Classification of ways to apply analytical procedures

Comparison criterion	Types of information being compared
Comparison of financial and other information about the entity being audited	With comparable information for previous periods
	With the expected results of the activities of the entity being audited, such as estimates or forecasts, as well as the auditor's assumptions
	With information about organizations conducting similar activities
Consideration interconnections	Between items of information that are expected to match the predicted pattern, based on the experience of the entity being audited
	Between financial information and other information
Analysis Method	Simple Comparison
	Comprehensive analysis using sophisticated statistical methods
The degree of aggregation of the analyzed information	Consolidated financial statements
	Financial statements of subsidiaries, divisions or segments
	Individual elements of financial information
Stages of the audit in which analytical procedures are used	The auditor's planning for the nature, timing and extent of other audit procedures (audit risk assessment)
	Conducting substantive audit (analytical) procedures, when their application may be more effective than conducting detailed tests of transactions and balances on accounting accounts in order to reduce the risk of non-detection in relation to specific financial reporting assertions
	General review of financial statements at the final stage of the audit

The application of analytical procedures is based on causal relationships between the analyzed indicators; indicators can be both financial and non-financial. In addition, analytical procedures are carried out in relation to the consolidated financial statements, financial statements of subsidiaries, divisions and segments, and certain elements of financial information.

As can be seen from the table above, analytical procedures can be carried out in different ways. The most commonly used:

• – non-quantitative analytical procedures;
• – simple quantitative analytical procedures (simple comparison method);
• – complex quantitative analytical procedures (complex analysis using statistical methods, factor analysis, etc.).

Non-quantitative analytical procedures are based on the application of general knowledge in the field of accounting or the specifics of the activities of the organization, which allow to draw conclusions about the completeness, legality and accuracy of accounts and relationships. The disadvantage of these procedures is their subjectivity. They allow you to identify only those articles in which there have been significant changes.

Simple quantitative analytical procedures are used to establish relationships between accounting accounts. The basis of such procedures can be the analysis of coefficients, trends, analysis of variations. This type of procedure includes express analysis and in-depth analysis of financial statements.

• - comparison of actual values ​​of indicators of financial statements with planned (estimated);
• – comparison with forecast values ​​(determined by auditors);
• - comparison of the actual values ​​of financial statements indicators and related relative coefficients with standard values ​​(established either by the current legislation or by the audited entity);
• – comparison with average industry values;
• - comparison with data not included in the financial statements;
• – analysis of changes in the actual values ​​of financial statements indicators and related relative coefficients, etc.

Analytical procedures based on the comparison method include comparing the ratio of changes in individual indicators.

Examples of such pairs of indicators are:

• - the growth rate of sales of products and their cost;
• – increase in sales of products and change in receivables;
• – increased purchases of inventories and accounts payable;
• – growth of stocks and growth of sales volumes;
• - the volume of work performed and the wages of personnel, at the same time the wages of personnel and the number of employees of the enterprise.

A large difference in the ratio of these pairs of indicators suggests that the auditor should pay attention to the atypicality of such differences.

Sophisticated quantitative analytical procedures are based on the use of economic statistical models applied either to account balances or to variables that cause changes in balances. These procedures make it possible to establish financial intelligence by combining internal economic factors and environmental factors into a single formalized model. The procedures are based on statistical analysis techniques, which allows obtaining accurate and quantified results. But these procedures are rarely used, since their application requires significant costs and special knowledge, as well as the study of a large amount of data in dynamics.

business game

Review the available information for six companies. Discuss what can be said about these companies based on the information provided, and prove which of them is subject to mandatory audit.

1. CJSC "Alfa" has the following balance at the end of the year:

2. Municipal Unitary Enterprise of Obninsk "Beta" has the following consolidated balance sheet:

• 3. During the year the Children 0+ Charitable Foundation received charitable contributions from various commercial organizations and individuals and sent them (minus the costs associated with the activities of the fund) to orphanages and boarding schools.
• 4. According to the results of the year, CJSC "Gamma" received proceeds from sales of products in the amount of 981,370 thousand rubles, the total value of its assets at the end of the year amounted to 2,863 thousand rubles. Foreign investors own 34% authorized capital.
• 5. JSC "Delta" at the end of the year received a profit from sales of 2,118,136 thousand rubles, the cost of goods sold amounted to 2,633,758 thousand rubles, other expenses - 292,895 thousand rubles.
• 6. LLC "Zet" was re-registered as an open joint-stock company. The sales volume for the year amounted to 54,161 thousand rubles, the total value of the balance sheet assets at the beginning of the year amounted to 21,119 thousand rubles.

Currently, there are 4 main approaches to the creation of audit methods:

1) accounting;

2) legal;

3) special;

4) industry.

Accounting approach is traditional. It consists in developing verification methods for various sections of accounting, for example, an audit of cash transactions, an audit of settlements with payroll personnel, etc. Methods of audit check on accounts of accounting in this or that set act as components of each audit check. In the rules (standards) of auditing, they are called methods for checking turnover and balances on accounting accounts.

Legal approach includes the development of methodologies for checking various issues from a legal point of view. In some aspects, such methods intersect with accounting ones, but they imply a deeper study of the legal side of reflecting the economic activity of an enterprise in accounting. These methods include the methodology for auditing the authorized capital, including an examination of the correctness and completeness of the formation of the authorized capital, as well as the procedure for checking the correctness of the reflection in the accounting of settlements with the founders.

Examination of business contracts concluded by the enterprise for compliance with the law and examination of compliance with labor laws also refers to the legal type of audit methods. In the auditing standards they are called methods for checking the means of the control system.

Special approach includes the development of methods for checking groups of enterprises that have common special features (management structure, capital structure, number of employees, tax regime, organizational and legal form). For example, methods of auditing enterprises with foreign investments, enterprises operating under special tax regimes (according to the simplified taxation system).

At sectoral approach methods of auditing enterprises are being developed depending on the type of their activity and sectoral affiliation. These methods include audit methods: trade enterprises, agricultural enterprises, construction organizations, banks, insurance organizations, investment institutions. These methods take into account the features of checking the composition of costs, the organization of management accounting.

Applying all of the above methods, it is necessary to use modern tools - tests, tables, questionnaires, questionnaires - that facilitate the work of auditors.

The set of work packages of the enterprise that need to be checked during the audit can be divided into 2 groups. First includes constituent and other general documents, business contracts, accounting policy, reporting, internal control system. Second- complexes for all sections and accounts of accounting.

The methodology for a detailed check of the reflection in the accounting of turnovers and account balances should be developed according to a single (standard) scheme, including:

1) a list of regulatory documents regulating the procedure for recording business transactions on this account;

2) a description of alternative accounting solutions, the choice of which is provided to the enterprise by regulatory documents;

3) composition of primary documents on the account;

4) registers of analytical accounting for the account;

5) registers of synthetic accounting by account;

6) financial statements, which reflects the section (section, account);

7) a classifier of possible violations under the section;

8) a list of typical violations under the section;

9) a list of questions (questionnaire) for conducting standard surveys at the stage of planning an audit;

10) a list of audit procedures used when checking turnovers and account balances;

11) sequence of performance of audit procedures;

12) features of the audit in terms of using a PC (computer);

13) application methods economic analysis.

To obtain the necessary audit evidence, the auditor during the audit of a particular area performs certain actions or sets of actions (views documents, compares them, makes calculations, interviews employees, etc.). These actions, carried out by the auditor in a certain order, are called auditprocedures. Depending on the nature of the actions carried out by the auditor, there are actual, documentary, analytical procedures, procedures for compliance (control) and in essence, procedures for continuous verification and sampling procedures for verification.

All audit procedures are developed according to a single scheme, containing:

Name of the control procedure;

The purpose of the control procedure;

The list of client documents required to complete the procedure and which are sources of information for verification;

List of required regulatory documents;

Norms, standards and other reference information;

Description of the procedure execution technique;

Description of the form for presenting the results of the procedure performed (the form of a working document).

All audit procedures should be provided with classification numbers that allow you to make references to them in the audit program, draw up the working documentation of the auditor.

In terms of using a PC, the use of such a method of obtaining audit evidence as verification of client's arithmetic calculations becomes meaningless. The scope of application of the tracking method is expanding. tracking- this is a procedure during which the auditor checks some primary documents and their reflection in the registers of synthetic and analytical accounting, finds the final correspondence of the accounts and makes sure that the corresponding transactions are reflected in the accounting correctly (or incorrectly).

When determining the audit methodology, independently developed in accordance with the current regulations, auditors or an audit firm, it should be borne in mind that the main sources of information for the preparation of accounting and tax reporting are the data of accounting registers, including the Main and Cash Books, order journals, balance sheets, machine diagrams and other documents that would allow the auditor reconcile data on balances on synthetic accounts of the same name with balance sheet items as of the end of the period under review.

Methods for performing audits developed by specialists of audit organizations are their commercial secret.

In the process of audit work, the following well-known and proven reliable methods are used:

formal verification;

Logical check;

Arithmetic (counting) check.

At formal the check reveals whether all the details of the document are in place and whether they are filled out correctly, whether there are signatures of responsible persons, whether the document refers to the month in which it was entered into accounting registers, etc.

logical check, or check essentially, finds out whether this or that business transaction took place and whether it was in the specified volume. Such a check detects postscripts due to overstating the amount of work performed, overstating prices and rates, reflecting in primary documents such work that has never been performed and could not be performed at all.

Arithmetic (counting) detects errors in taxation (multiplication of price or rate by quantity) or summation of a number of numbers in the process of compiling accumulation and grouping statements. However, such a check is not limited to checking simple arithmetic operations. Even when checking taxation, the correctness of multiplying the price by the quantity is not simply determined, but prices, rates, tariffs, rates, norms, etc. are involved in the verification, i.e. arithmetic check is combined with logical.

The auditor draws conclusions about the reliability of financial statements based on the analysis of information obtained during the audit from various sources (from the accounting documents of the audited entity, from its employees, from third parties). The results of the analysis of the information received are audit evidence for the auditor. Based on such evidence, the auditor forms his opinion, which he will express in the auditor's report.

There are certain requirements for audit evidence, on the basis of which an audit firm or an auditor-entrepreneur can form a reasonable opinion on the reliability of the financial statements of an economic entity.

The most common ways of obtaining evidence that audit firms may apply are:

Checking the arithmetic calculations of the client,

Inventory,

Checking compliance with the accounting rules for certain business transactions,

Confirmation,

Oral questioning of staff,

Verification of documents,

tracking,

analytical procedures,

Preparation of an alternative balance.

In some cases, the accountant-auditor resorts to the so-called cross-check, when the data of different documents related to the same business transaction are compared. Often, during a cross check, copies of documents located in different organizations and reflecting the same business transaction are compared. At the same time, significant differences are revealed due to corrected data in documents, substitution of documents, or the reflection of completely different information in documents related to the execution of the same operation.

Often, an audit involves the use of sampling. Under sampling in the audit, they understand the totality of documents selected in a certain way, the verification of which allows us to draw a conclusion about the reliability of all documentation.

All subsequent actions depend on the auditor's assessment of the state of accounting and internal control at the enterprise. So, if the auditor, as a result of studying the statements and conversations with the staff, has absolute confidence that the statements are drawn up correctly on the basis of correct and reliable source data, then he can conduct a selective check of primary documents and accounting registers.

Otherwise, when the auditor was not satisfied with the correctness of the initial data, the competence of the accounting staff, the organization of internal control, he is obliged to conduct the most thorough check, as a rule, continuous. A full check is very laborious. But according to the norms of professional ethics, the auditor must either verify the reliability (unreliability) of the client's financial statements, or refuse to express an opinion about it.

More often, the auditor has an average degree of confidence in the reliability of the client's statements. It can be caused by the fact that in some sections, accounting is well organized, carried out by qualified specialists, automated, internal control is established by the chief accountant and specialists in related accounting areas, and in other sections, the opposite picture is formed. It is with an average degree of certainty that it is necessary to apply selective control methods.

Audit sample represents the elements selected according to certain rules for the formation of the tested population in the form of separate documents, records, etc.

Custom checks can be of two types:

1) for compliance (such a check is also called attributive);

2) in essence (quantitative).

A task spot check for compliance– set whether often in the checked reporting period violated internal controls. For example, checking such an element of internal control as authorization by the management of the enterprise to pay invoices for the purchase of material assets, payment for the services of third-party organizations, comparing incoming material assets by name, quantity and quality in kind with the data of accompanying documents.

The objective of a spot check is essentially to measure violations of internal controls in monetary terms. For example, confirmation of the balance of accounting accounts, entries in primary documents, obtaining confirmations from third parties, analysis of economic activity indicators.

When determining the procedure for conducting an audit of a particular section of accounting, the auditor must determine the objectives of the audit and audit procedures to achieve these goals. The auditor must then determine possible errors, evaluate the evidence he needs to collect, and on the basis of this establish the totality of the data under consideration.

The organization of a sample study includes the definition of:

1) sample size (array, fields of the checked and general population);

2) units of observation;

3) selection units;

4) selection methods;

5) sample size;

6) checking the representativeness (representativeness) of the sample;

7) the order of distribution of sample data to the tested population.

To achieve the goals of the test, it is necessary to determine the appropriate test population, since it is to this that the conclusion made on the basis of the sample applies.

The set to be tested is the entire set of defined elements. In an audit, accounting entries (postings), articles, records from which a sample is made can act as elements. To compile the audited set, all client documentation is divided into homogeneous data arrays according to various criteria (the nature of documents, financially responsible persons, time sequence, etc.). For example, the auditor collects information on receivables over 600 thousand rubles, the studied population will be the totality of all accounting documents, records affecting settlements with debtors, but not less than 600 thousand rubles.

The sampling unit for this type of sampling coincides with the observation unit (document).

The unit of observation during the audit is objectively determined. It can be any section or section of accounting, a type of business transactions. Within the same unit of observation, the sampling units can be different.

Carrying out sampling, the auditor can break all studied set into separate groups, elements, each of which has similar characteristics. This procedure is called stratification, it allows you to reduce the scatter (variation) of the data.

Usually the sample should be representative. This assumes that all elements of the studied population have an equal probability of being selected in the sample. The representativeness of the sample is ensured by one of the selection methods:

1) random - can be carried out according to a table of random numbers;

2) systematic - assumes that the elements are selected at a constant interval, starting with a randomly selected number. The interval is built either on a certain number of elements of the population (for example, the study of every 20th document from all documents of this category), or on their cost estimate (for example, the element that accounts for every next million rubles in the total cost of the elements is selected);

3) combined - is a combination of various methods of random and systematic selection.

The auditor has the right to resort to a non-representative (non-representative) sample only when the auditor's professional judgment based on the results of the sample should not concern the entire population as a whole. For example, when the auditor checks a single group of transactions or a class of transactions for which possible errors are established.

For any sample, the auditor must:

Analyze each error in the sample;

Extrapolate the results obtained during the sampling to the entire test population;

Assess sampling risks.

When analyzing the errors that have fallen into the sample, the auditor must first establish their nature. When forming a sample, it is necessary to describe the goals for which it is carried out, and in relation to them, evaluate the errors found in the sample. If the audit objectives were not achieved through sampling, the auditor may perform alternative audit procedures.

The auditor can assess the qualitative aspect of the errors (their nature and the cause that caused them), as well as determine their impact on other areas of the audit.

The auditor should be convinced that the error in the checked population does not exceed the allowable value. To do this, it compares the population error obtained through propagation with the allowable error. If the first error turned out to be more than acceptable, the auditor should re-evaluate the risks of the sample, and if he finds them unacceptable, then he should expand the range of audit procedures or apply alternative audit procedures to those already performed.

When determining the sample size, the auditor should establish the risk of sampling, acceptable and expected errors.

Sampling risk is that the auditor's opinion on a particular matter, drawn up on the basis of sample data, may differ from the opinion on this matter, drawn up on the basis of a study of the entire population. Sampling risk exists both when testing the controls and when conducting a detailed check of the correctness of the reflection in accounting of turnovers and account balances. There are risks of the first and second kind.

When testing controls, the following sampling risks are distinguished:

a) risk of the first kind - the risk of rejecting the correct hypothesis, when the result of the sample indicates the unreliability of the control system, while in reality the system is reliable;

b) risk of the second kind - the risk of accepting an incorrect hypothesis, when the result of the sample indicates the reliability of the system, while in reality the control system does not have the necessary reliability.

When conducting a detailed check of the correctness of the reflection in the accounting of turnovers and account balances, the following sampling risks are distinguished:

a) risk of the first kind - the risk of rejecting the correct hypothesis when the result of the sample indicates that the population being tested contains a significant error, while the population is free from such an error;

b) risk of the second kind - the risk of accepting an incorrect hypothesis, when the result of the sample indicates that the population being tested does not contain a significant error, while the population contains a significant error.

The risk of rejecting the correct hypothesis requires additional work on the part of the audit organization or economic entity. The risk of accepting an incorrect hypothesis calls into question the very results of the auditor's work.

The sample size is determined by the amount of error that the auditor considers acceptable. The allowable error is established at the planning stage of the audit. The smaller the size of the allowable error, the larger should be the size of the audit sample.

When conducting an audit, it is necessary to use the working documentation.

Working documentation includes:

1) plans and programs for the audit;

2) descriptions of the procedures used by the audit organization and their results;

3) explanations, explanations and statements of the economic entity;

4) copies, including photocopies, of documents of an economic entity;

5) descriptions of the system of internal control and organization of accounting of the economic entity;

6) analytical documents of the audit organization, etc.

Audit methods are a set of techniques by which the state of the objects under study is assessed.

Diverse audit methods can be combined into three groups, which are discussed in Fig. 16.

Rice. 16 - Audit methods

The methods of the first group are inspection, recalculation, measurement, which allow determining the quantitative state of the object; laboratory analysis, the purpose of which is to determine the qualitative state of the object; request; documentary check.

Checking by the auditor of the actual availability of individual items or all materials and finished products allows not only to verify the availability, but also to determine the state of accounting in storage places, the procedure for compiling receipts and expenditures.

To compare individual reporting indicators, analytical procedures are used - the techniques of the second group.

During the planning stage, the review helps the auditor plan the nature, timing, and extent of other audit procedures. At the stage of carrying out significant checks, process significant detailed information.

At the final stage - to do a general review of financial information.

The results of analytical procedures can be:

1) convincing;

2) confirming;

3) not applicable.

The techniques of the third group are the assessment of the past, present and future state of the audited objects, the logical conclusion of the comparison process. The state of resources, the feasibility and legality of business transactions, the reliability of economic information relating to events and not reflected in accounting are assessed.

In addition to these techniques, the auditor can involve methodological provisions external to the audit, borrowed from other sciences:

Mathematical theories (formal sampling, regression and cluster analysis);

Economic theories(the value of money in time, the theory of capital valuation);

Theories of accounting and finance (interest theory, financial analysis and bankruptcy forecasting);

Theories of information and communication (the ability of the auditor to come into contact with third parties, drawing up an opinion);

Information technologies (expert systems, computer systems, database technology);

Management (planning and control, organizational theories and theories of motivation);

Issues of law and taxation and more.

Auditors independently determine the techniques and methods of their work. All audit methods can be conditionally divided into two groups:

1) methods of organizing the audit in general;

2) specific methods for checking transactions.

Methods for organizing an audit in general:

Solid check;

Custom scan;

Documentary verification;

actual check;

Analytical verification;

Combined check.

The first four methods are widely known, used and used in Russia in audit work. Naturally, continuous or selective verification can be both documentary and factual.

Analytical verification- this is the use of various methods and techniques of business analysis, mathematics, statistics to identify problems and inconsistencies in the accounting and reporting of the client in order to pay attention to these issues during the audit.

Combined check is a combination of different methods of audit organization.

The rule (standard) of audit activity in the Russian Federation "Audit Evidence" provides for a list of the main specific methods for obtaining audit evidence, methods for verifying transactions, accounts, documents.

The most common verification methods that audit organizations can apply in specific areas of the audit:

1) Checking the arithmetic calculations of the client (recalculation).

2) Inventory. The property of the client and his financial obligations are subject to inventory.

3) Checking compliance with the accounting rules for individual business transactions. This method allows the audit organization to exercise control over the accounting work performed by the accounting department. Information is considered reliable only if it is obtained directly at the time of the study of these operations.

4) Confirmation. To obtain information about the reality of balances on cash accounts, settlement accounts, receivables and payables accounts, the audit organization must receive confirmation in writing from an independent party. If the information received by the audit organization from an independent party disagrees with the accounting data of the economic entity, it is necessary to apply additional audit procedures to determine the reasons for the discrepancy.

5) Oral survey of personnel, management of an economic entity and an independent (third) party. Oral questioning can be conducted at all stages of the audit. The results of oral interviews should be recorded in the form of a protocol or a brief summary, which must contain the name of the auditor who conducted the survey, as well as the last name, first name, patronymic of the person who was interviewed. Written information based on the results of oral interviews should be attached by the audit organization to other working documents of the audit.

6) Verification of documents. Documentary information can be internal, external, or internal and external at the same time. Documents prepared and processed within an economic entity are internal. The degree of confidence of the audit organization in economic entity depends on the reliability of its ICS for the preparation and processing of such documents.

Verification of documents is that the auditor must verify the reality of a particular document. To do this, it is recommended to select certain entries in accounting and trace the reflection of the operation in the accounting up to that primary document, which should confirm the reality and expediency of this operation.

Types of document verification:

a formal check

arithmetic check;

Verification of documents on the merits.

7) tracking- a procedure during which the auditor checks some primary documents, checks the reflection of these primary documents in the registers of synthetic and analytical accounting, finds the final correspondence of the accounts and makes sure that the relevant business transactions are correctly reflected in the accounting.

Tracking allows you to study atypical articles and events reflected in client documents.

8) Analytical procedures - analysis and evaluation of the information received, study of the most important financial and economic indicators of the audited economic entity in order to identify unusual and incorrectly reflected in the accounting facts of economic activity, as well as to find out the causes of such errors and distortions.

9) Preparation of an alternative balance. To obtain evidence of the reality and completeness of the reflection in the accounting of finished products of the work performed, the services rendered, the audit organization can draw up a balance sheet of raw materials and materials used according to the norms per unit of output and the actual output of the product.

The balance of raw materials, materials and product output allows the audit organization to identify deviations from the standard consumption of raw materials and materials and product output, and thereby verify the reliability of the calculation of the financial result.

10) Working hypotheses- assumptions about the real situation based on audit evidence.

Audit Procedures

Audit Procedures- this is the procedure and sequence of actions of the auditor to obtain the necessary audit evidence in a particular area of ​​the audit.

The main procedures include:

Inspection (checking records, documents, tangible assets);

Supervision (monitoring a process or procedure performed by others);

Inquiry (search for information from knowledgeable persons, both within and outside the audited entity);

Confirmation (response to a request for information contained in accounting records);

Recalculation (checking the accuracy of calculations in primary documents or accounting records, or performing independent calculations by the auditor);

Verification of documents lies in the fact that the auditor must verify the reality of a certain document (Fig. 17).

Rice. 17 - Types of verification of documents in the audit

To do this, it is recommended to select certain entries in accounting and trace the reflection of the operation in the accounting up to that primary document, which should confirm the reality and expediency of this operation.

The results of the performance of analytical procedures is the identification by the auditor of the presence or absence of unusual deviations in the financial statements of the economic entity. If the auditor identifies unusual deviations that are not supported by evidence obtained from other sources, he should carefully examine them in order to ensure the objectivity and reliability of the analytical procedures performed.

The results of the analysis of unusual deviations, as well as the results of planning and performing analytical procedures, the auditor should reflect in the working documentation for the audit.

The results of performing analytical procedures should be used to obtain audit evidence necessary for the preparation of an audit report, as well as to prepare written information from the auditor to the management of an economic entity based on the results of the audit.

Analytical procedures

Analytical procedures consist in identifying, analyzing and evaluating the relationships between the economic indicators of the activity of the inspected object.

The main purpose of applying analytical procedures is to identify the presence or absence of necessary or incorrectly reflected facts, business results that determine the potential risk and require special attention from the auditor.

Analytical procedures are performed throughout the entire process

audit. Their use allows to improve the quality of the audit, reduce the time spent on it.

Tasks of analytical procedures are:

Studying the activities of an economic entity;

Grade financial position economic entity and prospects for the continuity of its activities;

Identification of facts of distortion of financial statements;

Reducing the number of detailed audit procedures;

Providing testing in order to obtain answers to questions that have arisen.

As a result, areas may be identified that require additional audit procedures (Figure 18).

Rice. 18. - Elements of analytical procedures in an audit

During the audit, the following analytical procedures are applied:

1. Comparison of actual indicators of financial statements with planned or estimated (budget) indicators;

2. Comparison of actual indicators of financial statements with calculated indicators independently determined by the auditor;

3. Comparison of indicators of financial statements and related financial ratios with the standards established by the current legislation or an economic entity;

4. Comparison of financial statements with industry average data;

5. Comparison of indicators of financial statements with non-accounting data (i.e., data that are not part of the financial statements);

6. Analysis of changes over time of indicators of financial statements and relative coefficients associated with them;

7. Other types of analytical procedures that take into account the individual characteristics of the organizational structure of the enterprise.

When comparing actual performance with planned performance, the auditor should:

– Evaluate the planning methodology used by the client. If, in the opinion of the auditor, the planning is of poor quality, and therefore, the indicators of the plans are unrealistic, then the auditor should not use the planned indicators to obtain audit evidence;

– make sure that the client has not changed the accounting indicators of the reporting period.

At the audit planning stage, the implementation of analytical procedures helps to understand the activities of the audited economic entity, identify areas of potential risks and more accurately determine the degree of audit risk.

At the stage of direct auditing, the auditor can perform analytical procedures in the study of unusual deviations in the financial statements of an economic entity.

At the audit completion stage, analytical procedures are applied to make a final determination whether the financial statements are materially misstated or have other financial problems.

Audit Documentation

An audit conducted by an audit organization must be accompanied by mandatory documentation, i.e. reflecting the information received in the working documentation of the audit, drawn up in accordance with the FSAD.

Audit working documentation includes:

Audit plans and programs drawn up in accordance with the requirements (Table 7, 8);

Descriptions of the procedures used by the audit organization and their results;

Explanations, explanations and statements of the economic entity;

Copies, including photocopies, of documents of an economic entity;

Description of the ICS and accounting organization of the economic entity;

Analytical documents of the audit organization;

Other Documents.

An approximate list of documents that can be included in the working documentation of an audit organization:

1) materials regarding the organizational and legal form and organizational structure of the economic entity;

2) evidence of audit planning and audit programs;

Table 7 - Audit plan at the enterprise LLC "XXXX" for 201X

Table 8 - The program of the audit at the enterprise LLC "XXXX" for 201X

Audited organization
Audit period
Checked period
Head of Check
Acceptable audit risk
Planned materiality level
Scroll	Period	Executor	workers	Note
audit procedures	holding		the documents	(recommended
by sections of the audit				check methods)
1.
2.

3) records of the study and evaluation of accounting and internal control systems (descriptions, questionnaires, workflow schemes or combinations thereof);

4) records containing an analysis of significant indicators and trends in the activity of an economic entity;

5) information about who and when performed audit procedures;

6) copies of correspondence with other audit organizations, experts and other persons in connection with the ongoing audit of an economic entity;

7) confirmation letters received from an economic entity;

8) conclusions made by the audit organization based on the results of the audit, etc.

The composition, number and content of the documents included in the working documentation of the audit are determined by the audit organization based on:

The nature of the work being done;

The nature and complexity of the activities of the economic entity;

State of accounting of an economic entity;

Reliability of the internal control system of the economic entity;

Required level guidance and control over the work of the personnel of the audit organization in the performance of certain procedures.

Forms of working documentation are independently developed by the audit organization, if the acts regulating auditing activities in the Russian Federation do not prescribe such forms.

The working documentation is owned by the audit organization that conducted the audit. The economic entity, in respect of which the audit was carried out, and other persons, including tax and other state authorities, do not have the right to require the audit organization to provide working documentation or copies of it in full or in any part.

Working documentation should contain all the information necessary and sufficient for:

Drawing up an audit report based on the results of the audit;

Confirmation that the audit was carried out by the audit organization in accordance with the acts regulating auditing activities in the Russian Federation;

Implementation by the audit organization of control over the course of the audit;

Planning an audit by an audit organization.

All significant matters requiring the professional judgment of the auditor, together with the conclusions drawn on these matters, shall be reflected in the working papers.

Working documentation should be sufficiently complete and detailed so that an experienced auditor, having familiarized himself with it, can get a general idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe audit conducted by the audit organization.

Working documentation should be created in a timely manner: before, during and after the audit. By the time the audit report is submitted to the economic entity, all working documentation must be created and finalized.

Upon completion of the audit, the working documentation is subject to submission to the archive of the audit organization for mandatory storage.

The safety of the working documentation, its execution and transfer to the archive are within the competence of the head of the audit organization or a person authorized by him.

As a rule, employees of the audit organization who are not involved in the audit of this economic entity are not allowed to work documentation fixing the ongoing or conducted audit.

Working documentation is stored in the archive of the audit organization for at least five years.

The auditor's working papers are stored in folders - the so-called client files (Fig. 19).

Rice. 19 - Types of client files in the audit

The audit organization is not obliged to provide working documentation to the economic entity in respect of which the audit was carried out.

The audit organization does not have the right and is not obliged to provide working documentation to other persons, including tax and other state authorities, except in cases expressly provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The auditor needs to establish appropriate procedures to ensure confidentiality, security of working papers, and also for their storage for a sufficient period of time, based on the nature of the auditor's activities, as well as legal and professional requirements, but not less than five years.

2.7. Audit report - the final document of the audit

Similar information.

Introduction

Audit research methods

2. Techniques for audit research

Conclusion

Bibliographic list

audit sampling

Introduction

Development of science and applied economic disciplines, which include audit, is inextricably linked with the creation of a methodology necessary for application in the applied activities of people. Like the division of objective laws into general and particular, associated with the development of certain individual branches of knowledge, the audit methodology, which was understood as a set of methods used in individual sciences, can be general and partial.

The general audit methodology is a set of principles of dialectics, as well as a general scientific theory of knowledge, which explore the laws of development of scientific knowledge in general.

Partial audit methodology is based on the laws of economic science and is manifested, on the one hand, in theoretical generalizations, the principles of this science, and on the other, in applied research methods.

The audit method is a set of specific methodological techniques.

Audit methodological techniques are specific techniques developed on the basis of the achievements of practice, as well as the development of economic and legal sciences. These techniques were formed depending on the target function of the audit and in conjunction with general scientific methods. They are characterized by mutual penetration into homogeneous branches of knowledge.

Thus, the development of accounting, business analysis, statistics, audit and control, forensic accounting expertise, as well as legal sciences gave impetus to the formation of audit methodologies.

The object of this work is an audit study.

Subject control work- audit research methodology.

The purpose of this work is to consider the methodology of audit research.

In accordance with the purpose of the control work, the following tasks can be distinguished:

Consider the methods of audit research.

Reveal methods of audit research.

The theoretical and methodological foundations of the control work were the works of Russian scientists on audit, namely: Abramova N.Yu., Beloglazova G.N., Krolivetskaya L.P., Lebedeva E.A., Bank V.R., Bank S .V., Klimovich V.P. and others.

1. Methods of audit research

The method of audit activity is the generalized properties of a set of specific methods and methodological techniques for collecting, studying information about the actual state of the audit object, comparing this state with the regulated (planned, programmed), assessing the deviations between them and expressing this assessment in the form of conclusions suitable for making managerial solutions.

It has a practical focus.

Audit methodology is a scientifically based, logically structured organization of a systematic determination of the appropriateness of using the necessary set of general scientific, applied and special methods and methodological techniques for conducting financial and economic control of entrepreneurial activity, generating information that reflects its results and is suitable for decision-making in the management system of this activity.

The methodology provides for the use of general scientific, applied and special methods and methodological techniques for monitoring, studying, researching and evaluating the legality of operations of the financial and economic activities of an enterprise: entrepreneurs and reflecting indicators of its condition in accounting and financial reporting. The use of these methods and methodological techniques should ensure the receipt of reliable and complete information about the performance of economic activities, the legality of financial transactions, the state of taxation, financial stability, etc.

One of the most important elements of the audit methodology is its method, techniques, methods and procedures, with the help of the totality of which they investigate the subject and objects of the audit.

The audit method as a science is a set of knowledge about the methods, methods and approaches of the auditor's thinking when he studies financial and economic activities in order to obtain evidence of a reliable and objective assessment of it, the formation of information from such an assessment for use.

In turn, specific audit methods, which are tools for conducting audit control, are implemented by applying certain methods of verification and methods of its organization.

The audit methodology is characterized by a certain set of audit procedures carried out in a certain sequence using specific audit methods and techniques.

In audit practice, two groups of methods are used:

general scientific;

own (specific).

General scientific methods include: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, analogy, modeling, abstraction, concretization, system analysis, cost analysis.

Own (specific) audit methods are methods formed under the influence of the theory and practice of audit and aimed at solving special audit problems during the audit. They have historically developed under the influence of the needs of auditing and advances in other branches of knowledge.

Specific methods of audit have evolved over the centuries under the influence of methods and principles of accounting, economic analysis, statistics, economic and mathematical methods, revision and control, computer technology.

In turn, their own audit methods are widely used in other economic sciences and their practical implementation.

Specific audit methods:

observation and review;

inspection;

study in essence;

request (confirmation);

analytical review;

generalization.

Observation and review are methods that consist in direct control (observation) by the auditor of the actions of officials of the client enterprise in the performance of their functional duties.

The auditor oversees the work of accountants (preparation of primary documents, accounting registers, reports), internal auditor; for the implementation of the process of posting material assets in the warehouse and their documentation. In addition, such methods provide for the review and determination of the state of certain objects of audit control that have a material form (fixed assets, stocks, cash, securities, enterprise documentation).

Poll - a method that involves obtaining written and oral information from informed officials of the client enterprise (most often its management, administration, accountants). The reliability of this information depends on the honesty and competence of the personnel interviewed.

Inspection is a method that consists in checking the actual availability of the company's assets, monitoring the correctness of the inventory, checking the relevant accounts, calculations.

It is closely related to the review method, but it is not only observation and review, but also calculation procedures and comparison.

Audit methods also include (indirectly) inventory. In a normal audit, the auditor or his assistant must observe the progress of the inventory by the employees of the enterprise, and then selectively check the correctness of its results.

Evaluation is a method by which the state, efficiency, and reliability of various objects of audit control are assessed (reliability of the accounting system and internal control system, the state of fixed assets and the efficiency of equipment use, the organizational structure of the enterprise, management efficiency).

This method should not be confused with the assessment of the real value of fixed assets, the enterprise as a whole or a separate property complex, which is carried out by professional appraisers and experts. They may also be involved in the audit process if necessary.

Study in essence is a method of audit control that provides for the study (evaluation) by the auditor of the economic content of business transactions, the establishment of their results, the actual and legal reliability of their implementation, the assessment of the correctness of the reflected amounts and their mutual linking (for example, the compliance of synthetic and analytical accounting data or data primary documents and accounting registers).

Request (confirmation) - the method, which is often also called confirmation, consists in sending letters to debtors, creditors, banks, lawyers and other third parties associated with the client company with a request to confirm, provide information on transactions performed, account balances, obligations , claims and other data of interest to the auditor. Such letters are sent on behalf of the audited enterprise, and the recipient of the response to them is the auditor (audit firm).

An analytical review is not only an analysis of the financial statements of an enterprise, but also an unconventional comparative analysis of actual data with data from previous reporting periods or planned (budget) indicators.

The purpose and task of the analytical review is much broader. The auditor must determine the state, development trends and prospects for the activity of the client enterprise based not only on its actual financial statements, but also on an analysis of the results of other similar enterprises in this industry.

And if a number of enterprises in the industry turned out to be bankrupt in the current economic conditions, then it is possible that this can happen with the audited enterprise.

Generalization - a method that provides for the grouping and systematization of all collected audit evidence during the audit as a whole or at a separate stage, assessing the materiality of the identified shortcomings, establishing the compliance of the actual state of affairs at the enterprise with the data reflected in its statements, as well as the formation of an audit opinion, the development of recommendations .

With the considered specific methods of audit are closely related to the methods of auditing, which detail the methods, implement their application in practice.

Audit Research Techniques

The main methods of audit are:

documentary check;

statistical research;

questioning;

testing;

audit sample;

techniques of economic and mathematical methods;

logical check.

Questioning is one of the techniques by which the polling method is implemented. It consists in obtaining written answers from the head, chief accountant and other employees of the enterprise and third parties to a list of questions formulated in advance that are relevant to the audit, in order to obtain the necessary audit evidence.

As a rule, audit firms have developed standard questionnaires for interviewing certain officials of the client enterprise.

Testing is a technique that has received the greatest distribution in audit practice, especially foreign. There are two main types of testing depending on the purpose of their application:

independent tests;

compliance tests.

Auditors use independent tests to obtain confirmation of the reliability, completeness of the reflection of transactions in accounting and their legality and the correct reflection of their results in reporting.

Compliance tests are usually used in the audit process to identify the compliance of internal control procedures with established standards, assess the reliability and effectiveness of the internal control system, and determine the degree of confidence in the results of the work of the internal auditor.

In accordance with the implementation procedures, audit tests are divided into:

rotational (during their implementation, the objects to be checked by the auditor are selected one by one, on the principles of rotation, that is, almost at random);

deep (represent a certain selection of operations that are traced by the auditor at all stages of their implementation and accounting);

tests of weaknesses (designed for a detailed check of those aspects of accounting or types of business transactions where the auditor foresees the presence of significant errors, while the internal control system of the enterprise will be assessed by the auditor as unreliable, in which case the check should be expanded, more audit procedures should be carried out) ;

directed (used for consistent control over ongoing operations);

end-to-end (represent a limited form of in-depth test that can be used, for example, to characterize an accounting system).

The term “audit sampling” or “selective check” means that the auditor performs audit procedures on less than 100% of accounting records or financial statements that allow the auditor to obtain audit evidence and, by evaluating individual characteristics of the selected data, extend the effectiveness of this evidence to the entire data set. .

From the above definition it follows that the term "audit sample" can be interpreted in two meanings:

in a broad sense - as a way of conducting an audit, in which the auditor conducts not a continuous, but a selective check of documents, records, accounts;

in the narrow sense - as a list in a certain way of selected elements of the tested population in order to draw a conclusion about the entire population based on their study

Selective research is carried out in several stages:

The goals and main tasks of the sample study are determined.

The audit sampling method is selected.

The sample size (number of required evidence) is determined.

Audit evidence is being selected.

Selected information (evidence) is examined.

The results of the verification of the selected evidence are evaluated.

Drawing up an auditor's report on the audited population.

It is important to distinguish the methods and techniques of conducting an audit from the methods of organizing an audit.

Conclusion

The development of an overall audit strategy will allow the audit firm to reduce the cost and time of drawing up a plan and program in each specific situation, and will also help to increase the effectiveness of console audit efforts.

For each business entity, the general strategy provides for the study of specific business features, assessment of the organization and functioning of accounting and internal control systems, identification of "critical" areas and "weaknesses".

Equally important is the ability to make additions and changes to the audit at the operational level.

Hierarchical planning (strategic, tactical, operational) will become the basis for the distribution of responsibilities between the company's employees.

Research methodology involves understanding its goals, approaches and the choice of specific methods. The effectiveness and practical significance of the study depends on this.

The organization of the study involves determining who, how, under what conditions (time, requirements, functions, powers, support, etc.) will conduct the study, which ensures the coherence and consistency of research activities.

The result of the study is the opportunities that can improve management efficiency and ensure sustainable and promising development of the company.

But the quality of the research is characterized not only by the result, but also by its procedural characteristics: the use of resources, the socio-psychological atmosphere, reliance on computer technologies for processing information, connection with the current activities of the staff, type of organization.

Comparison and proportionality of the total value of the resources used in the research process and the result obtained characterizes the effectiveness of the research.

There is not always the possibility of a correct and definite assessment of the effectiveness of the study.

Bibliographic list

1.Tax Code of the Russian Federation: parts one and two // adopted by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on July 16, 1998, as amended. from 03.06.2009

the federal law dated 07.08.2001 N 119-FZ (as amended on 30.12.2008) "On Auditing" (adopted by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on 13.07.2001) 3. (as amended and supplemented, effective from 01.01.2010) .

Federal Law "On Accounting" dated November 21, 1996 No. No. 129-FZ. In red. Order of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation of July 10, 2000 No. No. 65n.

Avrashkov, L.Ya. Economics of the enterprise / L.Ya. Avrashkov. - M.: UNITI, 2008. - 296 p.

Rich, I.N. Audit / I.N. Rich. - Rostov n/a. : Phoenix, 2008. - 608 p.

Bulavina, L.N. Accounting (financial) accounting: Accounting for assets and settlement transactions / L.N. Bulavina et al. - M .: Finance and statistics, 2008. - 416 p.

Geyts, I.V. Remuneration of labor in certain sectors of the economy: Teaching aid/ I.V. Gates. - M.: 2009. - 224 p.

Zubova, E.V. Audit technology: Organization of verification, criteria for verification procedures, working documents: A practical guide / E.V. Zubov. - M.: Analytics - Press, Auditing firm "CBA", 2007. - 456 p.

Podolsky, V.I. Audit. Workshop: Tutorial for universities / V.I. Podolsky and others; Ed. Prof. IN AND. Podolsky - M.: UNITI - DANA, Audit, 2008. - 519 p.

Savin, A.A. Audit: Textbook for universities / A.A. Savin and others; Ed. Prof. IN AND. Podolsky. - 3rd ed., revised. And additional .. - M .: UNITI-DANA, Audit, 2007. - 583 p.

Heavy, D.S. Typical accounting errors / D.S. Severe. - St. Petersburg, 2007. - 381 p.

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