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Operational Auditing. Spring 2010 Professor Bill O’Brien. Frameworks. Internal control IC-Integrated Framework (COSO) Guidance on Controls (CoCo) Internal Control Guidance (Turnbull) Enterprise risk management Australian/New Zealand Std. Risk Mgt. ERM-Integrated Framework (COSO). COSO.
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Operational Auditing Spring 2010 Professor Bill O’Brien Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Frameworks • Internal control • IC-Integrated Framework (COSO) • Guidance on Controls (CoCo) • Internal Control Guidance (Turnbull) • Enterprise risk management • Australian/New Zealand Std. Risk Mgt. • ERM-Integrated Framework (COSO) Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
COSO • Committee of Sponsoring Organizations • AICPA, IIA, IMA, FEI, AAA • Treadway Commission • 1992 I/C; 2004 ERM • Control Objectives • Compliance with laws and regulations • Reliability of financial reporting • Effectiveness & efficiency of operations Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Components of I/C • Control environment • Risk assessment • Control activities • Information and communication • Monitoring Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Threats to Control • Management override • Open access to assets • Form over substance approach • Conflict of interest Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Balancing Risk and Control • Too much risk • Loss of assets • Poor decision making • Potential non-compliance • Potential for fraud • Too much control • Increased bureaucracy • Excess costs • Excess cycle-time • Increase in non-value added effort Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Control Activities • Segregation of duties • Performance reviews • Approvals • IT access • Documentation • Physical access • IT applications • Independent verifications & reconciliations Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
IIA and Control • IIA control objectives: S-C-O-R-E • Safeguarding of assets • Compliance with laws and regulations • Objective and goal achievement • Reliability & integrity of information • Economical & efficient use of assets Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Control Self Assessment (CSA) • Methodology • Review and Identification • Key business objectives • Related risks • Mitigating controls Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
CSA-History • Introduced by Gulf Canada in 1987 • Gulf used facilitated meetings Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Facilitated Meetings • Management and staff participate through interviews and polling • Objectives • Risks • Processes • Soft and/or informal controls Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
General Methodology • Shared process • Assessment of internal controls • Evaluation of risks • Development of action plans • Assess the likelihood of achieving objectives • SJSU simulation Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
General Approaches • Facilitated meetings--group workshops • Questionnaires--yes/no answers • Management analysis--self studies Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Uses • Self analysis for risk* • Selection of audit areas* • Internal control review* • Special projects • Soft control analysis * alternatives to the traditional approach to the I/A process Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Benefits • Increases I/A scope • Target review of high risk areas • Increases the effectiveness of corrective action • Builds team-oriented relationships Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Engagement Process • Planning: • Selecting the BPO • Pre-site planning • Performing: • Conducting the preliminary survey • Review internal controls • Expanding tests as necessary • Generating findings • Communicating: • Reporting the results • Conducting follow-up • Assessing the process Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Audit Evidence • Healthy skepticism • Attributes • Relevant: consistent with objectives • Reliable: credible • Sufficient: convincing Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Generalized Audit Software (GAS) • Two most popular applications • ACL (ACL) • IDEA (CaseWare) • Typical uses • File examination • Recalculations • Sample selection • File comparison • Reformatting • Pivot tables • Benford’s Law analysis • Reporting • Data analysis log Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
GAS, continued • Benefits • Minimizes customization • Independent of company IT • Efficient • Facilitates 100% testing • Frees BPP for analytical work • Obstacles • Data access • Physical access • Format knowledge • Downloading issues to BPP’s computer • Importing data in usable format Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Workpaper Usage • Planning and execution • Supervision and review • Objective tracking • Conclusion support • Supports quality assurance • Professional development • IIA standards’ compliance Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Workpaper Guidelines • Cross-referencing system • Consistent layouts • Standardized symbols or “tick marks” • Standardization for permanent files • Unique indexing • Description of purpose • Initialed by preparer and reviewer • Source of information indicated • Clear explanations of symbols • Legibly written and easy to understand • Must stand alone • Must relate to the engagement objectives Operational Auditing--Spring 2010
Sample Work Paper Ref. Heading Purpose: Conclusions T/M Legend: Review Source Operational Auditing--Spring 2010