NCJ Number
68779
Date Published
1975
Length
181 pages
Annotation
THE FINAL PART OF 'COMPUTER CONTROL AND AUDIT GUIDES' OUTLINES THE COMPUTER AUDIT, DISCUSSES AUDIT PROCEDURES FOR VERIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF COMPUTER CONTROLS, AND PROVIDES EVALUATION GUIDES.
Abstract
PREPARED FOR AUDITORS OF COMPUTER-BASED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS BY A SPECIAL RESEARCH GROUP OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS, THIS REPORT MUST BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH 1970 STUDY ON COMPUTER CONTROLS. AN ORIENTATION TOWARD AUDITING A COMPUTER-BASED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IS PROVIDED BY A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPACT OF COMPUTERS ON AUDITING AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL AUDITORS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. THE SUGGESTED AUDIT APPROACHES EMPHASIZE COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND THE ATTEST FUNCTION OF EXTERNAL AUDITORS. THREE COMPONENTS OF A COMPUTER AUDIT ARE THEN ANALYZED: REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM AND CONTROLS, VERIFICATION OF CONTROLS, AND EVALUATION OF CONTROLS. BOTH IN-HOUSE COMPUTERS AND OUTSIDE DATA SERVICE CENTERS ARE EXAMINED. THROUGH THE EXTENSIVE USE OF TABLES, SPECIFIC VERIFICATION TECHNIQUES AND COMPENSATING AUDIT PROCEDURES ARE OUTLINED FOR PROCESSING AND NONPROCESSING CONTROLS. COMPUTER-ASSISTED AUDIT METHODS, SUCH AS TEST DECKS AND AUDIT PROGRAMS, ARE DESCRIBED. COMPLEX SYSTEMS WHICH REQUIRE UNIQUE CONTROL AND VERIFICATION TECHNIQUES ARE ALSO COVERED, INCLUDING REMOTE TERMINALS AND INSTALLATION WITH MULTIPLE PROCESSING UNITS SHARING CENTRAL FILES. THE FINAL SECTIONS CONTAIN EVALUATION FORMS FOR IN-HOUSE COMPUTERS AND OUTSIDE DATA CENTERS. THESE GUIDES, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE AUDITOR'S REVIEW, VERIFICATION, AND EVALUATION OF COMPUTER CONTROLS, ARE ACCOMPANIED BY INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE. A DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS AND A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN COMPUTER AUDITING ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJM)