The audit procedures described in this section provide evidence relating to management
assertions of accuracy and completeness. We saw in the last chapter that auditors
often precede substantive tests of details with an analytical review of account balances.
Analytical procedures can identify relationships between accounts and risks that are
not otherwise apparent. In the case of the expenditure cycle, an analytical review can
provide the auditor with an overall perspective for trends in accounts payable and related
expenses. Current expenses may be compared to historical expenses and management
budgets. For example, the auditor may compare current payroll expenses for the quarter with those for the same period in previous years. Unusual trends or variances
should be noted and examined for cause. On the one hand, analytical procedures may
indicate trends, even in adequately controlled organizations, that lead the auditor to
extend substantive tests. On the other hand, they can provide assurance that transactions
and accounts are reasonably stated and complete and may thus permit the auditor
to reduce substantive testing.
A medium- to large-sized organization’s expenses and accounts payable data may
constitute thousands or perhaps millions of records. Unlike analytical procedures, which
can be performed without CAATTs, substantive tests of details of such volumes of
data cannot be effectively accomplished without using CAATTs. The following substantive
tests that can be performed using ACL are based on the file structures depicted in
Figure 10.7.