These are manual or automated procedures that typically operate at a business process level and apply to the processing of transactions by individual applications. Application controls can be preventative or detective in nature and are designed to ensure the integrity of the accounting records.
Accordingly, application controls relate to procedures used to initiate, record, process and report transactions or other financial data. These controls help ensure that transactions occurred, are authorised and are completely and accurately recorded and processed (ISA 315 (Redrafted)).
Application controls apply to data processing tasks such as sales, purchases and wages procedures and are normally divided into the following categories: