加拿大的外部审计师是如何应用分析性程序的.pdfVIP

Jnl. of International Accounting, Auditing Taxation 12 (2003) 153–168 The use of analytical procedures by external auditors in Canada Kenny Z. Lin a,∗, Ian A.M. Fraserb aDepartment of Accounting and Finance, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, NT, Hong Kong bDepartment of Finance and Accounting, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK Abstract The Enron debacle and other scandals highlight the issue of whether analytical procedures (APs) or more traditional audit approaches based on substantive testing are more appropriate. This paper surveys the use of APs by Canadian external auditors and augments understanding of the impact of auditing standards on professional practice. Our results demonstrate that APs are extensively applied in practice, particularly by larger firms, and that their use dominates the final review stage of the audit regardless of firm size. While standards do not appear to be an important influence upon practice for audit firms in general, this is not the case for smaller firms. Though auditors place more reliance on APs to reduce tests of detail, there are limits to this reliance. Our results indicate that while auditors may have increased their use of APs with the expectation of efficiency gains, these may be realized at present only partially. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Analytical procedures; Auditing standards; Audit effectiveness; Audit efficiency 1. Introduction A major influence on the development of new audit methodologies over the last decade has been pressure to improve audit efficiency. Professional firms have responded to this stimulus by implementing major changes in their audit processes (Bell, Marrs, Solomon and Thomas, 1997; Hatherly, 1999; Turley and Cooper, 1991). An increased use of analytical proce