Acc 544
Psy280 - This paper gives a description of three phases of internal control evaluation and presents an example of a comprehensive internal control checklist.
Phases of Internal Control Evaluation
Psy 280 - According to Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), internal control is “a process effected by an entity’s board of directors, management and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following three categories:
* Reliability of financial reporting
* Effectiveness and efficiency of operations
* Compliance with applicable laws and regulations” (Louwers, Ramsay, & Sinason, 2007, p. 149)
Auditors evaluate client’s internal control by following three sequential logical phases:
* Obtaining an understanding of the client’s internal controls and documenting that understanding
* Assessing the preliminary control risk
* Testing the controls, reassessing risks, and planning substantive procedures
Phase 1: Understanding the client’s internal control
Acc544 - During the first phase auditors gather evidence about the client’s internal control and document their understanding. Narratives, flowcharts, and internal control questionnaires (checklists) are common audit methods used to study and evaluate the existing internal control.
Narrative description is a document which describes all environmental elements, accounting system and control of a client (Louwers, Ramsay, & Sinason, 2007).
Acc 544 - Flowcharts are visualization tools that help to understand flow of information and documents within a company. They represent the inputs, outputs, and sequences of processes. Auditors use flowcharts to understand better the client’s system and identify key control points.
Acc 544
Phases of Internal Control Evaluation
Psy 280 - According to Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), internal control is “a process effected by an entity’s board of directors, management and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following three categories:
* Reliability of financial reporting
* Effectiveness and efficiency of operations
* Compliance with applicable laws and regulations” (Louwers, Ramsay, & Sinason, 2007, p. 149)
Auditors evaluate client’s internal control by following three sequential logical phases:
* Obtaining an understanding of the client’s internal controls and documenting that understanding
* Assessing the preliminary control risk
* Testing the controls, reassessing risks, and planning substantive procedures
Phase 1: Understanding the client’s internal control
Acc544 - During the first phase auditors gather evidence about the client’s internal control and document their understanding. Narratives, flowcharts, and internal control questionnaires (checklists) are common audit methods used to study and evaluate the existing internal control.
Narrative description is a document which describes all environmental elements, accounting system and control of a client (Louwers, Ramsay, & Sinason, 2007).
Acc 544 - Flowcharts are visualization tools that help to understand flow of information and documents within a company. They represent the inputs, outputs, and sequences of processes. Auditors use flowcharts to understand better the client’s system and identify key control points.
Acc 544