Improvement of Association Algorithm and Its Application in Audit Data Mining

Data mining has become a relatively modern platform for information retrieval. The efficient data mining techniques can increase the reliability and accuracy of internal auditing for the various community even while lowering audit risk. Existing audit data mining approaches lack significant identification of hidden connections and interactions in bid data platforms. Hence, this study extends the literature survey on the signification of audit data mining in multiple applications. This survey identifies the scope of improved association algorithms in audit data mining, a rule-based machine learning approach to determine the exciting relationship among variables in large audit datasets. Therefore, a Conceptual Framework of Improved Association Algorithm (CFiAA) and its application in audit data mining is proposed. This study examines the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed CFiAA in audit mining. The proposed model has been trained using an audit data set and validates with various audit datasets. Finally, this paper presents the comparative analysis of the proposal to show its highest performance related to existing models. Thus, CFiAA scores the performance ratio of 94.5%, accuracy ratio of 92.4%, an efficiency ratio of 92.5%, F1 measure of 91.8%, error rate 32.5%, prediction ratio of 93.7%, and the precision ratio of 92.5% compared to existing models.

Conceptual framework for risk-based internal audit. Risk-oriented terminological and visual apparatus

The article discusses the conceptual foundations of riskbased internal audit, basic terms and definitions. The topic of the article is relevant given the development of corporate governance practices in Russian companies in accordance with the recommendations of the Corporate Governance Code. The International Framework for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing defines the mission of internal audit as preserving and increasing the value of the organization by conducting objective internal audits based on a risk-based approach, providing advice and sharing knowledge. The material of the article is presented taking into account the current regulatory framework, international auditing standards, the International Foundations for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, and expert explanations.

Constructing the Audit Risk Assessment by the Audit Team Leader When Planning: Using Fuzzy Theory

The aim of this study is to construct the assessment of the expected audit risk by the audit team leader (ATL) during the planification phase of the audit. The ATL plays an important role within the audit, and even more so regarding small and medium-sized (SME) audit firms. The audit risk assessment is critical as relying more (less) on internal controls implemented by the client leads to performing less (more) substantive audit procedures. This is determined by the ATL based on their professional judgement and previous experience. The use of fuzzy theory has powerful potential into the audit arena, as the audit risk assessment (outcome) is critically related to the auditors’ judgement and perception. We argue that ATL characteristics are core conditions in determining the audit risk assessment when planning. Using hand-collected and private data from Spanish SME audit firms, we find that a comprehensive set of conditions must be given for perceived high audit risk. The results indicate that female and inexperienced ATLs planning the audit of indebted firms with high proportions of capital assets, less profitability, and with a larger board sizes, as they are expected to have bad internal control. The same conditions are met when expecting errors, as well as shorter audit tenures. Finally, conditions such as the ATL’s experience gains importance in expecting irregularities. This paper extends our understanding of the role of ATL characteristics on the audit risk assessment when planning and raising awareness on studying SME audit firm behavior.

The Effect of using Audit Procedures in Accordance with the IAS 545 in Assessing Audit Risk

The current research aims to determine the effect of using audit procedures in accordance with the International Auditing Standard (IAS. No.545) in auditing measurement and disclosure on the basis of fair value in assessing audit risk, as the questionnaire was used to identify the opinions of the sample in the statement of the impact of the use of audit procedures in accordance with the IAS 545 in auditing measurement and disclosure on the basis of fair value in the assessment of audit risk. Nevertheless, after analyzing the study variables and testing the hypothesis, the research reached the most important conclusions, which are that most auditors lack the skills necessary to audit fair value accounting estimates because there are no fixed bases for measuring fair value, which creates difficulty for the auditor to understand the models used in preparing fair value estimates by the administration, and this affects in assessing audit risk. The most important recommendations were that work should be done to provide specific bases and clear models for measuring fair value, to reduce dependence on personal judgment for fair value estimates. Therefore, the auditor should use the same measurement models used by management when auditing fair value estimates, which contributes to improving the audit risk assessment.

Shaping an audit strategy based on mapping and spectral risk analysis

Subject. This article deals with the practice of forming an audit strategy in conditions of uncertainty of parameterization of probability and significance of risks of material misstatement of financial statements. Objectives. The article aims to substantiate a risk-based audit strategy construction using the risk heat map tool and determining the necessary and sufficient actions of the auditor in response to the assessed risks. Methods. For the study, we used a content analysis, systematization, classification, and the abstract-logical and data visualization graphical methods. Results. Based on the content analysis of the revised ISAs that regulate audit risk, the article clarifies the aspects of risk identification, assessment, and fixing, the parameters of positioning and visualization of risk factors depending on their likelihood and significance. The article introduces a scenario mechanism for sufficient appropriate actions of the auditor in response to specific risk factor characteristics. It develops and presents a method of spectral analysis of a complex of assessed risk factors of material misstatement of reporting in order to build up an audit strategy. Conclusions and Relevance. The developed models of the audit risk heat map and the generalized map of the spectral risk analysis are the most rational tools for the formation of a scientifically based audit strategy with emphasis on the high-risk areas. The results of this article can be used in the practical activities of auditors and audit organizations, as well as internal auditors seeking to plan control measures using digital methods most effectively.

CEO Turnover and the Engagement Quality Reviewer’s Audit Effort

Previous literature on the engagement quality (EQ) review argues that EQ reviewers should provide more efforts into the review process when fieldwork auditors’ judgments and conclusions on the financial statements are potentially biased. Little empirical study has been done, however, partly due to the confidentiality of the detailed data on EQ reviewers’ audit hours. The purpose of the article is to shed light on the existing literature by conducting an empirical investigation using a unique actual data set available in Korea. The results show that the EQ review hours are positively associated with CEO turnovers, a proxy for the audit risk, which supports the prediction of the theory on the EQ review. Additional analyses show that such results are stronger under (a) the upward earnings management and (b) the forced CEO turnover. The article extends the existing literature on the EQ review process and enhances the understanding of the engagement-level quality control in the volatile audit environment by providing empirical evidence to the analytic discussions on the EQ review.

Good surgical practice

This chapter discusses the duties of a doctor, which are outlined in the General Medical Council (GMC)’s Good medical practice. These have been adapted by the Royal College of Surgeons of England for surgical practice. The four domains of good medical practice include: knowledge, skills, and performance; safety and quality; communication, partnership, and teamwork; and maintaining trust. Clinical governance is a quality assurance process through which a health service is accountable for maintaining and improving the quality of care. In practice, it involves setting standards, performance monitoring, and reporting medical errors and is commonly said to be held up by ‘seven pillars’: clinical effectiveness; audit; risk management; education and training; patient and public involvement; using information and information technology; and staffing and staff management. The chapter then looks at the legal aspects concerning informed consent for a surgical procedure and end-of-life issues. It also outlines the principles of good prescribing in surgery.

Implications of tax audit risk, consequences, aggressive behavior and ethics for compliance

Purpose This study investigates whether consideration of future consequences (CFC), Machiavellianism (MACH) and the perceived role of ethics and social responsibility (PRESOR) enhance understanding of the impact of tax audit risk on compliance. Design/methodology/approach A between-subjects experiment is conducted to test the hypotheses. A hypothetical tax audit case (or lack thereof) is used to create a high (low) perceived tax audit risk. The usable responses of 144 participants representing the general taxpayer population are analyzed. Findings The results suggest that taxpayers with lower CFC, MACH or PRESOR scores are more compliant when tax audit risk is high than low. In contrast, taxpayers with higher CFC, MACH or PRESOR scores are indifferent toward high or low tax audit risk. Research limitations/implications Research can elicit consideration of future consequences of being detected for taxpayers with lower CFC scores to increase compliance. Additionally, increased saliency of tax audit risk and detection of noncompliance in a tax audit can enhance the compliance of taxpayers with lower MACH scores. Dissemination of information via social media on the value of ethical and social responsibility of compliance can also increase the compliance of taxpayers with higher PRESOR scores. Practical implications This study helps researchers and the tax authority better understand the complexities of compliance and the ethical dilemmas that taxpayers face, especially when a considerable amount of cash income is involved. To deter underreporting of cash income, the tax authority can use social media to explain how data analytics tools can facilitate the analysis and integration of multiple sources of a taxpayer’s income and expenses. Originality/value Prior studies present participants with objective tax audit rates, such as 5, 25 and 30 (Cullis et al., 2006; Maciejovsky et al., 2007; Trivedi et al., 2003) or 50% (Maciejovsky et al., 2012) to investigate tax compliance. However, the actual tax audit rate is very low (about 1%) due to the limited resources of the tax authority (Alm and Torgler, 2011). To attenuate perceptions of unrealistic tax audit rates, this study operationalizes high (low) tax audit risk via a hypothetical tax audit case (or lack thereof) to examine the impact of tax audit risk on compliance.

Impact of Independent Internal Audit on External Audit Risks through Risk Management Governance: A Field Study of External Auditors at Audit Offices and Companies in the Republic of Yemen

This study aimed to investigate the impact of independent internal audit on the external audit risk assessments through risk management governance of a sample of external auditors (203) at the audit offices and companies in the Republic of Yemen. To achieve this objective, 203 questionnaires were distributed to external auditors at the audit offices and companies, but only (167) were valid for analysis. The study results revealed that there was a positive impact of independent internal audit and governance of risk management on the assessments of external audit risks. Further, there was a positive impact on the governance of risk management which also increased its indirect positive impact on assessing risks of external audit. It was also found that the most important dimensions related to the external audit risk assessments, from the respondents’ perspective, were detection risk, control risk, and inherent risk. The study recommended that the external auditor should use the method of comparing the enterprise information with the information that is similar to the economic sector in which it operates. The internal auditors should also be free of bias in their work, whereby risk management governance should be taken into account when developing the strategy of the enterprise.