Sampling has existed as a standard for controls testing since controls testing began. We’ve developed algorithms to tell us how many samples we should pull and how many errors we can have and still pass the control. We’ve even developed algorithms to tell us how many more samples we can test if the control didn’t pass the first time.
If your goal is simply to do the minimum to pass a SOX audit, then these behaviors should probably continue. If your goals also include really improving the operations of the organization to make it stronger then a more holistic approach is needed, such as analysis on 100% of the population, rather than a small sample.
Most controls analytics do not require a degree in data science, but they do require the controls team begin changing its behaviors. Join us to understand what it takes to begin this change, it’s not as challenging as you might think.
Learning Objectives
Understanding the advantages of analytics vs sampling
How to Identify controls where analytics can be applied
Real life examples of controls and their associated analytics
How to effect a change
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How analytics should be used
in controls testing instead of
sampling
Ken Petersen
April 2020
RSA Archer
About Jim Kaplan, CIA, CFE
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Ken Petersen
• Currently Product Manager of TeamMate
Analytics
• 25+ years developing and implementing
systems
• In the Governance, Risk & Compliance
space since 2002
• BSBA from Ohio State, MBA from University
of Dayton, PMP certified
• ken.petersen@wolterskluwer.com
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Learning Objectives
In this Webinar, attendees will:
Understand the advantages of analytics vs sampling
Learn how to identify controls where analytics can be applied
See real life examples of controls and their associated analytics
Learn how to effect a change
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POLLING QUESTION 1
Why Perform Analytics?
1) The Standards say so
2) COVID-19 - You do not have to be on site, in person, to do analytics
On a Gartner Internal Audit webinar in March 2020 with over 1000
CAE’s, the topic was remote work as an internal auditor – what’s
working and what’s not working.
A huge percentage of attendees (58%) stated that a lack of a data
analytics program means they cannot work right now – they are too
dependent on being present in the office.
3) Finding money
4) Increased assurance and reduced risk
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Analytics Advantages
Sampling contains risks
Sample is not representative of the population as a whole
Efficiency
The risk of incorrect acceptance is the risk that the sample supports the conclusion that the
recorded account balance is not materially misstated when it is materially misstated.
The risk of incorrect rejection is the risk that the sample supports the conclusion that the recorded
account balance is materially misstated when it is not materially misstated.
Effectiveness
The risk of assessing control risk too low is the risk that the assessed level of control risk based on
the sample is less than the true operating effectiveness of the control.
The risk of assessing control risk too high is the risk that the assessed level of control risk based on
the sample is greater than the true operating effectiveness of the control.
Most fraud cannot be identified with sampling, many controls are intended to,
among other things, prevent fraud
Provides deeper insight into the operations of the organization
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Demonstration
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Controls conducive to analytics
Look for the word “Sample” in the testing procedure
Your organization may use other key words, “Data”, “Transactions”
Won’t apply to data that is not electronic
May not be appropriate for reviewing documentation
May not be appropriate for data that are not transactions, e.g. monthly
balance sheets
May not apply for the entire scope of the control
Level 2
Can document review be converted to data analysis?
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POLLING QUESTION 2
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Demonstration
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How do we change
The individual must recognize a need for a change
The desire to change needs to be stronger than the perceived and real
difficulty of changing
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Our auditors can’t do analytics
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Requires database skills
Requires programming skills
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Desiretochange
Difficulty of changing (perceived /real)
When change occurs
How do we change
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Change
No Change
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How do we change
Change can have a chain reaction
Change can be temporary or lasting
Other factors and people can influence our desire to change and difficulty
of change
The desire to change and the difficulty of change can change over time
Change can have side effects, good and bad
Our documentation improved because of analytics
Employee satisfaction increased when they started doing analytics
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POLLING QUESTION 3
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