07-02-2013, 09:17 AM
Generalized Audit Software
Generalized Audit .ppt (Size: 2.05 MB / Downloads: 40)
What?
“Generalized Audit Software is packaged computer programs used on a variety of computers during audit field work to read computer files, select information, perform calculations, create data files, and print reports in a format specified by the auditor”.
Generalized Audit Software (GAS) is one of the families of Software that is frequently utilized in Computer-Assisted Auditing.
Off-the-shelf package
Why?
to have direct access to computerized records and to deal effectively with large quantities of data.
quickly scan, test, and summarize all the data in a computer file,
leads to a better understanding of automated systems and computer-based operations.
make auditing more interesting and challenging
ADVANTAGES
include a wide variety of audit functions.
able to access, analyze and report on a range of different files saved in heterogeneous hardware and software platforms
Intranet facilities
being relatively easy to learn and use.
require only about one week of training, and proficiency may be attained after several weeks of use.
GAS specification coding, typically requires a fraction of the coding entries needed for conventional programming languages.
This permits faster coding and reduces the likelihood of errors.
CAATs- Review 100% of data
Filtering large volumes of data is much more practical and effective
Work with greater quantities of data
Work with data that is more complex
Ability to identify financial leakage, policy noncompliance, and mistakes or errors in data processing
For example: duplicate vendor payments; fraudulent transactions, circumvention of invoice approval limits
IDEA FUNCTIONALITY
IDEA is able to import different types of data files, including print files. IDEA databases are created in import: data of the original file is put in various types of fields.
User can browse through databases, search for desired records, sort and index the records, extract records fulfilling certain criteria, search for duplicates and gaps, summarize and stratify records and export files (e.g. to MS Excel).
These measures are supported by functions. Functions are also used in making virtual fields, the contents of which are typically determined from other fields.
IDEA’s other functionality includes among other things pivot tables, age analyses, Benford analyses, sampling, joining, appending databases, comparing databases, and drilling down statistics and other results. Information about processing by IDEA is logged securely, and it can be used e.g. in repeating runs.