Using Audit Programs to Improve Auditor Evidence Collection

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Hammersley, Jacqueline S.; Ricci, Michael A.
• 署名单位: University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; State University System of Florida; University of Florida
• 刊物名称: ACCOUNTING REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0001-4826
• DOI: 10.2308/tar-2018-0120
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 251-272
• 关键词: implementation intentions; client management; Justification; judgments; preparers; Mindsets; RISK

摘要

Auditors experience difficulty auditing accounts for which it is difficult to identify in advance all the evidence necessary to perform an effective audit. These accounts are challenging because they commonly require auditors to collect additional, relevant evidence in response to new information received during evidence collection. We address this experimentally by examining whether changing the focus of audit programs from plan-focused (i.e., focused on the planned audit procedures) to goal-focused (i.e., focused on the task goal) improves auditors' collection of relevant evidence that is not identifiable at audit program creation. We expect goal-focused auditors to remain open to more ways to achieve their goal. Consequently, we expect and find that goal-focused auditors collect more effective evidence than plan-focused auditors and follow up more effectively on this evidence. This suggests that a goal-focused approach improves audit quality on tasks requiring auditors to flexibly respond to new information.