La influencia de las explicaciones de la dirección en la evaluación de los procedimientos analíticos de auditoría

Abstract

The application of analytical procedures is based on the expectation that relationships exist among financial statements data on a continuous basis. The presence of these relationships provides audit evidence as to the completeness, accuracy and validity of the data produced by the accounting system. Auditors generate expected values and compare them with financial statements values. In case of discrepancies, the auditor has to generate hypotheses with regard to potential causes, evaluate these hypotheses and select the most plausible one. Auditing standards require that auditors routinely have to consult management for explanations of unexpected fluctuations. Prior empirical research revealed that management explanations influence hypotheses generation and lead to a biased analytical procedures process. This experimental study is based on a material unexpected fluctuation in gross margin. It is the first German study which investigates the effect of management explanations on hypothesis generation, information search, hypothesis evaluation, and final judgment stages of the analytical procedures process. The inherited hypotheses increased effectiveness of the analytical procedures process performed by non-industry specialists when this explanation reflected the correct cause. Furthermore, the management explanation had a negative effect on the efficiency of industry specialists when it reflected the correct cause. Overall, a negative effect of management explanations on the analytical procedures process as revealed by international research could not be confirmed by this study.