Professional Judgment and Reticence to Apply Sampling Techniques

Abstract

Audit sampling means, according to International Standard on Auditing 530 “Audit Sample”, applying audit procedures to less than 100% of the items or class of transactions within an account balance. Sampling is used not only in auditing financial statements, but widely in market research, scientific analysis, market analysis, surveys. An ideal situation would involve studying the entire population under investigation. This is impossible in situations where we find large populations of data. The auditor must use professional judgment to assess audit risk and establish appropriate procedures for the transactions and accounts tested. When the auditor uses sampling, his goal is to ensure that the sample provides a reasonable basis to draw conclusions about the population from which the sample is selected. Using statistical sampling assumes a computer program, more expensive, it requires statistical knowledge and assumes in a lesser extent the use of professional judgment. Non-statistical sampling does not allow quantification of risk, leaving large margin of interpretation, exposing the auditor to a high risk of malpractice.