Continuous Data Auditing as an Automation Tool for Business Control

Authors

  • Washington Lopes da Silva Universidade de São Paulo
  • Jorge Rady de Almeida Jr. Universidade de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4301/s1807-17752014000200012

Keywords:

Continuous Audit, Continuous Monitoring, Real-Time, Database

Abstract

Business activities and business processes in the corporate world are technology-dependent. Such activities and processes drive the development of new audit techniques to investigate possible systemic failures that could affect the internal controls of companies. In this way, the need for automation of auditing tests led to the development of the concept and implementation of projects for continuous data auditing in the enterprise environment. This article evaluates the major critical issues for the construction of continuous data auditing, considering the use of information technology and computer assisted audit techniques. Four basic premises were formulated based on the theoretical foundation. From them eight propositions and eleven critical aspects were derived, which were placed in a proof of concept, through a multiple case study in the Brazilian business scenario. The main findings of this research were the critical aspects for the construction of continuous data auditing, originated in theoretical foundation and corroborated by the results of a multiple case study, which will serve as drivers for the initialization of continuous auditing projects as well as for their restructuring.

Author Biographies

Washington Lopes da Silva, Universidade de São Paulo

Washington Lopes da Silva, Possui graduação em Ciências Contábeis pela Faculdade de Ciências Econômicas de São Paulo (1995), mestrado em Engenharia Elétrica Área de Concentração Engenharia da Computação, pela Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie (2000), doutorado em Engenharia Elétrica Área de Concentração em Sistemas Digitais, pela Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (2012). Superintendente de Auditoria Interna da TecBan S/A. Professor contratado pela FIPECAFI - Fundação Instituto de Pesquisas Atuariais, Contábeis E-Mail: washington.lopes2@usp.br

Jorge Rady de Almeida Jr., Universidade de São Paulo

Jorge Rady de Almeida Jr., Possui mestrado em Engenharia Elétrica pela Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (1990) e doutorado também em Engenharia Elétrica pela Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo (1995). É Professor Associado do Departamento de Engenharia de Computação e Sistemas Digitais (PCS) da Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo desde 2003. Suas áreas de pesquisa são o Desenvolvimento e Avaliação de Sistemas Críticos, com ênfase nos aspectos de tempo real e a área de Engenharia de Software, com ênfase em Bancos de Dados, Data Warehouse e Data Mining, e segurança em Sistemas de Informação. E-Mail: jorge.almeida@poli.usp.br

References

Alles, M.; Brennan, G.; Kogan, A.; Vasarhelyi, M. A. (2005). Continuous monitoring of business process controls: a pilot implementation of a continuous auditing system at Siemens. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, v.7, p.137-161.

Alles, M. G. A.; Tostes, F.; Vasarhelyi, M. A.; Riccio, E. L. (2006) Continuous Auditing: The USA Experience and Considerations for its Implementation in Brazil. Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management.v.3, n.2, p.211-214.

Biancolino, C. A. (2010). Valor de uso do ERP e gestão contínua de pós-implementação: estudo de casos múltiplos no cenário brasileiro. Pesquisa (Doutorado) São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo.

Bovee, Matthew; Kogan, Alexander; Nelson, Kay; Srivastava, Rajendra P. (2005). Financial Reporting and Auditing Agent with Net Knowledge (FRAANK) and eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Journal of Information Systems.v.19, n.1, p.19-41.

Chou, C. L.; Du, T.; Lai, V. S. (2007).Continuous auditing with a multi-agent system. Decision Support Systems, v.42, n.4, p.2274-2292.

Church, B. K.; Mcmillan, J. J.; Schneider, A. (2001).Factors Affecting Internal Auditors’ Consideration of Fraudulent Financial Reporting during Analytical Procedures. A Journal of Practice & Theory, v. 20, n.1.

Coderre, D. (2005). Continuous Auditing: Implications for Assurance, Monitoring and Risk Assessment. GTAG#3 - Global Technology Audit Guide. USA. The IIA - The Institute of Internal Auditor.

Donnell, E. O.; Schultz, J. J. (2003).The Influence of Business-Process-Focused Audit Support Software on Analytical Procedures Judgments. A Journal of Practice & Theory.v.22, n.2, p.265-279.

Flowerday, S; Blundell, A. W; Solms, R. Von.(2006). Continuous auditing technologies and models: a discussion. Computers & Security, n.25, p. 325-331.

Glover, S. M.; Jiambalvo, J.; e Kennedy, J. (2000).Analytical Procedures and Audit-Planning Decisions. A Journal of Practice & Theory.v.19, n.2.

Hunton, J. E.; Rose, J. M. (2010).21st Century Auditing: Advancing Decision Support Systems to Achieve Continuous Auditing. Accounting Horizons.v.24, n. 2, p.297-312.

Koch, H. S. (1984). Auditing on-line systems: an evaluation of parallel versus continuous and intermittent simulation. Computers & Security, v.3, p.9-19.

Li, S.-H.; Huang, S.-M.; Lin, Y.-C.G. (2007).Developing a continuous auditing assistance system based on information process models. Journal of Computer Information Systems.

Rezaee, Z.; Sharbatoghlie, A.; Elam, R.; Mcmickle, L.P. (2002).Continuous auditing: building automated auditing capability. A Journal of Practice & Theory.v.21, n.1.

Vasarhelyi, M. A.; Alles, M.(2008).The “now” economy and the traditional accounting reporting model: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, v.9, n.4.

Vasarhelyi, M. A.; Alles, M. G. and Kogan, A. (2002).Feasibility and economics of continuous assurance. A Journal of Practice & Theory, v.21, n.1.

Vasarhelyi, M. A; Halper F. B. (1991).The continuous audit of online systems. A Journal of Practice & Theory, v.10, n.1, p.110-125.

Vasarhelyi, M. A.; Alles, M. G.; and Kogan, A. (2004).Principles of analytic monitoring for continuous assurance. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, v.1, p.1-21.

Watson, H. J. e Wixom, B. H. (2007).The current state of business intelligence. IEEE Computer Society, v.40, n.9.

Yeh, C.-H.e Shen, W.-C. (2010). Using continuous auditing life cycle management to ensure continuous assurance. African Journal of Business Management, v. 4, n.12, p.2554-2570.

Yin, R. K. (2010). Estudo de caso– planejamento e métodos. 4 ed. Porto Alegre: Bookman.

Downloads

Published

2014-08-21

How to Cite

Silva, W. L. da, & Almeida Jr., J. R. de. (2014). Continuous Data Auditing as an Automation Tool for Business Control. Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management, 11(2), 437–460. https://doi.org/10.4301/s1807-17752014000200012

Issue

Section

Articles