Peer reviewers are saying, “If it’s not documented, it’s not done.” Why? Because standards require sufficient audit documentation in AU-C 230. And if it’s not documented, the peer reviewer can’t give credit. Work papers are your vehicle of communication.
But what does sufficient documentation mean? What should be in our work papers? How much is necessary? This article answers these questions.
Insufficient audit documentation has been and continues to be a hot-button peer review issue. And it’s not going away.
But auditors ask, “What is sufficient documentation?” That’s the problem, isn’t it? The answer is not black and white. We know good documentation when we see it–and poor as well. It’s the middle that is fuzzy. Too often audit files are poor-to-midland. But why?
First, many times it boils down to profit. Auditors can make more money by doing less work. So, let’s go ahead and state the obvious: Quality documentation takes more time and may lessen profit. But what’s the other choice? Poor work.
Second, the auditor may not understand what the audit requirements are. So, in this case, it’s not motive (make more money), it’s a lack of understanding.
Thirdly, another contributing factor is that firms often bid for work–and low price usually carries the day. Then, when it’s time to do the work, there’s not enough budget (time)–and quality suffers. Corners are cut. Planning is disregarded. Confirmations, walkthroughs, fraud inquiries are omitted. And yes, it’s easier–at least in the short run.
But we all know that quality is the foundation of every good CPA firm. And work papers tell the story–the real story–about a firm’s character. How would you rate your work paper quality? Is it excellent, average, poor? If you put your last audit file on a website and everyone could see it, would you be proud? Or does it need improvement?
Let’s see what constitutes sufficient documentation.
AU-C 230 Audit Documentation defines how auditors are to create audit evidence. It says that an experienced auditor with no connection to the audit should understand:
While most auditors are familiar with this requirement, the difficulty lies in how to accomplish this. What does it look like? Here are some pointers for complying with AU-C 230.
Here’s the key: When an experienced auditor reviews the documentation, does she understand the work?
Any good communicator makes it her job to speak or write in an understandable way. The communicator assumes responsibility for clear messages. In creating work papers, we are the communicators. The responsibility for transmitting messages lies with us (the auditors creating work papers).
So what creates fogginess in work papers? We forget we have an audience. Others will review the audit documentation to understand what was done. As we prepare work papers, we need to think about those who will see our work. All too often, the person creating a work paper understands what he is doing, but the reviewer doesn’t. Why? The message is not clear.
Just because I know why I am doing something does not mean that someone else will. So how can we create clarity?
Work papers should include the following:
When I make these suggestions, some auditors push back saying, “We’ve already documented some of this information in the audit program.” That may be true, but I am telling you–after reviewing thousands of audit files–the message (what is being done and why) can get lost in the audit program. The reviewer often has a difficult time tieing the work back to the audit program and understanding its purpose and whether the documentation provides sufficient audit evidence.
Remember, the work paper preparer is responsible for clear communication.
And here’s another thing to consider: You (the work paper preparer) might spend six hours on one document, so you are keenly aware of what you did. The reviewer, on the other hand, might spend five minutes–and she is trying (as quickly as she can) to understand your work.
To help your reviewers:
Now let’s move from proper to improper documentation.
So, what does insufficient audit documentation look like? In other words, what are some of the signs that we are not complying with AU-C 230?
Here are examples of poor audit work paper documentation:
This list is not comprehensive, but it provides examples to consider. This list is based on my past experiences. Probably the worst offense (at least in my mind) is signing off on an audit program with no support.
Strangely, however, poor work papers are not the result of insufficient documentation, but too much documentation.
Many CPAs say to me, “I feel like I do too much,” meaning they believe they are auditing more than is necessary. To which I often respond, “I agree.”
In looking at audit files, I see:
For whatever reason, clients usually provide more information than we request. And then–for some other reason–we retain those documents, even if not needed.
If auditors add purpose statements to each work paper, then they will discover that some work papers are unnecessary. In writing the purpose statement, we might realize it has none. Which is nice–now, we can eliminate it.
One healthy exercise is to pretend we’ve never audited the company and that we have no prior year audit files. Then, with a blank page, we plan the audit. Once done, we compare the new plan to prior year files. If there’s any fat, start cutting.
The key to eliminating unnecessary work lies in performing the following steps (in the order presented):
Too often, we roll the prior year file forward and rock on. If the prior year file has extraneous audit procedures, we repeat them. This creates waste year after year after year.
Before I close this article, here is one good work paper suggestion from my friend Jim Bennett of Bennett & Associates: transaction area maps.
Include transaction area maps in your file. A summary creates organization and makes it easier to find your work papers. It also provides a birds-eye view of what you have done. Here’s an example:
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE WORKPAPER MAP
4-02 Audit Program
4-10 Risk Assessment Analyticals
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AGING
4-20 Customer aging report
4-21 AR break-out of intercompany balances
4-23 AR aging tie in to TB
4-24 Review of AR aging
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CONFIRMATIONS
4-50 Planning worksheet – substantive procedures
4-51 AR confirmation reconciliation
4-52 AR confirmation replies
4-60 Allowance for doubtful accounts
4-70 Intercompany balances and sales to significant customers
4-80 Sales analytics
4-90 Sales cut-off testing
4-95 Revenue recognition 606 support and disclosures
In summary, audit documentation continues to be a significant peer review problem. We can enhance the quality of our work papers by remembering we are not just auditing. We are communicating. It is our responsibility to provide a clear message. We need to do so to comply with AU-C 230, Audit Documentation.
The AICPA also provides some excellent guidance regarding work paper documentation. Download their work paper template; it’s very helpful.
Also, see my article titled 10 Steps to Better Audit Workpapers.
Charles Hall is a practicing CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. For the last thirty-five years, he has primarily audited governments, nonprofits, and small businesses. He is the author of The Little Book of Local Government Fraud Prevention, The Why and How of Auditing, Audit Risk Assessment Made Easy, and Preparation of Financial Statements & Compilation Engagements. He frequently speaks at continuing education events. Charles consults with other CPA firms, assisting them with auditing and accounting issues.
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Thanks, Jared.
Your auditing articles simplifies the subject for newbies and seasoned auditors. Keep them coming and be blessed. Great job!
Thanks, Bill. Have the peer review went well.
I just completed Peer Review. So everything you said in this article is what the Peer reviewers wrote in their comments and critique of my work papers. So your article and the peer reviewers’ comments are my marching orders.
Thank you for a well-written and timely article.
Well done!
Bill W.
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Thanks, Jim.
This is an excellent article!!!