Comprehensive Overview of Data Analysis Tools for Auditors
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Explore leading tools like Generalised Audit Software, SQL, Microsoft Access and more. Learn about functionalities, benefits, and best practices for data analysis in auditing.
Comprehensive Overview of Data Analysis Tools for Auditors
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Presentation Transcript
Data Analysis Tools Session 10
Data Analysis Tools • Generalised Audit Software • SQL and SQL-based tools • Microsoft Access • Other tools
Generalised Audit Software • Readymade software packages for auditors for use in different environments • Leading packages • IDEA (Interactive Data Extraction and Analysis) • ACL (Audit Command Language) • Other tools • Prospector • CA- Panaudit Plus
Generalised Audit Software – Functionality • Sampling • Sequence Checking • Duplicates and Gap Detection • Totalling • Stratification • Ageing • File Comparison • Exception Reporting • Recalculation and Computations • Import/export data from/to different formats
SQL and SQL-based Tools • SQL (Structured Query Language) • Standard language for data definition and manipulation on RDBMS • User-friendly SQL tools with GUI/ drag and drop interface • SQL queries can be run • Either directly on the auditee’s RDBMS • Or using MS Access etc. as front-end tool
SQL Tools - Benefits • Non-procedure oriented language • SQL standard adhered to by all RDBMS products • Auditor can run the same SQL queries on all RDBMS platforms • Provides greater flexibility • Looking at data in a variety of ways to get “lay of the land” • Freedom to go back to database as required
Running SQL Queries on Auditee System – Issues • SQL is extremely powerful • Single statement can process millions of records • Potential for performance disruption, and inadvertent alteration/deletion of data • Running SQL queries on downloaded data – preferred choice
SQL Select Statement • SELECT Product_Code, Product_Description, Product_Rate, Product_Quantity FROM Products WHERE Product_Rate > 10
SQL Select Statement – Options/ Clauses • JOINS – for different tables • Calculated fields • ORDER BY clause for sorting • WHERE clause with multiple conditions • Summary values using GROUP BY and HAVING clauses • Combining SQL statements using UNION clause or through nesting • Built-in and user defined functions/ procedures
Microsoft Access • Part of Microsoft Office Professional – an office automation suite • Useful as a querying tool • For smaller relational databases • Export data from RDBMS • Import into MS Access • Queries using Query Designer/Wizards
Microsoft Access (Contd.) • For larger databases • Performance suffers • Two options • Migrate auditee databases into auditor’s RDBMS product; use MS Access as front-end • Break up database into smaller Access databases; use links
Other Tools - Spreadsheets • MS Excel / Lotus 1-2-3 etc. • Basic querying features • Excellent features for graphs and charts