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  • Book
  • © 2020

Audit Analytics

Data Science for the Accounting Profession

  • Uses R and RStudio software to plan, implement, and render an audit opinion that is legally and statistically defensible
  • Demonstrates how to build a risk assessment matrix that informs the conduct of a cost-effective audit program
  • Uses R and RStudio software to analyze, extract, and manipulate accounting data
  • Analyzes evidence with R and RStudio software to construct the internal control letter and Sarbanes-Oxley report
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Use R! (USE R)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiv
  2. Fundamentals of Auditing Financial Reports

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 1-18
  3. Foundations of Audit Analytics

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 19-39
  4. Analysis of Accounting Transactions

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 41-61
  5. Risk Assessment and Planning

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 63-86
  6. Analytical Review: Technical Analysis

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 87-112
  7. Analytical Review: Intelligence Scanning

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 113-137
  8. Design of Audit Programs

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 139-160
  9. Interim Compliance Tests

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 161-188
  10. Substantive Tests

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 189-241
  11. Sarbanes–Oxley Engagements

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 243-278
  12. Blockchains, Cybercrime, and Forensics

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 279-290
  13. Special Engagements: Forecasts and Valuation

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 291-305
  14. Simulated Transactions for Auditing Service Organizations

    • J. Christopher Westland
    Pages 307-336
  15. Back Matter

    Pages 335-344

About this book

Today, information technology plays a pivotal role in financial control and audit: most financial data is now digitally recorded and dispersed among servers, clouds and networks over which the audited firm has no control. Additionally, a firm’s data—particularly in the case of finance, software, insurance and biotech firms— comprises most of the audited value of the firm. Financial audits are critical mechanisms for ensuring the integrity of information systems and the reporting of organizational finances. They help avoid the abuses that led to passage of legislation such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (1977), and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002).

Audit effectiveness has declined over the past two decades as auditor skillsets have failed to keep up with advances in information technology. Information and communication technology lie at the core of commerce today and are integrated in business processes around the world. This book is designed to meet the increasing need ofaudit professionals to understand information technology and the controls required to manage it. The material included focuses on the requirements for annual Securities and Exchange Commission audits (10-K) for listed corporations. These represent the benchmark auditing procedures for specialized audits, such as internal, governmental, and attestation audits.

Using R and RStudio, the book demonstrates how to render an audit opinion that is legally and statistically defensible; analyze, extract, and manipulate accounting data; build a risk assessment matrix to inform the conduct of a cost-effective audit program; and more.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Information & Decision Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA

    J. Christopher Westland

About the author

J. Christopher Westland is a professor in the Department of Information & Decision Sciences at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He has professional experience in the US as a certified public accountant and in the US, Europe, Latin America, and Asia as a consultant in technology law. He is the editor in chief of Electronic Commerce Research (Springer). Dr. Westland's recent publications include Global Innovation Management, 2nd Edition (Palgrave Macmillan 2017), Structural Equation Modeling (Springer 2015), and Red Wired: China's Internet Revolution (2010).

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access