NCJ Number
67272
Journal
DATAMATION Volume: 16 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 15, 1970) Pages: 108-110,112-113
Date Published
1970
Length
5 pages
Annotation
SPEAKERS FROM SIX LARGE PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS EXPLORED THE INTERFACE BETWEEN COMPUTERS AND AUDITING AT A 1969 CONFERENCE ATTENDED BY COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS AND AUDITORS.
Abstract
THE CONFERENCE PROVIDED A LOCATION FOR PEOPLE DOING ADVANCE WORK ON THE CONTROL AND AUDIT OF COMPUTER BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND WAS PLANNED TO OCCUR AT 18-MONTH INTERVALS. A PREVENTIVE AUDITING APPROACH WAS VIEWED AS NEEDED TO COPE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLEX AND VULNERABLE SYSTEMS. REAL-TIME SYSTEMS WERE NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE THE AUDITOR'S OBJECTIVES OR STANDARDS BUT WOULD PROBABLY AFFECT AUDITING PROCEDURES. LESS INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTS AND MORE PROCEDURAL TESTING AND CURRENT OBSERVATION SHOULD OCCUR. RESULTS OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM REVIEW STUDY INDICATED THAT AUDITORS CAN WORK WITH COMPUTER SYSTEMS, GIVEN A MODEST AMOUNT OF SPECIAL TRAINING; THAT AUDIT TECHNIQUES CAN BE APPLIED TO REAL-TIME SYSTEMS; THAT AUTOMATIC FLOW-CHARTING SOFTWARE CAN BE EFFECTIVE; AND THAT EXTERNAL AUDITORS EXPECT TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE INTERNAL AUDITORS ON SUCH SYSTEMS. OTHER CONFERENCE TOPICS INCLUDED BACK-UP AND RECOVERY IN REAL-TIME BANKING; CONTROL, FALLBACK, AND RECOVERY IN A REAL-TIME RESERVATION SYSTEM; AUDITING AN ON-LINE DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE SYSTEM; AND AN AUDITING APPROACH USING A COMPUTER. THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE CONTROL STANDARDS, THE PROFITABILITY OF THE COMPUTER AS A BUSINESS INVESTMENT, COMPUTER TRAINING FOR AUDITORS, AND DATA SECURITY IN DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED. (AOP)