INTRODUCTION:

Without question, the independent audit function plays an important role in both business and
society. Numerous third parties, including investors, creditors, and regulators, depend on the
competence and professional integrity of independent auditors.
Economic decisions are typically based upon the information available to the decision maker. To
obtain the most benefit, users should have economic information that is both relevant and
reliable.
This need for relevant and reliable financial information creates a demand for accounting and
auditing service.
DEFINITION AND BASIC FEATURES OF AUDITING
Auditing is the accumulation and evaluation of evidence about information to determine and
report on the degree of correspondence between the information and established criteria.
Auditing should be done by a competent and independent person.
Auditing enable the auditor to express opinion whether the financial statements are prepared, in
all material respects, in accordance with an identified financial reporting framework. This
framework (criterion) might be generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), or the national
standard of a particular country.
Financial statements include balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow, notes and
explanatory material that are identified as being part of financial statements.
The phrases used to express the auditors opinion are that the financial statements give a trued
and fair view or present fairly in all material respective.
Note that the auditor does not certify the financial statements or guarantee that the financial
statements are correct, he reports that in his opinion they give a true and fair view, or present
fairly the financial position.
ACCOUNTING VS AUDITING

Accounting is the collecting (recording, classifying), summarizing, reporting and interpreting of

financial data.
Auditing is the testing of those accounting records for fairness, appropriateness. An accountant
only needs to know generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The auditor needs to
know GAAP, plus how to select and evaluate evidence related to the assertions of financial
statements.
Accounting is constructive. It starts with the raw financial data to process and produce financial
statements.
Auditing on the other hand is analytical work that starts with financial statement to lend
credibility and fairness of the measurements.
TYPES OF AUDITS AND AUDITORS
Types of Audits
Audits are often viewed as falling into three major types:
(1)

Audits of financial statements,

(2)

Operational audits, and

(3)

Compliance audits.

1.

Audits of financial statements: - The goal is to determine whether the financial

statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
2.

Operational audits: - An operational audit is study of some specific unit of an

organization for the purpose of measuring its performance. The operation of a unit can be
evaluated for its effectiveness and efficiency.
3.

Compliance audits: - Compliance audit determines whether the specified rules,

regulations, or procedures are being carried out or followed.

Types of Auditors
The most known types of auditors are

1.

Independent auditors,

2.

Internal auditors,

3.

Government auditors.

1. Independent (external auditors): - Independent auditors have no connection to the firm as an

owner or employee/manager. The basic task of independent auditor is to confirm to the owners
that the employees are correctly reporting on their financial position and performance.
2. Internal auditor: - An internal auditor is paid salary as employee on the organization that is
being audits. He/she is responsible to appraise and investigation the performance of unit and/or
units within the organization and give recommendation to top management.
3. Government audit: - The government auditor is paid a salary by the government. He/she is
responsible to the legislature or executive.