we will explore the key principles of assessment in auditing and how they contribute to a successful audit.
Understanding the basic principles of assessment – In auditing or auditing, the basic principles of assessment or judgment are the auditor’s policies in providing opinions on information found throughout the audit process, which refer to ideas, concepts or estimates about events that occur in the audit object. The results issued by an auditor must be able to provide correct information and evidence, so that the audit assessment submitted will be correct or appropriate.
Understanding the Principles of Assessment in Auditing.
According to the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the basic principle of assessment is an opinion based on facts or evidence that has been found in order to pay attention to several implied matters.
For example, the basic principles of assessment can be illustrated by the existence of a test of the quality of the internal control system for audits based on the auditor’s assessment in certain situations.
In the audit process, the basic principle of assessment is interpreted as the policy of an auditor in providing an opinion on the information found during the audit process. Usually, the opinion is in the form of an idea, concept or estimate of the audit object.
In addition, an auditor must also provide information based on facts and truth, because it can affect the audit assessment whether it is in accordance with the facts or not. Therefore, an auditor must have a trustworthy nature, so as not to complicate the audit process that requires opinions based on existing facts.
Function of Basic Principles of Assessment (Judgement)
In every matter related to financial bookkeeping, it must have its own main function. Like the basic principle of assessment which has a function as judgment.
Judgment is needed because the audit is not carried out on all evidence. This evidence is used to express an opinion on the audited financial statements, so it can be said that judgment money also determines the results of the audit implementation.
If the audit implementation does not run smoothly, it will have an impact on a company. An auditor can be said to be qualified if he has met various provisions and standards that apply to auditing. Therefore, it is very important for a company to have a qualified auditor, because the financial accounting process is very much influenced by the audit process.
The purpose of the audit is to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements prepared by management are true and fair or are prepared based on financial reporting framework standards and are free from material misstatements.
Based on ISA 200, this basic principle of professional judgment is required in making the following conditions:
- Before starting the audit, the auditor needs to apply professional judgment in deciding on audit materiality and risk.
- To prepare an appropriate audit plan according to the circumstances, the auditor requires professional judgment. The scope of the audit, timing and audit procedures require basic principles of judgment and skepticism from the auditor.
- In deciding the sufficiency and appropriateness of audit evidence, if it is insufficient, the auditor can evaluate new procedures and actions for the audit using the basic principles of his assessment.
- In accounting, bad debts require consideration from management.
- An auditor uses the basic principles of his assessment, so he must be able to know whether there is fraud or error that occurs behind the decision.
- Basic principles of assessment are needed when the auditor makes conclusions and assessments regarding audit evidence.
Factors Affecting the Basic Principles of Assessment
The following are several things that can influence the basic principles of assessment (judgment), including:
1. Auditor Experience
Auditor experience is the combined accumulation of all that is obtained from all that has been done. Experience can provide an opportunity for someone to do a job better than before. With more experience, the more skilled they are in doing their job.
In addition, experience also makes an auditor have a better chance in doing his job compared to those who are inexperienced. The experience will make an auditor more skilled in doing his job.
2. Auditor Knowledge
In addition, the company must have a qualified auditor as explained earlier. In detecting an error, an auditor must be supported by knowledge of what and how the error occurred.
In general, an auditor must have some knowledge so that the audit process runs smoothly regarding General Auditing , Functional Area , Computer Auditing , Accounting Issue , Specific Industry , General World Knowledge and Problem Solving Knowledge .
3. Pressure of Obedience
In this case, compliance pressure is defined as the pressure received by junior auditors from senior auditors or superiors and audited entities to take actions that deviate from ethical and professional standards. Pressure from superiors and audited entities can also have negative effects such as loss of professionalism and loss of public trust and social credibility.
Due to pressure from senior auditors or superiors, it can eliminate trust in each other, as well as loss of social credibility. This will make the working atmosphere for junior auditors uncomfortable and reluctant to ask when making mistakes.
4. Task Complexity
When working, it is not uncommon for an auditor to find work that is difficult to understand and seems unstructured. This will affect the assessment, and it is feared that it will provide less than optimal results at the end of the audit. This is where the auditor’s experience and knowledge must be relied upon.
In this case, the auditor’s experience and knowledge play an important role in order to complete the work properly and correctly without any errors. That is the reason why knowledge and experience greatly influence the basic principles of assessment.
The more factors that support an auditor, the better the auditor’s assessment. Or the more experience the auditor has, the better the assessment preparation, so it is important for auditors to understand the basics of auditing.
An audit is the collection and examination of evidence related to information to determine and report on the degree of conformity between the information and established criteria. An audit must also be performed by someone who is competent and independent.
Accounting Principles in Valuing Basic Principles of Valuation
An auditor in assessing the valuation principles must also comply with accounting principles, as follows:
1. Cost Principles
Most assets and liabilities are reported at historical cost. However, the use of the historical cost principle to record the acquisition of assets has ignored the effects of changes in value. The FASB and IFRS now believe that information presented at fair market value is more relevant to users of financial statements than historical cost.
Measurement using fair value will provide a better picture of the value of assets and liabilities and provide a basis for assessing future cash flow prospects.
2. Revenue Principles
Net income is defined as ” the excess of income over expenses, added or subtracted by the company’s profits or losses from the sale and exchange or replacement of other assets “. This means that net income comes from transactions of income, expenses, profits and losses.
The FASB conceptual framework identifies two criteria that should be considered in determining when revenue should be recognized: realized or realizable and earned or incurred.
Revenue recognition is generally done at the point of sale. However, it can also be when the production process is still ongoing, for example for long-term construction contracts or often called the percentage of project completion method or proportional performance method, the end of production when demand and price for the resulting production are guaranteed, for example certain types of metal products or agricultural products, or even when cash is received, for example for installment sales.
3. Matching Principles
The exact amount of revenue and expenses in the right period can be recorded in the cash basis and accrual basis options. Cash basis will report revenue and expenses in the income statement in the period in which cash is received for revenue or cash is paid for expenses. The amount of net income or net loss resulting from the difference between revenue and expenses will reflect the net amount of cash generated (for net income ) or the net amount of cash disbursed (for net loss ).
Meanwhile, for the accrual basis, income and expenses will be reported in the profit and loss in the period in which the income and expenses occur, without paying attention to cash inflows or cash outflows.
With the accrual basis, expenses related to the creation of income must be reported in the same period in which the revenue is recognized. The accounting concept that supports reporting revenue and related expenses in the same period is called the matching concept .
Types of Audits
Generally, examination or auditing is conducted on financial statements, various bookkeeping records and supporting evidence made by the management of a company. Therefore, audits can be grouped into 3 (three) types, namely operational audits , compliance audits and financial statement audits .
1. Operational Audit
In this type of audit, the audit implementation is focused on examining the efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s operations. Evidence collected related to the company’s operations will be compared to standards or policies that have been set by the company. The results of the audit are in the form of recommendations that will be submitted to the company.
2. Compliance Audit
The implementation of compliance audits is intended to determine the level of auditor compliance with established rules, procedures or regulations. The results of this compliance audit will be reported to management as the main party related to the company’s level of compliance with procedures and regulations.
Financial Statement Audit
In carrying out financial statement audits, auditors focus on determining the level of fairness and the level of conformity between the financial statements and applicable accounting standards such as PSAK, IFRS, and GAAP.
In addition, the level of fairness of the financial statements is determined based on evidence collected by the auditor. The results of the audit of the level of fairness of the financial statements are stated in the audit report containing the auditor’s audit opinion.
Audit Objectives in Carrying Out Basic Principles of Assessment
In implementing the assessment principles. Audits also have specific objectives which can be classified as follows:
1. Completeness
To ensure that all transactions have been recorded or are in the journal and are actually entered.
2. Accuracy
To ensure that existing transactions and account balances are recorded based on the correct amounts, correct calculations, properly classified and recorded.
3. Existence
To ensure that all recorded assets and liabilities have an existence or occurred on a certain date, so the recorded transactions must have actually occurred and not be fictitious.
4. Valuation
To ensure that generally accepted accounting principles have been applied correctly.
5. Classification
To ensure that transactions included in the journal are properly classified. If they relate to balances, then the figures entered in the client list have been properly classified.
6. Accuracy
To ensure that all transactions are recorded on the correct date, that the details in the account balances match the general ledger figures, and that the balances are added up correctly.
7. Cut-off
To ensure that transactions near the balance sheet date are recorded in the proper period. Transactions that are most likely to be misstated are those recorded near the end of an accounting period.
8. Disclosure
To ensure that account balances and related disclosure requirements are fairly presented in the financial statements and fairly described in the body and footnotes to those statements.
In making a judgment about the existence of material misstatement, the auditor is responsible for applying relevant training, knowledge and experience in making an informed decision about the appropriate action in the circumstances of the audit engagement. In addition, the auditor is also responsible for performing his or her duties diligently and carefully.
Auditor Principles
The principles related to the auditor’s responsibilities in auditing emphasize important personal qualities. Therefore, an auditor must have the following:
1. Appropriate Competencies and Abilities
Auditors are responsible for having the right competence and ability to conduct audits. Therefore, to have such competence, auditors must undergo formal education in auditing and accounting, practical experience and continuing professional education. Court cases clearly show that auditors must have technical qualifications and experience in the industries in which their clients are involved.
2. Comply with Ethics
IAPI outlines the ethical requirements for public accountants who practice in KAP or work in companies as part of management. Auditing codes and standards emphasize the need for independence in audit engagements.
In addition, the most important thing is the requirement for KAP to follow some practices, so as to increase the independence of all personnel. For example, there are established procedures for larger audits when there is a dispute between management and auditors.
3. Maintaining Professional Skepticism and Professional Judgment
The auditor is responsible for maintaining professional skepticism and exercising professional judgment throughout the planning and work of the audit. Skepticism is an attitude that includes a questioning mind, being alert to conditions that may indicate possible misstatement due to fraud or error and critical evaluation of audit evidence.
Thus, auditors must remain alert to the possibility of material misstatements whether due to fraud or error during the planning and performance of the audit.
Closing
Well, that’s about the basic principles of assessment that can be understood, grameds. So, the basic principles of assessment or judgment need to be considered by auditors and don’t forget to pay attention to things that can affect judgment so that the audit process can run without any problems. Hopefully this article inspires you!