Audit Risk Decision Model
The term Audit Risk Decision Model (ARDM) describes the process a company or individual follows in order to determine the level of audit risk when planning and executing an audit. This article explores the role of ARDM in assessing audit risk and the benefits of using ARDM.
The ARDM defines the criteria used to determine the level of audit risk. Generally, audit risk is defined as the likelihood of misstatement in the financial statements due to error or fraud. In order to assess audit risk, the auditor must consider both the inherent risk associated with the entity and the control risk. Inherent risk is the risk of material misstatement based on the nature of the business or the type of transactions conducted. Control risk is defined as the risk of material misstatement due to the failure of the internal control system to detect misstatement at an acceptable level of precision.
The ARDM helps an auditor to estimate the levels of overall audit risk associated with a specific audit. The audit risk decision model has two main components: the Risk Identification component and the Risk Analysis component. The Risk Identification component involves identifying significant risks associated with the audit. This component involves collecting and analyzing evidence about the entity and its operations, financial information, and internal control systems. After the risk identification process, the risk analysis component uses the information gathered to calculate the overall audit risk.
The Risk Analysis component incorporates different risk components into the ARDM such as the inherent risk, control risk and fraud risk. The control risk component includes factors such as segregation of duties, management’s monitoring and system of supervisions. The fraud risk component includes understanding whether fraud is likely to occur and the impact of fraud on the financial statements.
The ARDM allows an auditor to develop an overall audit risk calculation based on all of the identified risks. This calculation provides the audit team with an understanding of the financial statement audit risk and provides guidance on the steps to be taken if any material misstatements are to be avoided.
The use of ARDM has many benefits for both the auditor and the entity being audited. By using ARDM, the auditor can save time and resources as the process is automated, reducing the intense manual labor associated with risk identification and analysis. Furthermore, it provides a greater level of assurance to auditors that the audit is being carried out according to established guidelines. The use of ARDM also reduces the amount of time auditors spend on calculating the audit risk levels which can reduce the costs associated with the audit process.
In conclusion, ARDM is an invaluable tool for auditors and can provide considerable benefits to the auditor, the auditee and other stakeholders. By properly understanding and applying the ARDM, auditors can reduce audit risk and increase the level of confidence in the financial statements being audited.