Accounting Information Systems, 12e (Romney/Steinbart)
Chapter 11 Auditing Computer-Based Information Systems
1) Auditing involves the
A) collection, review, and documentation of audit evidence.
B) planning and verification of economic events.
C) collection of audit evidence and approval of economic events.
D) testing, documentation, and certification of audit evidence.
2) What is not a typical responsibility of an internal auditor?
A) helping management to improve organizational effectiveness
B) assisting in the design and implementation of an AIS
C) preparation of the company’s financial statements
D) implementing and monitoring of internal controls
3) Which type of work listed below is not typical of internal auditors?
A) operational and management audits
B) information system audits
C) financial statement audit
D) financial audit of accounting records
4) The ________ audit examines the reliability and integrity of accounting records.
A) financial
B) informational
C) information systems
D) operational
5) The ________ audit reviews the general and application controls of an AIS to assess its compliance
with internal control policies and procedures and its effectiveness in safeguarding assets.
A) financial
B) information systems
C) management
D) internal control
6) One type of audit that is concerned with the economical and efficient use of resources and the
accomplishment of established goals and objectives is known as a(n) ________ audit.
A) financial
B) information systems
C) internal control
D) operational or management
7) The ________ audit is concerned with the economical and efficient use of resources and the
accomplishment of established goals and objectives.
A) financial
B) informational
C) information systems
D) operational
8) The purpose of ________ is to determine why, how, when, and who will perform the audit.
A) audit planning
B) the collection of audit evidence
C) the communication of audit results
D) the evaluation of audit evidence
9) Organizing the audit team and the physical examination of assets are components of which two
separate audit stages?
A) planning; evaluating audit evidence
B) planning; collecting audit evidence
C) collecting audit evidence; communicating audit results
D) communicating audit results; evaluating audit evidence
10) With which stage in the auditing process are the consideration of risk factors and materiality most
associated?
A) audit planning
B) collection of audit evidence
C) communication of audit results
D) evaluation of audit evidence
11) A system that employs various types of advanced technology has more ________ risk than
traditional batch processing.
A) control
B) detection
C) inherent
D) investing
12) Control risk is defined as the
A) susceptibility to material risk in the absence of controls.
B) risk that a material misstatement will get through the internal control structure and into the financial
statements.
C) risk that auditors and their audit procedures will not detect a material error or misstatement.
D) risk auditors will not be given the appropriate documents and records by management who wants to
control audit activities and procedures.
13) The possibility that a material error will occur even though auditors are following audit procedures
and using good judgment is referred to as
A) control risk.
B) detection risk.
C) inherent risk.
D) investigating risk.
14) The ________ stage of the auditing process involves (among other things) the auditors observing the
operating activities and having discussions with employees.
A) audit planning
B) collection of audit evidence
C) communication of audit results
D) evaluation of audit evidence
15) Verifying the accuracy of certain information, often through communication with third parties, is
known as
A) reperformance.
B) confirmation.
C) substantiation.
D) documentation.
16) The evidence collection method that examines all supporting documents to determine the validity of
a transaction is called
A) review of documentation.
B) vouching.
C) physical examination.
D) analytical review.
17) The evidence collection method that considers the relationships and trends among information to
detect items that should be investigated further is called
A) review of the documentation.
B) vouching.
C) physical examination.
D) analytical review.
18) Assessing the quality of internal controls, the reliability of information, and operating performance
are all part of which stage of the auditing process?
A) audit planning
B) collection of audit evidence
C) evaluation of audit evidence
D) communication of audit results
19) An auditor must be willing to accept some degree of risk that the audit conclusion is incorrect.
Accordingly, the auditor’s objective is to seek ________ that no material error exists in the information
audited.
A) absolute reliability
B) reasonable evidence
C) reasonable assurance
D) reasonable objectivity
20) The risk-based audit approach is
A) a four-step approach to internal control evaluation.
B) a four-step approach to financial statement review and recommendations.
C) a three-step approach to internal control evaluation.
D) a three-step approach to financial statement review and recommendations.
21) Which of the following is the first step in the risk-based audit approach?
A) Identify the control procedures that should be in place.
B) Evaluate the control procedures.
C) Determine the threats facing the AIS.
D) Evaluate weaknesses to determine their effect on the audit procedures.
22) Determining whether the necessary control procedures are in place is accomplished by conducting
A) a systems overhaul.
B) a systems review.
C) tests of controls.
D) both B and C
23) According to the risk-based auditing approach, when a control deficiency is identified, the auditor
should inquire about
A) tests of controls.
B) the feasibility of a systems review.
C) materiality and inherent risk factors.
D) compensating controls.
24) The ________ to auditing provides auditors with a clear understanding of possible errors and
irregularities and the related risks and exposures.
A) risk-based approach
B) risk-adjusted approach
C) financial audit approach
D) information systems approach
25) What is the purpose of an information systems audit?
A) To determine the inherent risk factors found in the system
B) To review and evaluate the internal controls that protect the system
C) To examine the reliability and integrity of accounting records
D) To examine whether resources have been used in an economical and efficient manner in keeping with
organization goals and objectives
26) The information systems audit objective that pertains to source data being processed into some form
of output is known as
A) overall security.
B) program development.
C) program modifications.
D) processing.
27) To maintain the objectivity necessary for performing an independent evaluation function, auditors
should not be involved in
A) making recommendations to management for improvement of existing internal controls.
B) examining system access logs.
C) examining logical access policies and procedures.
D) developing the information system.
28) The auditor’s role in systems development should be as
A) an advisor and developer of internal control specifications.
B) a developer of internal controls.
C) an independent reviewer only.
D) A and B above
29) Regarding program modifications, which statement below is incorrect?
A) Only material program changes should be thoroughly tested and documented.
B) When a program change is submitted for approval, a list of all required updates should be compiled
and then approved by management and program users.
C) During the change process, the developmental version of the program must be kept separate from the
production version.
D) After the modified program has received final approval, the change is implemented by replacing the
developmental version with the production version.
30) How could auditors determine if unauthorized program changes have been made?
A) By interviewing and making inquiries of the programming staff
B) By examining the systems design and programming documentation
C) By using a source code comparison program
D) By interviewing and making inquiries of recently terminated programming staff
31) Which auditing technique will not assist in determining if unauthorized programming changes have
been made?
A) Use of a source code comparison program
B) Use of the reprocessing technique to compare program output
C) Interviewing and making inquiries of the programming staff
D) Use of parallel simulation to compare program output
32) Strong ________ controls can partially compensate for inadequate ________ controls.
A) development; processing
B) processing; development
C) operational; internal
D) internal; operational
33) The ________ procedure for auditing computer process controls uses a hypothetical series of valid
and invalid transactions.
A) concurrent audit techniques
B) test data processing
C) integrated test facility
D) dual process
34) The auditor uses ________ to continuously monitor the system and collect audit evidence while live
data are processed.
A) test data processing
B) parallel simulation
C) concurrent audit techniques
D) analysis of program logic
35) Auditors have several techniques available to them to test computer-processing controls. An audit
technique that immediately alerts auditors of suspicious transactions is known as
A) a SCARF.
B) an audit hook.
C) an audit sinker.
D) the snapshot technique.
36) A type of software that auditors can use to analyze program logic and detect unexecuted program
code is
A) a mapping program.
B) an audit log.
C) a scanning routine.
D) program tracing.
37) One tool used to document the review of source data controls is
A) a flowchart generator program.
B) a mapping program.
C) an input control matrix.
D) a program algorithm matrix.
38) An audit software program that generates programs that perform certain audit functions, based on
auditor specifications, is referred to as a(n)
A) input controls matrix.
B) CAATS.
C) embedded audit module.
D) mapping program.
39) The use of a secure file library and restrictions on physical access to data files are control procedures
used together to prevent
A) an employee or outsider obtaining data about an important client.
B) a data entry clerk from introducing data entry errors into the system.
C) a computer operator from losing or corrupting files or data during transaction processing.
D) programmers making unauthorized modifications to programs.
40) An auditor might use which of the following to convert data from several sources into a single
common format?
A) computer assisted audit techniques software
B) Windows Media Converter
C) concurrent audit technique
D) Adobe Professional
41) What is the primary purpose of computer audit software?
A) eliminate auditor judgment errors
B) assist the auditor in retrieving and reviewing information
C) detect unauthorized modifications to system program code
D) recheck all mathematical calculations, cross-foot, reprocess financial statements and compare to
originals
42) The scope of a(n) ________ audit encompasses all aspects of systems management.
A) operational
B) information systems
C) financial
D) internal control
43) Evaluating effectiveness, efficiency, and goal achievement are objectives of ________ audits.
A) financial
B) operational
C) information systems
D) all of the above
44) In the ________ stage of an operational audit, the auditor measures the actual system against an
ideal standard.
A) evidence collection
B) evidence evaluation
C) testing
D) internal control
45) An increase in the effectiveness of internal controls would have the greatest effect on
A) reducing control risk.
B) reducing detection risk.
C) reducing inherent risk.
D) reducing audit risk.
46) An expansion of a firm’s operations to include production in Russia and China will have the effect of
A) increasing inherent risk.
B) reducing inherent risk.
C) increasing control risk.
D) reducing control risk.
47) An increase in the effectiveness of auditing software will have the effect of
A) increasing detection risk.
B) reducing detection risk.
C) increasing control risk.
D) reducing control risk.
48) An auditor examines all documents related to the acquisition, repair history, and disposal of a firm’s
delivery van. This is an example of collecting audit evidence by
A) confirmation.
B) reperformance.
C) vouching.
D) analytical review.
49) An auditor manually calculates accumulated depreciation on a delivery van and compares her
calculation with accounting records. This is an example collecting audit evidence by
A) confirmation.
B) reperformance.
C) vouching.
50) An auditor finds that employee absentee rates are significantly higher on Mondays and Fridays than
on other work days. This is an example collecting audit evidence by
A) confirmation.
B) reperformance.
C) vouching.
D) analytical review.
51) An auditor creates a fictitious customer in the system and then creates several fictitious sales to the
customer. The records are then tracked as they are processed by the system. The auditor is using
A) an integrated test facility.
B) the snapshot technique.
C) a system control audit review file.
D) continuous and intermittent simulation.
52) An auditor sets an embedded audit module to flag all credit transactions in excess of $1,500. The
flag causes the system state to be recorded before and after each transaction is processed. The auditor is
using
A) an integrated test facility.
B) the snapshot technique.
C) a system control audit review file.
D) audit hooks.
53) An auditor sets an embedded audit module to record all credit transactions in excess of $1,500 and
store the data in an audit log. The auditor is using
A) the snapshot technique.
B) a system control audit review file.
C) audit hooks.
D) continuous and intermittent simulation.
54) An auditor sets an embedded audit module to flag questionable online transactions, display
information about the transaction on the auditor’s computer, and send a text message to the auditor’s cell
phone. The auditor is using
A) the snapshot technique.
B) a system control audit review file.
C) audit hooks.
D) continuous and intermittent simulation.
55) An auditor sets an embedded audit module to selectively monitor transactions. Selected transactions
are then reprocessed independently, and the results are compared with those obtained by the normal
system processing. The auditor is using
A) an integrated test facility.
B) the snapshot technique.
C) a system control audit review file.
D) continuous and intermittent simulation.
56) Which of the following is not one of the types of internal audits?
A) reviewing corporate organizational structure and reporting hierarchies
B) examining procedures for reporting and disposing of hazardous waste
C) reviewing source documents and general ledger accounts to determine integrity of recorded
transactions
D) comparing estimates and analysis made before purchase of a major capital asset to actual numbers
and results achieved
57) When programmers are working with program code, they often employ utilities that are also used in
auditing. For example, as program code evolves, it is often the case that blocks of code are superseded
by other blocks of code. Blocks of code that are not executed by the program can be identified by
A) embedded audit modules.
B) scanning routines.
C) mapping programs.
D) automated flow charting programs.
58) When programmers are working with program code, they often employ utilities that are also used in
auditing. For example, as program code evolves, it is often the case that variables defined during the
early part of development become irrelevant. The occurrences of variables that are not used by the
program can be found using
A) program tracing.
B) scanning routines.
C) mapping programs.
D) embedded audit modules.
59) Explain the differences between each type of audit risk.
60) Explain why the auditor’s role in program development and acquisition should be limited.
61) How and to whom does an auditor communicate the audit results?
62) Audit tests and procedures traditionally have been performed on a sample basis. Do options exist for
auditors to test significantly more (or all) transactions?
63) When doing an information systems audit, auditors must review and evaluate the program
development process. What errors or fraud could occur during the program development process?
64) Briefly describe tests that can be used to detect unauthorized program modifications.
65) Define and give examples of embedded audit modules.
66) How is a financial audit different from an information systems audit?
67) Why do all audits follow a sequence of events that can be divided into four stages, and what are the
four stages?
68) Name and describe the different types of audits.
69) Describe the risk-based audit approach.
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70) a) What is test data processing? b) How is it done? c) What are the sources that an auditor can use to
generate test data?
71) Describe the disadvantages of test data processing.
72) Describe how audit evidence can be collected.