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ASK (Auditors Sharing Knowledge) for Progress
January 1, 2002
The AuditNet-l Newsletter is sponsored by: PricewaterhouseCoopers
TeamMate
"PricewaterhouseCoopers TeamMate is a database-driven audit management system that streamlines the audit process by providing integrated tools for documentation, report generation and file sharing."
The Auditor's Guide to Internet Resources, 2nd Edition Available!
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The
Auditor's Guide to Internet Resources, 2nd Edition is
the only book on the Internet written expressly for internal auditors.
Expanded and updated to include the latest Internet trends and
resources, the book provides all the Internet competency skills
auditors need to become digitally literate. Order
your copy now! Call 877-867-4947 (Toll free in U.S. and
Canada) or FAX 770-442-9742 or Available on CD-ROM! |
email
iiapubs@pbd.com|
AuditNet Free! AuditNet remains free to the global audit If you are trying to market to the audit community, there are many opportunities for corporations and vendors to sponsor the AuditNet site. Contact editor@auditnet.org for advertising, sponsorship or partner information. |
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Software Tools and Internet Resources for Auditors in 2002!The Internet is a veritable treasure trove of free software tools and resources for auditors. This article highlights a few of those tools and resources that you may have overlooked (or not seen) in your travels along the information superhighway or as I like to refer to it the "auditbahn." Shred Deleting a file from your hard drive does not remove it but rather removes the reference to the files data. Savvy hackers can retrieve the information. Shred destroys a file's contents before removing the reference to the file. This is an especially useful tool when donating or selling old computers. Make sure departments use this software tool to remove sensitive information from the hard drive before sending that old equipment to surplus. Xenu's Link Sleuth is a useful tool for you audit web site designers. This software checks Web sites for broken links. If more designers of audit related Web sites (including myself) used these tools it would clean up a lot of those broken links so that we didn't have to spend time searching for the new one. Up until now the main way I find about broken links is by relying on AuditNet users. You can bet that I will use this tool in 2002. Benchmark and Scoring Tools for Windows 2000 and Solaris from the Center for Internet Security. The CIS Windows 2000 Level I Security Scoring Tool, is a non-invasive, "Analyze/Scan Only" program. Free Depreciation from Public Property Software is an interactive program to compute depreciation according to the same methods used in their GASB 34 reporting program. It computes straight-line mid-year method depreciation only. It pro-rates depreciation (using a full-month assumption) to produce depreciation figures for monthly statements, just like the GASB 34 reporting program. If you are a local government auditor then this tool may help you comply with GASB 34. If you have a favorite software tool geared towards auditors, share your find with others by sending an email to editor@auditnet.org |
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Cooking the Books - Common Schemes, Warning Signs and Methods AuditNet welcomes an article or audit tool each month from Andersen's KnowledgeSpace. KnowledgeSpace is a subscription-based web site that provides, tools, resources and best practices to help internal auditors save time, manage risk, and add value. For more information go to www.knowledgespace.com Read
the entire article in
AutoAudit takes the "paper" out of paperwork for HUD Inspector General. The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented AutoAudit software to assist its 300 auditors in transforming the OIG office into a paperless environment. The HUD audit staff conducts 160 audits each year creating an average of 3,600 pages of information per audit. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the HUD audit staff is distributed across the country, working out of more than 15 local and district offices as well as the headquarters in Washington, DC. To read how OIG HUD uses AutoAudit click here. |
Risk Based Internal Auditing Joins New Pages for Industry Links and Spreadsheets AuditNet added a page for risk based internal auditing. The page provides link to methodologies, tools and techniques as well as articles on the subject. Go the Virtual Library page for this new resource. Also visit the new pages providing links to industry resources and spreadsheets. Auditors
work in a variety of industries. AuditNet added an industry link page. The page
provides Spreadsheets have been standard tools for
auditors Go to the Virtual Library and click on Spreadsheets Data
Recovery Services:
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Auditors Sharing Audit Programs and Workpapers The following audit programs, ICQs, checklist or workpapers were added this month. Go to the AuditNet home page or the Audit Programs page for other formats
New Audit Program Requests If you have a program that would address these areas or would just like to contribute to Auditors Sharing Knowledge for Progress, send it along to editor@auditnet.org. To see more audit programs that auditors are looking for, go to Audit Programs and scroll to the bottom of the page. IT Project Quality Monitoring Audit Programs in the Queue!The following audit documents will be posted next month. Interested in them now? Send an audit work program, ICQ, checklist or other audit template and receive them via e-mail. Your contribution must include your name and email address. Audit Grading Matrix Ask the 'Net Auditor Forum Proves Popular! This new column is proving to be a great resource for auditors looking for answers to questions. Previous questions asked are organized in archives for audit programs, best practices, audit standards, how do I, and miscellaneous. Look there and if your question has not been asked before give the ATNA (Ask the 'Net Auditor) forum a try. Send your question along with a contribution of an audit work program, ICQ, checklist, or other audit resource and the audit gurus at AuditNet will try to answer the query to the best of their ability. No guarantees but with the Internet at our side we do a pretty good job! To submit a question you can go to Ask the Auditor. To review previous questions go to the Forum Index. . R.T. Edwards, Inc., the publisher of the Journal of Forensic Accounting offers AuditNet user organizations the opportunity to subscribe at the institutional rate. A sample article Black Tech Forensics: Collection and Control of Electronic Evidence is available for your review. For more information on the publication go to the discounts page.
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Productivity Tip Search Engines Update Despite the fact that the World Wide Web has not yet reached puberty searching for information on the Internet remains as elusive as the "holy grail." Rest assured that researchers continue to look for new methods and techniques for making the Internet more "search friendly." Old search engines continue to add bells and whistles in an attempt to attract users for one main reason; to boost stats and increase advertising revenue. The search engine that I relied on most while writing The Auditor's Guide to Internet Resources was AltaVista. At the time AltaVista was hands above the competition. Now I use Google for the majority of my searches. But even Google is not perfect and I find myself looking for new opportunities in search technology. One recent addition to the search engine melee is Teoma (www.teoma.com). Teoma delivers three types of search results; web pages, web pages by topic, and expert links. The expert links results created by topic experts around the world, contain a list of site links on related general subjects. Additionally, they often categorize and provide editorial comments on the web links they list, serving as information resource pages for the related subjects. AuditNet would fall into the category of "expert links." Check out this new search engine and tell me what you think. What's your favorite search engine? Send your vote to editor@auditnet.org and I will post the results on the favorite search engine used by the global audit community.
We'll Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends! Tell a friend about the AuditNet Web site and how to subscribe to the monthly newsletter update or have them send an e-mail to editor@auditnet.org and I will add them to the list. |
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AUDITNET JOB LISTINGS
(& MORE)
Looking for an audit job? Go to AuditNet's Audit Jobs section for the latest job opportunities. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week you have the ability to not only look at available jobs, but you can also post your resume, apply for open jobs, research companies and obtain career advice. If you are in the market for a new job, make AuditNet your first stop to check out what's available. This is just another benefit of using AuditNet as your one stop shop for all your audit and career resources. |
Help Keep AuditNet Current! AuditNet is a tool used by auditors from around the world. It is therefore very important that the links are current. If you find a link that is outdated, broken, or going to the wrong site, be a helpful user and let us know. Send an email to editor@auditnet.org and provide the details including the date, URL of the bad address and the name of the site. We will do our best to either correct the link or remove it so that all AuditNet users benefit. Thanks! The Editor |
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No
Budget for Audit Software An AuditNet exclusive from PCProfile discusses the issue of overcoming management resistance to investing in software audit tools. The article provides very convincing arguments on why management should be taking this risk seriously! Click here for the complete AuditNet exclusive! Declaring War on Software Pirates
Save
$$ on the Be prepared when the software police come knocking on your door! AuditNet Users Save $200 - Save $$ and get legal! Check it out! Online Workpaper Tips for AuditorsAuditors are always looking at operating more efficiently and effectively. This means not only looking at entities external to the audit function but also looking within. Automating working papers has been an endeavor that audit functions have implemented or considered. This subject also appears in online discussion forums periodically. Recently the following question was raised in the Audit-L discussion list. Our department is considering moving to online work papers. We
have examined several software packages, but we have not found
anything that we like enough to spend that kind of money. We are a
small office (director, one staff auditor, three student auditors),
and we are thinking of developing our own system. Our plan is to have
a main document in Excel and use hyperlinks to supporting documents
which would be stored in appropriate subdirectories. The following response was provided by Dez (DNyitray@Victaulic.com) We have started putting the supporting documents into the actual
audit program as inserted files using the procedure below. It works in
both Word and Excel. Click here for an example of how this works. Do you have an automated workpaper tip to share with fellow auditors? If so then send it to editor@auditnet.org and I will post it in next month's newsletter! For automated workpaper solutions for your audit office check out the following AuditNet sponsors:
Archives of Posted Messages Many times auditors want to see what messages were posted to the list to see if their question can be answered there. Also new subscribers have an opportunity to review the archives as another research resource. AuditNet uses a public archive service for both Audit-l and AuditPrograms-l. The URL's to reach these archives is as follows. Archives for Audit-L www.mail-archive.com/audit-l@list.auditnet.org/ Archives for Auditprograms-l www.mail-archive.com/auditprograms-l@list.auditnet.org/
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CAREER TIPS FOR AUDITORS Resolve to Improve Your Written Communications by Robbie Miller Kaplan First impressions are crucial; you may be bright, attractive, and articulate but if your written communications fail to deliver your message, you may sabotage your career. The following tips will enhance and develop new skills that will add professional zing to all your written communications. 1. Dust off your word processing manual and learn how to use your software. Work on a different function each day or establish a goal to complete one chapter a week. 2. Update your computer skills. Develop proficiency in either a word processing, database, presentation, or spreadsheet program. 3. Become familiar with fonts. Learn the difference between sarif and sans sarif fonts. Try using different fonts in your written communications to give your documents a professional edge. |
4. Learn the elements of the full block, semi block, and semi-block
indented business letter formats. Choose the one you like best and use
it for every piece of business letter correspondence.
5. Improve your spelling. You can find list online of the most frequently misspelled words. Set a goal to memorize five of those words a week until you have mastered the list. 6. Make a list of the words you use most frequently and establish a goal to expand your vocabulary. Buy a thesaurus or synonym dictionary and locate at least three synonyms for each frequently used word. Keep the list at your computer and add these words to your written text. 7. Purchase a reference manual to improve your punctuation, grammar, and word usage. Keep it close to your computer and refer to it daily. 8. Try using full justification and see if the neat appearance appeals to you more than the jagged edge in left justification. Even small improvements can add pizzazz to your written communications. Make this the year to enhance your writing. Happy New Year! Each month the AuditNet Resource Newsletter includes a career-related tip from Robbie Miller Kaplan, author of How to Say It in Your Job Search. If you like these tips, check out her books! For more career tips go the Job-Resources Web site at www.job-resources.com. |
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Digital Analysis Using Benford's Law by Mark J. Nigrini Benford's Law, first identified by Simon Newcomb in 1881, states that if you randomly select a number from a table of physical constants or statistical data, the probability that the first digit will be a "1" is about 30%, rather than 10% as we might expect if all digits were equally likely. According to Mark Nigrini, the author of Digital Analysis Using Benford's Law, the audit technology known as Digital Analysis (DA), tests for abnormalities in the digit patterns and abnormal number duplication in corporate data. Mr. Nigrini does a formidable job of explaining how to use digital analysis in performing audit tests of data. For the full book review click here!
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This section represents only the additions and changes to Kaplan's AuditNet Resource List (KARL) for last month. Regular users of KARL should check this section for updates to previous postings and new additions.
New Sites Added to the AuditNet Resource List:
Combined Federal Campaign Audit Guide for large campaigns (Campaigns with Total Receipts above $250,000).
Federal Emergency Management Agency Consolidated Audit Guide for Disaster Assistance Programs
The Henderson Group web site of a consultant/trainer specializing in information security and IS audit. Site provides free newsletters, articles, support for user groups, links to other interesting sites, and information about the firm.
OFAC Compliance Web site of a consultant specializing in U.S. Treasury Department economic and trade sanction regulations.
Orange Book Online provides regulations, policies and procedures for bank compliance issues.
Peer Review Practice Aids provides details on how to prepare for a peer review, templates, links and more.
Performance Management and Planning Audit Guide Corporate Level from Audit Scotland.
Performance Management and Planning Audit Guide Service Level from Audit Scotland.
Modifications:
Automated Audit Services is located at http://RGascoyne.CanadianWebs.Com/
CFO Council new address is www.cfoc.gov/
Resources
No Longer Available:
Accounting Discussion List and Newsgroup - FinanceNet established a discussion list (accounting@financenet.gov) for news, notices, announcements, and accounting standards of interest to public accountants. They also set up a corresponding newsgroup (fnet.accounting) to encourage posting of comments, questions, best practices and more between accountants in the public and private sector and educators. Send message to email info@financenet.gov for more detail.
Employment Opportunities in Public Financial Management FinanceNet established a discussion list (finjobs@financenet.gov) for notification of Federal, state, and local employment opportunities in public financial management. A corresponding newsgroup (fnet.fin.jobs) encourages discussion and dialog on employment issues in the public financial management profession. Send message to email info@financenet.gov for more
Financenet (www.financenet.gov) effective December 1, 2001 the FinanceNet portal was closed. The resources available through this excellent Web site will soon be available on new domains. Watch AuditNet for the new links.
GFOA Mailing List The GFOA has an electronic Internet mail list on FinanceNet. The GFOA will post announcements and other important information via this mailing list. For information on this and other FinanceNet mailing lists send email to email info@financenet.gov. To post information to the GFOA mailing list, send message to GFOA@financenet.gov.
MuniNet Mailing List FinanceNet mailing list targeted to municipal and township financial managers and clerks. The list will be a distribution and discussion list for issues relating to financial management of municipalities, townships, and counties within larger geopolitical jurisdictions. To subscribe send email to listproc@financenet.gov and include message "subscribe MuniNet (FirstName LastName).
NYCComptNet (www.financenet.gov/financenet/state/nycnet/nycnet.htm) Office of the New York City Comptroller established an Internet connection in FinanceNet's state and local government section. NYC offers other localities ideas on how to improve their financial systems and reporting, internal controls and performance measures via the Internet.
Performance Measurement Info (financenet.gov/financenet/start/topic/perf.htm). FinanceNet has a number of files and reports available on performance measurement.
Please let us know of links that are not working!
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For a free subscription to AuditNet-L, which includes the monthly update to Internet Resources for auditors, send an e-mail to imailsrv@list.auditnet.org; Subject: (leave blank); Body: Subscribe AuditNet-L (yourname).
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For a free subscription to AuditPrograms-L send an e-mail to imailsrv@list.auditnet.org Subject Leave Blank Body: Subscribe AuditPrograms-L To post a message to the list send an e-mail to: AuditPrograms-L@list.auditnet.org |
