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ASK (Auditors Sharing Knowledge) for Progress
June 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 marketing 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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Audit Compliance With Software License Agreements 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 This month's contribution is an article on auditing compliance with software license agreements. Compliance with software licensing agreements may not be one of those topics that companies are overly concerned about. But in the current economic environment, perhaps they should be. Software vendors, squeezed for new revenues, have stepped up their audits to ensure that companies are not using unlicensed software. Click on the AUDITNET ADDS NEW SECTION ON SAP AUDITINGAuditNet added a new section devoted to auditors operating in an SAP environment. Thanks to Philip Moulton for suggesting this resource and offering his expertise as an SAP auditor. The section includes links to ERP and SAP information, audit programs, guides, best practices, security and more. AuditNet also established an e-mail discussion forum for this area! |
AUDITNET EXCLUSIVE SOFTWARE COMPLIANCE AUDITING 100% LEGAL BACKUP Pssssst, NO, BUT..................... ARTICLES ON FREE AUDIT SOFTWARE? and WEB Based Audits If you are using software illegally (or
know someone else who is) then there is now no excuse for
hiding behind all the weak excuses that many tend to use. There is now a FREE software tool that
will help you (or your friends) cleanup your act BEFORE you
get caught out! Don't say you weren't warned! The FREE Software Audit tool is located at http://www.pcprofile.com These two new articles walk you through information about
FREE Software Audit Tools and the Risks of Web Based Audits For more links to articles and vendors for Software Compliance Auditing go to the AuditNet Library and click on Software Compliance Auditing. |
AuditNet Sections Under Construction!We are always looking to expand the horizon of resources available for internal auditors. The following pages are now under construction and available for review and comments. Please visit them and if you have suggestions, additions or comments please share them with us by sending an email to editor@auditnet.org. If you would like additional sections for an area that you have an interest in, please consider offering yourself as a AuditNet coordinator. Guide for Preparing, Documenting, and Referencing Spreadsheets The Audit Process Step-by-Step AuditNet includes a section for new (and seasoned) auditors detailing the audit process using a step-by-step approach. The section is under construction and includes templates, sample documents, flowcharts and links to other resources. I remember (vaguely) what it was like when I started out in the audit profession. I would have readily embraced an online resource that guided me into new and unfamiliar territories. Unfortunately the Internet was not an option then so I had to turn to peers, books, and a lot of internal and external training. The success of these pages will rely on the philosophy of Auditors Sharing Knowledge (ASK) for Progress and grow as more seasoned auditors contribute and find value in educating others in their own best and continuing practices! Go the Virtual Library page for the beginnings of this new resource.
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.
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Software Compliance Auditing UpdateThe following information and links to articles was recently shared by PC Profile. Check them out!Your current PC based system isn't a patch on what it used to be .........! Your software audit results MAY BE CORRUPTED! This information may affect all those who are RELYING on the information provided to audit their systems as a means of proving they are software compliant. Some may have already started seeing unusual audit results not expected at desktop level or may have jumped already to wrong conclusions! What needs to be understood is that Microsoft has now made
it exceedingly difficult to tell you what is installed on your
systems due to the application of further patches and fixes
derived via Update Now or downloads Details located at; http://www.pcprofile.com/patches.htm New Opportunities for Vendor and Consultant Listings in AuditNet Vendors of audit related goods and services now have an opportunity for inclusion in the list of audit resource links. This new fee-based service provides an opportunity for consultants and vendors to purchase a listing for the most widely distributed list of audit resources on the Internet. Paid listings will include a $ designation to distinguish them from sites that include free resources for auditors. For more information send an email to editor@auditnet.org.  |
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Auditors Sharing Audit Programs and Workpapers The following audit programs, ICQs, checklist
or workpapers were added this
month. They are in
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. Application Maintenance Audit Program 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.
Ask the 'Net Auditor Forum Provides an Opportunity for Sharing! This 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! We also encourage AuditNet users to review questions posed that are still pending answers. If you have an answer to a question please share it. This will also entitle you to ask a question without having to share a resource! To submit a question you can go to Ask the Auditor. To review previous questions go to the Forum Index. Auditors Sharing Knowledge (ASK) for Progress
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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Productivity Tip Resources for Developing Audit Programs The audit plans for many internal audit shops include projects or areas that have never been done before. So, what is the best way for developing an audit program for a new or unfamiliar area? Auditors turn to the Internet to locate resources and tools for developing audit programs. The Auditors Sharing Audit Programs section of AuditNet has hundreds of audit programs shared by users. These audit programs can provide a baseline from which you can develop an audit program for a specific area. There are also other Web sites containing audit programs. Those sites are listed at the end of the Audit Programs page on AuditNet and include; the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and the City of Tampa's Internal Audit Department. Another resource for auditors to consider is KnowledgeSpace, a fee based subscription service. They have an entire section devoted to audit work programs shared by subscribers. AuditNet users can sign up for a free 30-day evaluation. The discounted subscription cost for IIA, ISACA and AICPA members is $500 per year. Online checklists from vendors and others are another excellent resource for developing audit programs. Ink-e Media at has checklists for routers, contracts, e-commerce, application service providers and more. Developing audit programs need not be an onerous task. Tap into the available online resources for help and guidance for new, unfamiliar, or revisited audit projects. Check out the AuditNet search page at www.auditnet.org/search.htm
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. More
Software Compliance Auditing News for AuditNet Users 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! |
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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. |
Book Review The Financial Numbers Game: Detecting Creative Accounting Practices By Charles W. Mulford and Eugene E. Comiskey Timing is everything and so it is the case with this new book from John Wiley. With the recent events surrounding Enron here is a book that seeks to explain to investors, analysts and financial statement users creative accounting practices. For the full review go to www.auditnet.org/auditnet-l.htm and look for the link under the book review section. For the full book review click here! |
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CONFERENCES SEMINARS AND TRAINING FOR AUDITORS
Auditors
Conference 2002 The
IIA Western South Region Conference will take place on August 8-9,
2002 in San Francisco. The program will cover audit and risk
management, audit tools and automating the audit department. For
details go to Auditors Conference
2002 NETWORK WITH OVER 1,150 AUDITORS Do you have a question about auditing or audit programs? .... Or perhaps you have the answer to someone else's question.... Then consider subscribing to the AuditNet's Audit-L. or Auditprograms-L Imailsrv Discussion List (or both). Go to the Discussion List page for more information about these resources. For automated workpaper solutions for your audit office check out the following AuditNet sponsors:
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CAREER TIPS FOR AUDITORS Tips on Salvaging a Shaky Interview by Robbie Miller Kaplan Job hunters who feel they made mistakes in interviews often fail to use one of the most effective tools at their disposal: a follow-up phone call. You may think that trying to bolster a shaky performance will only make matters worse, but you may be surprised at the results you get. For the rest of the story in the CareerJournal from the Wall Street Journal click here! 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. |
Book Review 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:
Associazione Italiana Internal Auditors Web site of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Italy. (Italian language only).
AuditBox is a UK based internal audit training and consultancy site, which markets a risk based software tool.
Audit Committee Institute Web site from KPMG provides information for corporate audit committees including newsletters, publications, surveys and other resources.
Deutsches Institut für Interne Revision Web site of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Germany (German language only).
Guam Office of the Public Auditor Web site provides information about the office, access to audit reports, links to other resources and more.
Guidelines for Congregational Treasurers guidelines for treasurers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church includes an audit program.
Institut des Auditeurs-Conseils Internes Web site of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Luxemburg. (French language only).
Institut de l`Audit Interne Web site of the Institute of Internal Auditors of France (French language only).
New Hampshire Audit Division List Service Web site for the Office of the Legislative Budget Assistant provides an automated solution to notifying interested individuals about audit reports posted to the Office's web site. (A good example of integrating the Internet into auditing).
Risk Audit Risk Audit's website provides useful information for internal auditors including risk benchmarks, case studies, an insight into fraud and a description of their training services.
Stop Press Daily is an email daily digest of news from an internal audit perspective provided by Risk Audit. (Knowledge Resource)
Swiss Institute of Internal Auditing Web site in French, English or German provides information about the organization, links and more.
Modifications:
Resources
No Longer Available and Links Removed:
Audit Y2K Discussion List
Y2K Portal Page (www.microsoft.com/y2k/)
Year 2000 Auditing and Accounting Guidance (www.aicpa.org/members/y2000/intro.htm
Year 2000 Business Continuity Plan (www.magnet.state.ma.us/y2k/projplanning/businesscontinuityplan_template.htm)
Year 2000 Contingency Plan (www.magnet.state.ma.us/y2k/projplanning/contingencyplan_template.htm)
Year 2000 Contingency Planning (www.bis.org/ongoing/index.htm)
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 |
