Audit & Forensic Data Analysis with MS Excel

Audit & Forensic Data Analysis with MS Excel

Challenges are multifarious. Overwhelming nos. of transactions, loss of conventional (paper) audit trail, system based controls, ever increasing and complex compliance requirements are amongst the prime reasons why traditional methods of collecting and evaluating evidence (like vouching and verification) are no longer adequate. The auditor can no longer treat Information Systems as a ‘Black Box’ and audit around it. His methods and techniques have to change. This change is what the world calls today, ‘Assurance Analytics’ i.e. data analysis from an ‘audit perspective’.

Using advance features of MS Excel, the auditor can access client’s data from their databases and analyse it to discharge the onerous duty cast on him. Since over 15 years, CA Nikunj Shah has been perfecting these techniques of ‘assurance analytics’. These include digital analysis techniques like Benford’s Law, Relative Size Factor Theory (RSF) and Pareto’s 80-20 rule that have enabled auditors and forensic investigators to identify control failures and over rides, detect non-compliance with laws, zero down on questionable transactions and identify red flags lost in millions of transactions. It is like quickly finding the needle in a hay stack!! In this unique course, your favourite instructor shall share the best of his research, auditing and training experience. The participants shall learn, step-by-step, the nuts-and-bolts details of using advance features of Microsoft® Excel coupled with the instructor’s insights to apply them in real-world audit situations. Each section shall equip participants with assurance analytic techniques using real-world examples and learn-by-doing exercises.

An exhaustive and comprehensive course on Data Analytics for Audits and Forensic Accounting

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What you will learn

• 1. Implement Digital Analysis techniques like Benford's Law and Relative Size factor Theory (RSF) in Excel to identify red flags or fraudulent transactions
• 2. Use Pareto analysis (80-20 rule) and identify high value (and high risk) transactions
• 3. Use Statistical measures like Standard Deviation and Coefficient of variation to zero-down on transactions of audit interest

Rating: 4

Level: Intermediate Level

Duration: 12.5 hours

Instructor: Nikunj Shah