A Statistical Paradox in Auditing

The decision rule in a standard form of hypothesis testing in auditing is to reject the null hypothesis (and thus the auditee's account balance) if the 100(1-β)% confidence interval estimate of the population average error lies even partly outside the null (immaterial) interval. The effect of this rule is to fix the minimum power of the test (i.e., the minimum probability of rejecting a materially incorrect balance) at 1-β/2 (assuming a two-sided test). An unseen theoretical deficiency of the stated decision rule is that, from a Bayesian (evidential) rather than long-run error-frequency standpoint, marginal rejection of the null hypothesis supports that hypothesis. Indeed if the sample size is large enough, an account balance which is marginally rejected by the auditor, using a conventional test, has an'objective' (independent-of-prior) posterior probability arbitrarily close to one. In these circumstances, any call by the auditor for adjustment of the stated account balance, or additional sampling, would be seen as'over-servicing' and rightfully resisted.     

符合性测试运用中的问题与探讨

《独立审计具体准则第九号——内部控制与审计风险》规定:注册会计师应当对拟信赖的内部控制进行符合性测试,据以确定对实质性测试的性质、时间和范围的影响。符合性测试完成后,注册会计师应对企业内部控制制度进行评价,以确定控制风险。因此,符合性测试直接影响实质性测试,在一定程度上符合性测试还是影响整个审计的风险。但在实际操作中,符合性测试大部分流于形式,而且很难对企业内部控制制度做出适当的评价。这是由于我国企业管理中系统贯彻内部控制制度时间很短,既缺乏系统而具体的理论指导,又缺乏扎实有效的实践基础作支撑。本文拟就符…     

美、瑞、澳绩效审计的比较研究

西方各国政府审计已进入以绩效审计为中心的发展阶段.西方各国政府绩效审计,在逐步演变过程中产生了较为系统的审计对象、审计内容、审计程序和审计技术方法,成为其绩效审计理论体系的重要组成部分.特别是美、澳、瑞等国政府绩效审计的特性和共性,可为我国绩效审计制度的构建与完善所借鉴.     

Asymmetries in Stock Returns: Statistical Tests and Economic Evaluation

We provide a model-free test for asymmetric correlations inwhich stocks move more often with the market when the marketgoes down than when it goes up, and also provide such testsfor asymmetric betas and covariances. When stocks are sortedby size, book-to-market, and momentum, we find strong evidenceof asymmetries for both size and momentum portfolios, but noevidence for book-to-market portfolios. Moreover, we evaluatethe economic significance of incorporating asymmetries intoinvestment decisions, and find that they can be of substantialeconomic importance for an investor with a disappointment aversion(DA) preference as described by Ang, Bekaert, and Liu (2005).     

经典回归与稳健回归方法的应用比较研究

本文首先给出基于传统统计方法的经典回归方法中存在的一些不足,然后提出稳健回归方法的应用并通过实证计算与经典回归进行对比分析,最后对两种回归方法进行应用总结,得出稳健回归方法在抵御数据中的离群值方面具有最小二乘回归所无可比拟的优越性的结论。但是由于稳健统计方法通俗性比较差,使得经典统计方法的地位始终无法动摇。因此,在实际运用中,尽可能综合使用经典的和稳健的统计方法,从而达到既能够准确掌握问题主体部分的信息,同时又不会忽略对非主体信息的充分挖掘。     

An Investigation of the Association between Cultural Dimensions and Variations in Perceived Use of and Compliance with Internal Auditing Standards in 19 Countries

Using a large sample of chief audit executives and internal audit managers from 19 countries, we investigate potential associations between cultural dimensions and variations in perceived use/compliance with the internal auditing standards. We find uncertainty avoidance to be inversely related to both use and compliance. We also find assertiveness and human orientation to be positively related to compliance but not to use of Standards. Among control variables, we find positive associations for the length of Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) membership, professional certification in internal auditing, and hours of continuing professional education (CPE) training on both perceived use and compliance. Finally, we find “Cost of compliance” and “Compliance not expected in my country” to be inversely related to perceived use/compliance. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

内部控制、审计效率与审计有效性——以及据此对我国新审计准则体系的相关解读与评论

本文试图以审计和内部控制的交叉渗透和互动发展为背景,透过内部控制的视角,探讨审计模式从制度基础审计、传统风险导向审计到现代风险导向审计的演进过程,尤其是在这个过程中有关审计效率和审计有效性的考虑与权衡。新近颁布的中国注册会计师审计准则体系,其核心在于全面引入现代风险导向审计模式。因而,本文最后在前述分析的基础上,对我国新审计准则体系进行相应的解读和评论。一、内部控制与审计模式的演进(一)内部控制的引入推动了账项基础审计模式向制度基础审计模式的嬗变,制度基础审计的发展反过来又引发了内部控制概念的不断修订众…     

Auditing Standards in China—A Comparative Analysis with Relevant International Standards and Guidelines

The continuing and deepening economic reforms in China have brought many changes both socially and economically to the society. The primary function of auditing in China has begun to shift away from the traditional tax compliance assessment towards the credibility lending to financial statements. The economic reforms and the development of the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises have necessitated the parallel development of auditing standards in China. While some significant differences exist, the new Chinese auditing standards are, in a number of important aspects, similar to the professional standards promulgated by the International Federation of Accountants. The development of a comprehensive body of standards, auditor independence, the role of certain auditing techniques, and certified public accountant (CPA) population are the major areas that China needs to improve. Opening up the Chinese accounting industry will trigger significant advances in the implementation of Chinese standards and the development of the Chinese accounting profession.     

A Comparative Analysis of Auditor, Manager and Financial Analyst Interpretations of SFAS 5 Disclosure Guidelines

This study examines empirically whether financial analysts (users), as well as managers (preparers) and external auditors ascribe different interpretations to the SFAS 5 disclosure criteria. We find: (1) financial analysts are, on average, more conservative than managers and auditors in their numerical interpretations of both the 'remote' and 'probable' verbal phrases; (2) managers and auditors share very similar numerical interpretations of these verbal phrases; (3) audit partners' numerical interpretations of the 'remote' region are between those of managers and users, whereas audit managers align their numerical interpretations with those of managers. One danger is that preparers of financial statements may omit loss contingency information that users consider valuable.     

建立新型监督模式 实施风险导向审计——交通银行审计部总经理樊军访谈

根据2002年国际内部审计师协会颁布的《内部审计实务准则》对内部审计的表述，内部审计是一项客观独立的保证和咨询活动，其目的是实现价值增加并提高组织的经营效率。它通过系统规范的方法，对风险管理、控制和治理程序进行评价，改进其有效程度，从而帮助组织实现其目标。这一定义与本期专访人物——交通银行总行审计部总经理樊军对交行审计工作理念的表达不谋而合。他认为“内部审计的主要内容并不是为了查案子而查案子，而是要从根本上持续控制风险、确保整个系统的长治久安”。近年来，交行在审计监督的理念、模式、机制、工具等各方面进行了一系列探索，从组织架构和运行机制两方面对审计系统进行了全面改革。[编者按]     

审计与组织学习:国家审计建设性作用视角的分析

审计最初被赋予查错纠弊的监督职能,审计署成立初期国家审计主要扮演着国有资产保值增值的守护者角色。随着社会经济环境的变化和人们对审计本质认识的深化,国家审计许多潜在的功能逐渐被人们在实践中所发掘和发现。刘家义审计长提出审计是保障国家经济社会健康运行的免疫系统,突出了审计的建设性作用。本文首先回顾社会变革环境下中国国家审计功能及其演进,然后以组织学习理论和契约经济学理论作为审计建设性作用的理论依据,最后在理论分析的基础上提出基于组织学习的审计建设性功能制度创新。     

对新发布的审计准则征求意见稿和审计技术提示的说明

最近,中注协发布了《审计报告(试行)》(包括准则和指南)、《持续经营》、《前后任注册会计师的沟通》等几个独立审计准则征求意见稿以及《审计技术提示第2号-会计报表公布日后发现的事实》.     

坚持自查自纠 践行合规经营——银监会《关于整治银行业金融机构不规范经营的通知》解读

正出台背景近年来,我国银行业改革发展取得了举世瞩目的成绩,资产质量明显提高,盈利能力明显增强,融资服务明显改善,为国民经济持续健康发展提供了有力的金融支持。但近年来,一些银行出现了贷款附加不合理条件、收费管理不够规范等现象,严重损害了银行声誉,削弱了银行可持续发展的基础,降低了银行服务实体经济的效率,扰乱了金融市场秩序。为纠正部分银行不规范经营问题,银监会于2012年1月20日下发了《关于整治银行业金融机构不规范经营的通知》(以下简称《通知》),要求银行业金融机构和各级监管     

IT审计:人民银行内审面临的新挑战

人民银行IT审计的目标应定位于：保证计算机系统的安全健康运行,有效控制系统风险。其审计步骤,大体上应分两步走：第一步,以IS审计为主,在此基础上不断探索IT审计途径;第二步,实现以IT审计为主。     

地方中小法人银行机构合规文化建设问题探究

合规风险是当前银行业的主要风险之一.地方中小法人银行机构因其自身合规文化的缺陷,违规经营、道德风险等问题尤为突出,是合规性监管的重点.本文从地方中小法人银行机构建设合规文化的现实要求出发,结合合规文化的内涵与特点,对照城乡信用社经营和监管实践,试图对地方中小法人银行机构合规文化建设提出构想和建议.     

Sample Size and the Strength of Evidence: A Bayesian Interpretation of Binomial Tests of the Information Content of Qualified Audit Reports

Lindley (1957) demonstrated that, from a Bayesian standpoint, a given level of statistical significance P carries less evidence against the null hypothesis H _o the larger (more powerful) the test. Moreover, if the sample is sufficiently large, a result significant on H _o at 5% or lower may represent strong evidence in support of H _o, not against it. Contrary to Lindley's argument, a great many applied researchers, trained exclusively in orthodox statistics, feel intuitively that to'reject' the null hypothesis H _o at (say) α= 5% is more convincing evidence, ceteris paribus , against H _o the larger the sample. This is a consistent finding of surveys in empirical psychology. Similarly, in accounting, see the principles for interpreting statistical tests suggested by Burgstahler (1987). In econometrics, 'Lindley's paradox' (as it has become known in statistics) has been explained in well known books by Zellner (1971), Leamer (1978) and Judge, Hill, Griffiths, Lutkepohl and Lee (1982), but is not widely appreciated. The objective of this paper is to reiterate the Bayesian argument in an applied context familiar to empirical researchers in accounting.     

合规文化建设与执行力

所谓合规是以银行合规管理系统及专业的方法对银行业务运行检查、业务管理评价、银行风险管控过程进行有效性跟踪,改善和帮助银行实现风控管理和业务经营发展目标的活动过程。在后危机时代和"十二五"开局的大背景下,银行合规经营受到国内外的广泛重视,"巴塞尔协议Ⅲ"和我国银监会的《商业银行合规风险管理指     

The Force of Law: Australian Auditing Standards and Their Impact on the Auditing Profession

This study examines the impact of the introduction of the legally enforceable Australian Auditing Standards (ASAs) on the auditing profession after the first year of implementation. The study compliments and extends the Australian Government's April 2006 pre-implementation Regulation Impact Statement, which identified potential costs, benefits and other impacts of the new regulatory regime. Relevant data were collected through interviews with the key stakeholders. Overall, the results suggest that the additional burden of compliance with the legally enforceable ASAs has not increased perceived audit quality or public confidence, which were the main aims of the government's regulatory intervention.     

效益审计的方法与框架探讨

成本--效益分析是经济分析的根本方法,也是效益审计的一个十分有用的工具.本文通过对效益审计的实质分析,将成本--效益分析方法应用于效益审计,为效益审计提供了一个相对规范的、可行的评估框架.该框架包含了各种货币性与非货币性的评估方法,因而具有广泛的兼容性;与通行的"目标--手段"框架相比,它更为简易可行.