Documentation is one of the most important elements in the work of auditors. The quality and results of the audit, as well as the services accompanying the audit of any economic entity, largely depend on the thoroughness, timeliness and systematicity of records.

Under audit documentation(working documents, working documentation) for the purposes of the ISA 230 “Audit Documentation” of the same name, materials are assumed to reflect the results of audit procedures performed, as well as audit evidence obtained and conclusions drawn by the auditor 1 .

The need for the formation and execution of audit documentation is determined by the fact that they allow:

• increase the efficiency of the planning process, as well as the substantive audit of the audit engagement;
• exercise control and supervision over the progress of this task;
• create conditions for reporting on the work of the audit group (team);
• consider continuously significant aspects for subsequent audits;
• carry out quality control of task execution;
• create conditions for conducting an audit in accordance with current legislative and regulatory legal acts.

The form and content of working documents are usually influenced by:

• the size and complexity of the structure of the economic entity being audited;
• the nature of the audit procedures that need to be performed to perform the audit engagement;
• identified risks of material misstatement;
• the significance of the audit evidence obtained;
• the nature and extent of the identified misstatements;
• necessity documentation conclusions or basis for conclusions that are not directly documented by the results of the work performed or the audit evidence obtained;
• methods and tools used by the auditor.

The standard allows for the generation of audit (working) documents on paper, electronic or other media. In addition, the audit documentation should include:

• audit programs;
• analytical reports;
• a summary of the essence of significant aspects;
• explanatory materials on them;
• written confirmations and assurances;
• checklists;
• correspondence on significant aspects (including by email);
• copies or extracts from documents of the inspected entity.

When preparing audit documentation, the auditor should assume that it is likely that it will be used by another qualified auditor who has not previously participated in the audit engagement.

Under qualified auditor in this context, a specialist is understood (as working in audit organization, and attracted from outside), who has practical experience in conducting audits and sufficient knowledge in the field of:

• audit processes applied;
• International auditing standards and requirements of national legislative and regulatory acts;
• commercial (external) environment (business environment, business environment) in which the audited entity operates;
• features of conducting an audit and preparing accounting (financial) statements in the industry of this subject 1.

Based on the documentation received, the specified qualified auditor must obtain sufficient and appropriate knowledge:

• on the nature, timing and scope of audit procedures performed in accordance with ISAs and applicable national laws and regulations;
• on the results of audit procedures performed and audit evidence obtained;
• significant aspects, as well as conclusions on them;
• significant professional judgments made in the course of drawing up these opinions.

When documenting the nature, timing and extent of audit procedures performed, the auditor must record in writing:

• distinctive features of certain articles being checked, for example, by date and unique number of posted economic entity orders or all accounting entries exceeding certain amounts, etc.;
• information about the auditor who performed the specific work, as well as the date of its completion;
• information about the employee who performed the review of the audit work performed, the date and scope of this review.

According to the requirements of ISA 230, the auditor must document all discussions of significant aspects with the management of the audited entity, representatives of the owner and other interested parties, while reflecting in the audit documentation the essence of these aspects, as well as information about the time and persons with whom such discussions were held.

If information is identified on one of the significant aspects that is inconsistent with the final auditor's report, the auditor should describe the steps taken to correct the inconsistency. In this case, inaccurate or outdated documentation may be destroyed. In other words, ISA 230 recommends excluding superseded draft working papers and incomplete or provisional notes and conclusions from the audit documents. In addition, it is necessary to exclude copies of documents that were subsequently corrected, as well as duplicates of these documents.

In exceptional cases, when carrying out additional procedures or forming completely new conclusions after the date of signing and providing the audit report, the auditor must reflect in the working papers:

• the circumstances he faced;
• new or additional audit procedures performed and audit evidence obtained, as well as conclusions drawn from them and their effect on the auditor’s report;
• when and by whom changes were made to the audit documentation and verified.

Of particular interest is the inclusion in the text of ISA 230 of requirements regarding the preparation of the final audit file. According to the provisions of the Standard, the auditor must complete the creation of the audit file in a timely manner. International standard quality control (MSKK) 1 “Quality control in firms performing audits and reviews financial statements performing other assurance tasks and providing related services” requires the auditor to establish policies and rules for the timely completion of the audit file. For the final formation of the audit file, a period is defined, usually not exceeding 60 days after the date of signing the audit report.

Under audit file in this case we mean one or more folders or other storage media, physical or electronic form containing materials that represent audit documentation for a specific audit engagement 1.

Considering that the formation of an audit file is a process that does not require the implementation of new audit procedures or the development of new conclusions, then changes to the audit documentation can only be made during the formation of the audit file. Examples of these changes can only be:

• removal or destruction of outdated documentation;
• sorting, organizing working documents, as well as adding cross-references to them;
• signing final checklists regarding the audit file process;
• documenting the audit evidence that the auditor received, discussed and agreed upon with members of the audit team (team) before the date of signing the audit report.

After completing the audit file, the auditor should not remove or destroy audit documentation. All information must be provided with confidentiality and security procedures in accordance with established practices and rules for storing such documentation. All working documents are kept by the auditor and are his property. The retention period in accordance with ISA 230 must be at least five years after the date of the auditor's report.

In addition to these requirements, no less significant and logical is the requirement that the audit documentation contain information on all significant aspects arising during the audit and the results of their consideration. In particular, the Standard includes the following as essential aspects:

• issues that involve significant business risks (ISA 315, Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement by Examining the Entity's Operations and Business Environment);
• Findings from audit procedures that indicate that financial information may be materially misstated or that the auditor needs to reconsider the auditor's previous assessment of the risks of material misstatement and related auditor actions;
• circumstances that cause difficulties for the auditor in applying the necessary audit procedures;
• the results of procedures that may result in a modification of the auditor's report.

In this case, it is permissible to prepare and retain as part of the audit documentation a summary report that describes the significant aspects identified during the audit, the procedure and result of their resolution, or provides cross-references to the relevant audit documentation that reflects this information.

Some aspects of documentation are regulated not only by ISA 230, but also by other ISAs, in particular:

• ISA 300 “Planning an Audit of Financial Statements”, which defines the rules for documenting the planning process. The standard requires that the overall strategy be included in the audit documentation. audit(in particular, a record of key decisions that are necessary and communicated to the audit team), the audit plan (the nature, timing and extent of risk assessment and subsequent audit procedures) and any significant changes made to them during the audit engagement. At the same time, the reasons for such changes must be disclosed;
• ISA 315, Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement by Examining the Entity's Business and Business Environment, requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation discussions among members of the audit team, the key conclusions drawn from the findings of the investigation of each aspect of the auditee's activities, and its business (external) environment, identified risks of material misstatement, as well as identified risks and associated controls examined by the auditor;
• ISA 320 “Materiality in the Planning and Performing of an Audit” requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation the level of materiality for the accounting (financial) statements as a whole and the levels of materiality for certain classes of transactions, account balances or disclosures (if any), the materiality threshold established by him , as well as any revisions thereof;
• ISA 240, The Auditor's Responsibilities When Fraud Is Detected in the Audit of Financial Statements, requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation reports of fraud to management, owner representatives, regulators and other entities.
• ISA 250, Consideration of Laws and Regulations in an Audit of Financial Statements, requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation information about suspected and determined non-compliance by the auditee with laws and regulations, as well as the results of discussions with management, owner representatives and third parties on these matters. persons. At the same time, the audit documentation must include copies of accounting and other documents, as well as minutes of discussions with these persons;
• ISA 540, Audit of Estimates, Including Fair Value Measurements and Related Disclosures, requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation significant conclusions about the reasonableness of estimates that involve significant risks and their disclosures, and indications that those estimates may be unreasonable. on the part of the management of the audited entity;
• ISA 550 Related Parties requires the auditor to include in the audit documentation all the names of the related parties it identifies and a description of the nature of the auditee's relationship with those parties.

Properly prepared audit documentation can be generated without conducting an audit at all. At the same time, it is possible to establish that the working documentation does not correspond to reality only by comparing it with the documents of the audited entity, which are often not available to the auditor. Of course, a high-quality audit without proper documentation is impossible. However, a judgment about the quality of an audit based solely on documentation cannot be objective and, as a result, requires a comprehensive audit of not only documents, but also directly business transactions, property, inventory, etc.

Results of planning, execution analytical procedures, as well as analysis of unusual or incorrectly reflected in accounting financial transactions and facts economic activity are fixed in working documentation auditor and serve as the basis for drawing up an opinion on the reliability of the accounting (financial) statements. If necessary, the auditor can draw up working documents necessary for audit procedures (accumulative sheets, diagrams, tests, etc.). Working papers are the property of the auditor if he is registered as individual entrepreneur. If the auditor is an employee of an audit organization, then upon completion of the audit he is obliged to submit the working documentation for storage in the organization’s archive. The information contained in the auditor's working documentation is confidential and is not subject to use and (or) disclosure without the client's consent.

All documentation prepared by the auditor at the planning stage and during the audit assists him in developing an acceptable plan and effective conduct of the audit, and also serves to monitor and evaluate the results of the audit.

In accordance with the auditing rule “Working documentation of the auditor”, approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Belarus dated August 4, 2000 No. 81 (as amended by Resolution No. 41 of March 24, 2008), working documentation refers to documents received or prepared by the audit organization during the audit, containing information about the audit procedures performed, audit evidence obtained and conclusions drawn by the audit organization on their basis.

The working documentation must contain information on planning and conducting the audit; sufficiently and appropriately reflect the basis for forming the auditor's opinion; serve as evidence that the audit was conducted in accordance with the regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Belarus.

Working documentation confirms the fact of the audit, provides the opportunity to carry out internal and external audit quality control, and also allows you to optimize labor and time costs when conducting subsequent audits of the audited entity.

Working papers should be compiled to the extent necessary to provide a general understanding of the audit performed.

The working documentation should reflect information about the planning of the audit, the nature, timing and scope of the audit procedures performed, their results, as well as the conclusions drawn on the basis of the audit evidence obtained.

The working documents must contain the rationale for all significant issues on which the audit organization has expressed its professional judgment, the necessary reasoning and evidence known to the audit organization at the time of drawing conclusions.

The audit organization has the right to independently determine the scope of working documentation for each specific audit. At the same time, its volume should be such that an auditor who was not involved in the audit of a given entity could be able solely on the basis of this documentation (without resorting to additional conversations or correspondence) to understand the work done and the validity of the conclusions made and decisions made.

The form and content of working documentation are influenced by the following factors:

· the nature of the audit assignment and the requirements for the final audit documents;

· the nature and complexity of the audited entity’s activities;

· the nature of the audit procedures performed;

· sufficiency and appropriateness of the audit evidence obtained;

· assessment of the risk of material misstatement of accounting (financial) statements;

· nature and extent of identified distortions in accounting (financial) statements;

· the extent to which professional judgment is used in the process of conducting an audit and evaluating its results;

· audit methodology, applied techniques and means of verification.

Working documentation is maintained on paper and (or) electronic media. It includes audit plans, analyses, lists of specific matters under consideration, descriptions of significant issues, confirmation and representation letters, checklists and correspondence on significant matters (including emails). If necessary, the working documentation includes excerpts or copies of documents of the audited entity.

Copies originally prepared at paper media documents of the audited entity and (or) audit organization as part of the working documentation should also be stored on paper. Such documents include:

· auditor's report;

· accounting (financial) statements of the audited entity;

· written information (report) on the results of the audit;

· contract for the provision of audit services;

· acceptance certificates for completed work, including at audit stages;

· official correspondence;

· other documents at the discretion of the audit organization.

The finalized working documentation does not include drafts of working documents, unfinished or preliminary notes, or drafts.

In order to increase the efficiency of preparation and verification of working documentation, the audit organization should develop standard forms of documents (forms, questionnaires, standard letters and appeals, etc.). Standardizing documentation makes it easier for auditors to complete their assignments while also allowing them to monitor the results of their work. At the same time, working documentation must be compiled and systematized in such a way as to meet the circumstances of each audit and the needs of the audit organization during its conduct.

In the case of an audit of the same audited entity over a number of years, some working documents are classified as permanent, supplemented as they become available new information(for example, documents containing information about the founders of the audited entity). For such documents, either a separate folder is formed, or it is indicated in which of the working documents the document related to audits conducted over a number of years is stored.

The audit organization should document any material information relevant to the audit.

The following must be documented:

· circumstances indicating significant risks of material misstatement of accounting (financial) statements;

· results of audit procedures indicating the possibility of material misstatement financial information or need for revision preliminary assessment risks of material misstatement of the accounting (financial) statements and planned audit procedures in response to these risks;

· circumstances that prevented the necessary audit procedures from being carried out;

· reasons for modifying the auditor's report.

When documenting the audit procedures performed, the audit organization must indicate their defining characteristics:

· during detailed testing – dates and numbers of documents selected for verification;

· for procedures involving the selection of documents reflecting transactions with amounts exceeding a certain value - the volume of procedures performed and the verified set;

· for procedures involving systematic sampling from a set of documents - the initial document (starting point) and the sampling interval;

· for procedures involving surveys, the dates of the surveys, names and positions of the employees surveyed;

· for observation procedures – the observed process, time and place of observation, names and positions of persons participating in the observed process.

The audit organization is obliged to document discussions of significant issues with management, interested parties, employees of the audited entity, and third parties. At the same time, the working documentation includes records of discussions of significant issues indicating the time of the discussions and the persons who took part in them, as well as documents prepared by employees of the audited entity (for example, minutes of such discussions agreed with the audit organization).

If the audit organization has identified information that contradicts or does not correspond to its professional judgment on any significant issue, then the working documentation must reflect what caused this contradiction, as well as ways to resolve it.

If the audit organization, due to any circumstances, cannot perform the audit procedures necessary to obtain audit evidence, it is necessary to document such circumstances, as well as disclose the sufficiency and appropriateness of the alternative audit procedures performed that contribute to achieving the audit objective. However, audit workpapers should not be prepared to address matters that are not covered during the audit (for example, when annual audit the same audited entity does not need to perform, and therefore document, procedures for confirming initial data, since their reliability was confirmed during the audit for the previous reporting year).

When documenting the nature, timing and scope of audit procedures performed, the working papers should indicate by whom and within what time frames they were performed, as well as by whom and when the working papers reflecting the progress of the audit procedures were reviewed.

Verification of working documents is carried out in the manner determined by the audit organization.

The audit organization must promptly, but no later than 60 days from the date of signing the audit report, complete the preparation of working documentation.

At the final stage of preparation of working documentation, the following is carried out:

· documenting audit evidence obtained during the audit process, but not reflected in the working documentation;

· exclusion of unnecessary documentation (irrelevant or replaced by other documents);

· sorting, organizing and cross-referencing working documents;

· signing checklists of working documentation.

After completing the preparation of working documentation, it is prohibited to destroy or remove any documents from it until the end of their storage period.

The audit organization must ensure the safety of working documentation for at least 5 years, unless otherwise provided by law.

If there is a need to supplement the working documentation with new documents or change the documents contained therein, the audit organization must, regardless of the nature of the changes or additions in the working documentation, indicate:

· reasons for changes or additions to working documentation;

· the impact of these changes on the auditor's conclusions on this audit;

· who and when made changes to the working documentation, as well as who and when checked them.

If, after signing the auditor's report, facts are identified that require additional audit procedures or a change in the auditor's opinion, the audit organization must document:

· identified facts;

· the nature and extent of additional audit procedures performed, as well as the audit evidence obtained on their basis and the conclusions drawn;

· the date of changes to the working documentation, as well as who made the changes and who verified the new documents.

Responsibility for the preparation and safety of working documentation lies with the head of the audit organization or a person authorized by him.

Working documentation is strictly confidential and can be issued to employees of the audit organization only if it is necessary to conduct a subsequent audit or clarify certain issues of the previous audit with the permission of the head of the audit organization or a person authorized by him.

Seizure of working documentation from an audit organization can only be carried out by authorized bodies in cases and in the manner established by law.

audit verification documentation

The Federal Auditing Standard “Documentation of an Audit” establishes uniform requirements for the preparation of documentation in the process of auditing financial (accounting) statements.

The audit organization and the individual auditor (hereinafter referred to as the auditor) must document all information that is important from the point of view of providing evidence confirming the audit opinion, as well as evidence that the audit was conducted in accordance with federal auditing rules (standards).

The term “documentation” refers to working documents and materials prepared by the auditor in connection with the audit. Working documents can be presented in the form of data recorded on paper, photographic film, electronic form etc.

Working documents used:

• 1. when planning and conducting an audit;
• 2. when carrying out ongoing monitoring and verification of the work performed by the auditor;
• 3. to record audit evidence obtained in order to confirm the auditor’s opinion.

The auditor should prepare working papers in a form sufficiently complete and detailed to provide a general understanding of the audit. It should reflect in the working papers information on the planning of the audit work, the nature, time frame and scope of the audit procedures performed, their results, as well as the conclusions drawn on the basis of the audit evidence obtained. The working papers must contain the auditor's justification for all important points, which should contain the auditor’s justification for all important points on which it is necessary to express his professional judgment, together with his conclusions on them. In cases where the auditor has considered complex matters of principle or has expressed professional judgment on any matters important to the audit, the working papers should include facts known to the auditor at the time the conclusions are formulated and the necessary documentation.

The auditor has the right to determine the scope of documentation for each specific audit, guided by his professional opinion. Reflection in the documentation of every document or issue examined by the auditor during the audit is not necessary. However, the scope of the audit documentation should be such that, if it becomes necessary to transfer the work to another auditor who does not have experience in this engagement, he can understand solely on the basis of this documentation the work done by the previous auditor and the validity of his decisions and conclusions.

• - the nature of the audit engagement;
• - requirements for the audit report;
• - the nature and complexity of the audited entity’s activities;
• - the need to give instructions to the auditor’s employees, exercise ongoing control over them and check the work performed by them;
• - specific methods and techniques used in the audit process.

Working papers should be compiled and organized in such a way as to meet the circumstances of each specific audit and the needs of the auditor during its conduct. In order to increase the efficiency of preparation and verification of working documents, it is recommended that the audit organization develop standard forms of documentation. This standardization of documentation makes it easier to delegate work to subordinates and at the same time allows for reliable control over the results of their work.

To increase the efficiency of the audit, it is allowed to use during the audit graphics, analytical and other documentation prepared by the audited entity. In these cases, the auditor is required to ensure that such materials are prepared appropriately.

Working documents usually contain:

• information regarding the legal form and organizational structure audited entity;
• · extracts or copies of necessary legal documents, agreements and protocols;
• · information reflecting the planning process, including audit programs and any changes to them;
• · evidence supporting the assessment of inherent risk, the level of risk of the application of controls and any adjustments to these assessments;
• · evidence confirming the fact of the auditor’s analysis of the audited entity’s work according to internal audit and the auditor's conclusions;
• · analysis of financial and economic transactions and account balances accounting;
• · analysis of the most important economic indicators and trends in their change;
• · information about the nature, time frame, scope of audit procedures and the results of their implementation;
• · detailed information on the procedures applied in relation to the financial (accounting) statements of divisions and (or) subsidiaries audited by the auditor;
• · copies of messages sent to and received from other auditors, experts and third parties;
• · copies of letters and telegrams on audit issues brought to the attention of the managers of the audited entity or served with them, including the terms of the audit agreement or identified significant deficiencies in the internal control system;
• · written statements received from the audited entity;
• · the auditor's conclusions on the most significant audit matters, including errors and unusual circumstances identified by the auditor during the performance of audit procedures and information about the actions taken by the auditor in connection with them;
• · copies of financial (accounting) statements and auditor's report.

When audits are conducted over a number of years, some working paper files (folders) may be categorized as permanent, updated as new information becomes available, but remain relevant, as opposed to current audit files (folders) that contain information relating primarily to the audit of a particular period.

The auditor must establish appropriate procedures to ensure the confidentiality and security of working papers, and for their storage for a sufficient period of time, based on the nature of the auditor's activities, as well as legal and professional requirements, but not less than 5 years.

Working papers are the property of the auditor. Although some documents or extracts from them may be provided to the auditee at the discretion of the auditor, they cannot serve as a substitute accounting records audited entity.

Thus, all audit actions (inspections) are necessarily documented in working documents; the presence of working documents is a fact of high-quality audit performance.

An audit, being essentially documentary, obliges the inspection to be accompanied by mandatory documentation, i.e. reflect the information received in the audit working documentation, which includes:

* plans and programs for conducting audits;

* explanations and statements of department employees;

* copies primary documents divisions indicating business transactions, photographs of objects, acts, certificates, protocols, inventory lists and other documents drawn up jointly with the employees of the unit and other employees involved in the inspection, serving as evidence of the entries in the inspection report;

* accounting registers;

* inventory results;

* financial statements;

* records on the study and evaluation of operational and warehouse accounting systems, questionnaires, document flow diagrams and others;

* production and financial analysis of the actual performance of the division;

* materials indicating work performed not by the auditor, but under his control;

* documents of counter checks and explanations of persons who are not employees of this unit;

* copies of accounting and operational internal business reporting.

The list of working audit documentation, which is attached to the audit reports, is determined by the auditor conducting the audit. The main requirement for this documentation is its persuasiveness and weight in presenting conclusions and proposals arising from the audit materials.

Based on the results of the audit, a reporting document is drawn up, which may have various shapes- audit certificate, audit report, examination certificate, memorandum, audit report and others. The very form of this document is determined in the order appointing an audit. The report must be drawn up on the basis of written information from the auditor, which must contain information about all identified shortcomings and violations in accounting and reporting, as well as highlight those errors and corrections that may affect the reliability of the reporting with reference to legislative and regulatory documents. Written information is filled out in two copies, one of which is transferred to the chief accountant and manager for review, identifying possible disagreements and resolving controversial provisions, and the other is used to write a report, after which it is transferred to the archive. Written information must contain: Full name. auditor or composition of a group of auditors, details of the unit being audited, a list of officials responsible for accounting and reporting, the time period to which the audited documentation relates, information about the audit methodology (which areas of accounting were subject to audit, which accounting documentation was checked by a continuous method, and which selectively, on the basis of what principles the audit was carried out), information about all identified shortcomings and violations, information about the most significant violations in accounting that significantly distort reporting, recommendations for improvement tax planning in order to optimize taxation.

During subsequent inspections, an analysis and assessment of the implementation or correction of comments on the facts of previous inspections should be given. Written information is signed by all auditors who conducted the audit. A report is drawn up based on the written information.

According to audit standard The audit report must consist of introductory, analytical and summary parts.

Table 2.3.1. Content structure of the audit report

Name	Introductory part	Analytical part	Final part
	title of the document, date and place of preparation, basis for the inspection (order of the head of the enterprise, minutes of the decision of the founders), inspection, surnames, first names and patronymics of the persons who took part in the inspection, surnames, first names and patronymics of officials responsible for the activities of the unit, period checks, which issues were subjected to documentary and factual verification.	name of the unit, objects of audit, statement of audit results, general assessment of compliance with legislation and established order maintaining accounting records, assessing the execution of business transactions and their reflection in accounting. and operational accounting, significant violations of specific legal regulations, arithmetic, logical, documentary and material evidence of established violations, surnames, first names, patronymics and positions of persons who committed violations, monetary and quantitative expression of the negative consequences of violations.	contains the auditor’s assessment of the unit’s production and financial activities and accounting, as well as proposals for eliminating identified violations, recommendations of the unit for eliminating deficiencies before making a decision on the inspection by the official who appointed the inspection.

When expressing his opinion, the auditor must maintain strict objectivity, avoid making unsubstantiated statements, conclusions and assessments of the activities of individuals or the audited unit, and write down accusatory language. Observations of deficiencies and violations obtained from oral or written statements of individuals cannot be included in the report. Each fact reflected in it must be comprehensively verified by the auditor. If the head of a department or other official division has objections or comments on the materials of the inspection, she must sign the inspection document and at the same time attach her written objections or comments to it. In cases where it is necessary to take urgent measures to eliminate identified violations, interim audit reports are drawn up. reporting documents, sent to the managers who assigned the inspection, with their subsequent inclusion in the general inspection document.

The auditor's interim reporting documents are drawn up directly during the audit in those areas of the enterprise where the most significant violations requiring immediate action were discovered.

A necessary condition in the work of the auditor is the presence of an evidence base, which is formed by documenting the audit.

Regulatory regulation

Audit documentation is regulated by the following standards:

• International Standard on Auditing (ISA) 230 Documentation;
• Federal rules (standards) of auditing activities (PSAD) No. 2 “Documentation of the audit.”

Tasks solved by documenting audit activities

Documenting the audit allows you to solve the following tasks:

• enables the audit team to plan and implement the audit;
• makes it possible to monitor the work of auditors for compliance with the plan, for taking into account risks, etc.;
• ensures the collection and storage of evidence for the formation of an audit report;
• allows you to save for future audits information about accounting areas that need to be paid attention to;
• allows for audit quality control procedures to be carried out.

Documentation requirements

In accordance with ISA 230, the auditor's working papers resulting from documenting the audit must meet the following criteria:

• contain the necessary sufficient information to understand the audit process;
• describe the stages of planning, preparation and implementation of the audit, as well as the timing of audit procedures;
• contain conclusions drawn from the collected evidence.

Documentation techniques

Documentation can take the form of:

• records (descriptions of processes, controls, interview scripts, progress reports, reviews and results obtained);
• graphs (graphs of enterprise development trends, project work flow, etc.);
• questionnaires (questionnaires are most often used regarding the work of internal controls);
• checklists (template documents that are used to record standard procedures);
• electronic resources(databases, Excel documents, reports of specialized audit software products).

Working papers

In audit practice, it is common to maintain two sets of working documents: the first set is permanent, the second is current. Each of the sets, in turn, can be structured in a certain way, for example, permanent documents may contain documents describing internal controls in the organization, while the current set will have sections on controls accounts receivable due to certain circumstances that came to the attention of auditors in the current audit.

The ongoing set contains documents necessary to understand the entity's business, remain relevant from year to year and provide a retrospective view of the development of significant audit issues.

The current kit contains documents that are necessary to conduct the current audit.

Preparation of working documents

Each auditor's working paper must contain the following information:

• name of the audited organization;
• audited period;
• topic of the working document;
• date of document preparation;
• names of document authors;
• date of inspection and names of auditing auditors.

Audit documents devoted to certain areas of accounting contain significant provisions on identified deviations, errors, risks, and links to the provisions used accounting policy organization, work program with a list of tests, etc.

Important elements of documenting an audit are the safety and confidentiality of working with documents. The auditor must provide physical access controls to documents (storage in a safe, in a locked office), as well as a system of electronic protection of documents stored on computers (passwords).