Differences between operational audit and financial auditing

Auditing is an essential activity for small-business owners. Following proper auditing procedures helps businesses avoid tax problems later on, and helps companies assess their financial situations properly as they plan for the future. Operational and compliance auditing are two types of auditing that businesses use to enhance productivity and stay on track.

Operational Audits

  1. Operational audits are for determining the operational efficiency of a company or organization. An operational audit might assess the entire organization as a whole, or a single operating unit within the company, such as the shipping department. Operational audits examine such factors as purchases, shipping and receiving activities, data processing, front office operations, and logistics. In short, an operational audit is an examination and evaluation of specific activities and how they contribute to the overall growth of a company.

Compliance Audits

  1. Compliance audits differ significantly from operational audits. Compliance audits are used to determine whether or not a company has complied with the various laws and regulations required in the industry. This type of audit is especially important in the financial industry, where activities are regulated primarily by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A compliance audit generally results in the completion of a report that is provided to the appropriate government agency in charge of overseeing the industry.

Accounting

  1. One place in which both operational and compliance auditing can be used is in a financial audit of a company and its accounting procedures. Most businesses comply with generally accepted accounting procedures, called GAAP. These are principles established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Companies that comply with GAAP will generally perform occasional audits of accounting procedures to ensure that company financial statements are correct. This can have an effect on company operations also, since many activities are dependent upon spending and revenue-generating activities.

Ethics

  1. Ethical components exist in both operational and compliance auditing. Both types of auditing provide management with an opportunity to ensure that a company is on the up-and-up. Operational auditing ensures that resources are being used wisely, but it also takes into account state and federal laws. It ensures that your work force is being maximized for efficiency and profit, but without unlawful exploitation. Operational accounting can reveal when various compliance issues may be of concern, and can precipitate the need for a full-blown compliance audit. Compliance audits have an inherent ethical dimension and are designed to ensure that companies operate in the best interest of the public.

  • School University of Baltimore
  • Course Title ACCT 401
  • Type

    Notes

  • Uploaded By tianickens
  • Pages 74
  • Ratings 88% (33) 29 out of 33 people found this document helpful

This preview shows page 11 - 13 out of 74 pages.

42. The primary difference between operational auditing and financial auditing is that inoperational auditingRefer To: 01-38A. The operational auditor is not concerned with whether the audited activity is generatinginformation in compliance with financial accounting standards.B. The operational auditor is seeking to help management use resources in the most effectivemanner possible.C. The operational auditor starts with the financial statements of an activity being audited andworks backward to the basic processes involved in producing them.D. The operational auditor can use analytical skills and tools that are not necessary infinancial auditing.

43. According to the AICPA, the purpose of an audit of financial statements is toRefer To: 01-38

Get answer to your question and much more

We have textbook solutions for you!

Differences between operational audit and financial auditing

The document you are viewing contains questions related to this textbook.

Accounting Information Systems

Dull/Gelinas

Differences between operational audit and financial auditing
Expert Verified

Chapter 01 - Auditing and Assurance Services44. Bankers who are processing loan applications from companies seeking large loans willprobably ask for financial statements audited by an independent CPA becauseRefer To: 01-38

Get answer to your question and much more

45. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 prohibits professional service firms from providingwhich of the following services to an audit client?

Get answer to your question and much more

46. Independent auditors of financial statements perform audits that reduceRefer To: 01-38A. Business risks faced by investors.B. Information risk faced by investors.C. Complexity of financial statements.D. Timeliness of financial statements.

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

End of preview. Want to read all 74 pages?

Upload your study docs or become a

Course Hero member to access this document

Tags

d, Financial audit, Auditing and Assurance Services

We have textbook solutions for you!

The document you are viewing contains questions related to this textbook.

Differences between operational audit and financial auditing

The document you are viewing contains questions related to this textbook.

Accounting Information Systems

Dull/Gelinas

Expert Verified

Which of the following is the primary difference between operational auditing and financial auditing?

The primary difference between operational auditing and financial auditing is that in operational auditing a. The auditor is not concerned with whether the audited activity is generating information in compliance with financial accounting standards.

How does operational auditing differ from other types of auditing?

While an audit is usually associated with financial matters, operational audits are more comprehensive and go beyond financial data (although that type of reporting is often included). The primary information sources are policies and achievements related to the objectives of the organization.

What is the difference between financial audit and?

While financial audits focuses on the analysis and verification of the financial affairs of an organization through the analysis of financial records over a given period of time, management audits examines the efficiency and adequacy of an organizations operating procedures.

What is the difference between management audit and operational audit?

Management audit deals with various aspects of the management process whereas operational audit is confined to various activities and operations in the functional areas. Management audit attempts to evaluate the performance of various management process and functions.